While the cricketing world is already well aware of the first two examples of sibling excellence, Kyabram’s own brothers fantastic reminded the Cricket Shepparton realm of who wins the bread in the local league on Saturday.
The Redbacks scored a gigantic 138-run victory over Shepparton Youth Club United in round three of Haisman Shield — but the real kicker on the scorecard were the names next to the numbers.
Billy McLay was up first, crafting a stunning knock that deserved a century, but fell narrowly short as he powered Kyabram to 8-201 on its back deck.
He forged a formidable stand with Kyle Mueller — fresh off his own ton the week prior — and, while the latter was dismissed for a quick-fire 52, McLay soldiered on and completed the innings on 96 not out.
United’s English import Ben Greenwood snared 3-39, but with 202 set as a target the Redbacks were confident.
And, unfortunately for the visitors, McLay wasn’t done either.
In a rare tactic to open with two spinners, McLay was handed his chance to bowl four overs on the trot and claimed Greenwood and Seb Menzhausen’s scalps without conceding a single run.
Between his spell, he also wedged in a screaming catch at second slip to remove Jake Callow for 16 off Charlie McLay’s bowling and, at 3-21, United’s tyres were spinning in the mud.
The worst was yet to come for Sam Nash’s boys as the following seven wickets were removed for only 42 runs, with 2023-24 Lightfoot medallist Rehan Bari (20) the only player to make a real dent during United’s 63-run crash-out.
Amazingly, all wickets were taken by a McLay — Billy (2-0), Charlie (4-17) and Jackson (4-25) — with the latter sharing the praise around his XI, namely the batters on a banana-peel track.
“It was obviously a pretty good all-round performance with bat and ball,” Jackson McLay said.
“I thought it was a fantastic effort by our batters especially, they stepped in on a bit of a sticky wicket with the rain the previous 24 hours.
“It was a bit hard to bat for the first 10, 15 overs, but the boys stuck pretty strong.
“We had an unfortunate run out in that (Cade Mueller), but I thought the batting was quite strong early and then Billy and Kyle continued on from last week.
“Billy pushed on and probably deserved a hundred, but fell just short, but I thought he batted fantastic.”
With Billy McLay a lusty blow away from a hundred on Saturday and Mueller tonning up the week before, a trend is starting to emerge within Kyabram’s camp.
And it’s no accident, either.
THE GAME
Kyabram 8-201 (Billy McLay 96*, Kyle Mueller 52, Ben Greenwood 3-39) d Shepparton Youth Club United 63 (Rehan Bari 20, Jake Callow 16, Charlie McLay 4-17)
STAR PLAYER
Billy McLay (Kyabram): McLay’s 96 not out alone would’ve grabbed headlines on its own, but a dazzling four-over spell that yielded 2-0 was the finishing touch on a special day for the Redbacks opener.
“In the first game we didn’t have anyone push on and make that 70 or 80-plus score and it cost us the game really in a pretty close battle,” Jackson McLay said.
“In one-day cricket, if you can get someone that goes big you’re a fair chance of winning the game, and I have put it on our top four to get a big score.
“Last week it was Kyle, this week it was Billy, Cade (Mueller) is hitting the ball really well, but was unfortunately run out yesterday, so I have no doubt that a big score is just around the corner for him.
“We want to be a ruthless side when we’re in and grab that momentum and run with it.”
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