Mooroopna find edge - literally - against cutthroat Kyabram attack

That’s right, nearly every single wicket features ‘caught: Billy McLay’, with coach Jackson McLay confirming it wasn’t quite the perfect 10 as stated on PlayHQ, with the Redbacks leader taking a caught and bowled in amongst the feathers to the keeper.

Kyabram continued to be at its merciless best against the Cats, and is showing no signs of slowing down ahead of the final match of the season.

The thunderous victory has assured the Redbacks the minor premiership, and its pace is primed for March action.

The Redbacks left Mooroopna reeling at 4-27 at stumps on day one after its own flawed performance with the willow - but the Cats could never come close to sniffing out victory despite chasing a total under 200.

One day final man of the match winner Samuel Langley proved he can do it with the red ball too, ripping through Mooroopna’s line-up with line and length precision, as the Kookaburra’s movement off the pitch left the Cats fishing, edging, and walking, time and time again.

Coach Jackson McLay played a vital role too, with the pair combining for nine of Kyabram’s 10 wickets, as import spinner Louis Sabbagh-Holt claimed the innings’ final scalp.

The 10th wicket partnership of 15 runs from Ryan Hallum and Caleb Aitken was the Cats’ highest, although middle order bat Paul McDonald would top score with 24.

Blitzed by the 45th over, Mooroopna was sent into bat again after going all out for 61.

“Going into the day we didn’t expect to knock them over for 61,” McLay said.

“But I thought ‘Langers’ and I bowled really well in our opening partnership, we got some extra overs because Charlie (McLay) was off the field for the first 18 overs.

“But ‘Langers’ is on fire at the moment, taking seven for the match shows what kind of form he’s in.”

The Cats did dig deeper in innings number two despite Langley’s terrorising pace, as Mooroopna rewarded its 10-wicket pairing by opening the duo of Hallum and Aitken.

Aitken produced a score of 29 - his highest in A-grade this summer - while Hallum would fall for four, but that brought Cyrus Shafi to the crease, who would find some form and knock 61 runs to his name.

Outside of Aitken and Shafi though, only skipper Jack Gaskill would get into double figures as Langley (2-27) struck again, as did Alec Young (3-22).

However, Mooroopna would survive the 47-over onslaught at 8-138, although chasing bonus points was not of overall importance for McLay’s men.

“Honestly it was just good to get overs under the belt,” he said.

“Slaving away in 37 degree heat probably wasn’t the most fun in the field but it will hold us in good stead and keep us well-prepared for finals.

“We haven’t really had a full day in the field yet so to get the chance to do that and get overs under the belt was good.”

Kyabram face Tatura in the final round of the home and away season, potentially ending its opponent’s finals hopes should the Redbacks triumph, while the Cats can end the season on a high note if it defeats Old Students across the next fortnight.

Effectively an elimination final for Tatura, McLay was excited by the no-consequence finals atmosphere set to take place for his side at Frank Howley Oval.

“It’s good for the competition that it’s going to go down to the last day of the season again, but for us it’s good because we’ll get a taste of that finals intensity early,” McLay said.

“They’ll throw the kitchen sink at us, it’s basically an elimination final for them so it’ll be an exciting game.”