The Cats are in ripping form with the ball.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Yet another Mooroopna masterclass with the ball has provided a simple run chase for the Cats in Cricket Shepparton’s women’s competition, as a gap between the top two and bottom two sides becomes apparent.
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Mooroopna is 2-1 following three rounds of action and has issued a warning to the competition across the past fortnight following a narrow four-run loss to ladder-leader Nagambie in round one.
In round two, the Cats prevailed in monster fashion by 102 runs over Kyabram and round three’s effort against Shepparton Youth Club United was a mirrored effort.
Mooroopna held Kyabram to a score of 58 over the T20 innings and against SYCU at Princess Park on Saturday a near identical total was restricted.
What the Cats lack for in claiming wickets, they more than make up for with tight bowling lines and intense fielding pressure – SYCU recorded a score of 6-61, marginally exceeding a run rate of three per over, in another limited total following round two’s efforts.
Nine Cats rolled the arm over in the first innings, but Mia Earl was the pick of the bunch, taking three wickets in four balls for a figure of 3-4 off two overs.
Once Amani Issell and Poppy Vandermeer stepped to the crease, the game was just about over as quick as it began.
Issell and Vandermeer combined for a 42-run partnership before Issell was caught in the field at the seventh over.
Vandermeer continued on and was retired for 20 runs at the start of the 11th over, but the Cats only required three further runs to win, which Nonie Shipston secured by the 66th ball bowled, Mooroopna losing two cavalry en route to a score of 62 with nine overs to spare.
Mooroopna bowler Nonie Shipston heaves one down the wicket.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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SYCU batter Alysha Kazayi hears the death rattle.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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SYCU batter Mel Saunders slogs to the onside.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Mooroopna fielder Alyse O'Connell ends Mel Saunders' day at the crease.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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SYCU batter Phoebe Hawker whips out a reverse sweep.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Mooroopna fielder Poppy Vandermeer winds up a deep throw to the stumps.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Mooroopna's Charlie Nicholson claims a bouncing shot.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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The Cats cheer for a wicket.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Mooroopna batter Ebony Sleeth smacks it off the middle.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Mooroopna batters Ebony Sleeth and Poppy Vandermeer having a laugh before they bat.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The win sets up an enticing round one rematch for round four, with Nagambie’s dominant undefeated start to the season set to be challenged again by the Cats.
Nagambie is 2-0 following a washout the previous week, but made light work of Kyabram in round three, as Mooroopna did in round two, bowling the Redbacks out for 51 before wiping the shine off the Kookaburra in a rapid innings, reaching the target in 5.4 overs with one wicket lost.
The Lakers and Cats already appear to be a class above the rest, marking each upcoming fixture between the pair as a potential preview for the post-season campaign.
Kyabram takes on SYCU in an opportunity to get premiership points on the board this season, with the pair’s last encounter won by 42 runs in favour of United.
