The Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield contest between Mooroopna and Karramomus looks virtually deadlocked after the first day of play.
The obvious conclusion is the conditions Saturday at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve were heavily favouring the bowlers, with 14 wickets falling for an aggregate total of 167 runs across the afternoon.
THE GAME
Mooroopna 4-44 (Matthew Price 25*, Lachie Keady 3-15) v Karramomus 123 (Nathan Jones 53, Chris Keady 38, Luke Zanchetta 6-38, Nick Breslin 2-30)
Karramomus would be used to such batting struggles and the scene looked quite familiar to observers as the top of its order disappeared rapidly, capped by the run out of the ordinarily dangerous Jayden Dhosi for a 17-ball duck.
The innings could not truly begin until Nathan Jones, in at six less than 10 overs into the game, found his way to the middle.
His partnerships with the Keadys ― first Lachlan, then Chris ― demonstrated the only effort that one could call anything remotely close to a resistance.
Jones’ eventual half-century was patient and more than well-earned, with his side’s final tally of 123 all out looking a touch generous.
Luke Zanchetta did everything possible to crush morale, scooping no fewer than six poles with Jones’ by far the most pivotal.
However, sailing would be far from smooth in the Cats’ 19 overs of reply with the willow, with Lachie Keady taking Mooroopna’s upper crust to task in revenge.
Absolutely anything is possible heading into Saturday’s second leg and there could still be action in all four innings.
Given the Mooroopna and Karramomus openers were dismissed for a combined five the first time around ― yes, five runs between the four of them ― a 40-wicket affair, while not the odds-on outcome, is very much in play.