Cricket Shepparton now has both of its T20 grand finals locked and loaded after last Thursday’s action.
The first two weeks of 2025 will have the Higher-grade and Lower-grade competitions wrap up in a frenzy of fast-paced cricket — and four different clubs will be taking part.
Following Katandra’s Lower-grade semi-final triumph over Central Park-St Brendan’s the week prior, the senior Eagles had a chance to make it a club sweep into their respective deciders.
Mooroopna stood in the way, the Cats taking to their home turf two nights prior to a handy Haisman Shield win over Pine Lodge.
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Katandra's Mitch Black keeps a keen eye on Mooroopna's Ethan Baker as he looks to swing hard. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 2 of 9
Katandra's Bailey Simpson looks to spin a web. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 3 of 9
Katandra's Hadleigh Sirett and Katandra's Corey Hickford keep spirits up. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 4 of 9
Katandra's Hadleigh Sirett was charging in on Thursday. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 5 of 9
Katandra's Jedd Wright lobs it to the bowler. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 6 of 9
Katandra's Hadleigh Sirett executes his follow-through. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 7 of 9
Katandra's Ben Pedretti set his field well. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 8 of 9
Katandra's Sam Green holds the runner to a single. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 9 of 9
Mooroopna's Will Hale strides to the crease. Photo by Rechelle ZammitEagle import Seth Westley has found his groove within Cricket Shepparton’s framework, and continued a scintillating run by making his impact felt early at Joel May’s expense.
In knocking over first drop Paul McDonald’s stumps shortly thereafter, the Cats were up against it, but got the unexpected assistance of one Jake Wright in at four.
A former full-timer at Mooroopna, Wright has appeared exclusively in Goulburn Murray Cricket competitions to this point in the season, making several showings for Rochester in the John McMahon Shield, but found time to head south and don the blue.
His mercenary-like contribution was more than welcome for the host, which rode a handy 49-run partnership between himself and import Ethan Baker to galvanise the run total through the middle overs.
In perhaps something of a testament to Katandra’s bowling stocks — and Westley in particular, who took four wickets — Mooroopna would play out a sixless 20 overs, but the job remained a big one with 148 the target.
The wild and unpredictable nature of T20 led to some quick-fire dismissals early in the chase as well, with the Eagles in some trouble at 4-32 when Mitch Black arrived in the middle.
The only two sixes of the game would arrive off Black’s bat in a team-high knock of 26, but the support simply wasn’t there around him.
A series of bit-part partnerships down the tail end were effectively curtailed by a highly collaborative Mooroopna attack which had four bowlers each claim a pair of scalps in sealing a path to the final courtesy of a 26-run win.
There, the Cats will meet Waaia after the red and black overcame Central Park-St Brendan’s in a close-run thing up north — just before meeting again in Haisman action, which was anything but.
The Cleeland boys, Jordan and Mitch, combined for just less than half of their side’s eventual tally of 9-125 after electing to have a hit.
In response, the dynamic duo of Tyler Larkin and Connor Hayes brought the Tigers to the dance — and did they ever repeat the dose at the weekend — but Jesse Trower and Mitch Cleeland had enough of the answers with three wickets apiece to stop the visitors seven runs and two overs short.
The Bombers and Cats will meet in the Higher-grade decider at Waaia on Thursday, January 9, as part of the district’s big return to play week.
Meanwhile, the Lower-grade final between Tatura and Katandra will cap the week at Howley Oval on the evening of Sunday, January 12.