It was a day one local team was assured a place in the Goulburn Murray Cricket women’s grand final — but nobody would do it easy under the scorching Nathalia sun.
Super Sunday was perhaps unfortunately timed; a whopping 40°C forecast threatened the 2pm preliminary final, which would be made up of teams each playing their second game for the day.
However, Mooroopna and Shepparton United had a semi-final meeting to worry about before that, as did Echuca Green and Katamatite.
With an automatic grand final spot on the line, not to mention getting out of the heat with a victory, Mooroopna’s Gemma Boyd took the game on with aplomb.
Her 31 at a positive strike rate carried large parts of an innings where runs were otherwise hard to come by, as United’s Lia Beecroft — earmarked by Cats skipper Lauren Hall last week as a threat — delivered an explosive three-wicket cameo in her two overs.
Another aspect of the game Hall was particular about was her team’s fielding.
Boy, did that improve when United’s batters came out to chase.
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Flick it around: Shepparton United's Dianne Poole. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 2 of 10
Keep it up, girls: Shepparton United's Lia Beecroft. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 3 of 10
Share it: Shepparton United's Lia Beecroft. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 4 of 10
Taking it on: Mooroopna's Lauren Hall. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 5 of 10
Fielded comfortably: Shepparton United's Mel Saunders. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 6 of 10
Quick in the gloves: Shepparton United's Erica Hammond. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 7 of 10
Watch it go: Mooroopna's Ebony Sleeth. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 8 of 10
Run stopped: Shepparton United's Rebecca Laino. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 9 of 10
Field work: Shepparton United's Natalie Owen. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 10 of 10
What comes next: Shepparton United's Dianne Poole. Photo by Rechelle ZammitIt became arguably Mooroopna’s greatest strength, with no fewer than four run-outs keeping United under wraps.
Capping the innings with a rare diamond duck for Mia Owen, the Cats advanced in style with a 24-run win to send United in again that afternoon.
There were no second chances on Oval 2 as Echuca Green and Katamatite met in a do-or-die semi.
Echuca Green’s leaders overcame two early losses to steer their side towards a competitive total before Gillian Noelker retired not out on 28 (three fours).
Eventually setting 89 to win, four straight double-digit partnerships gave Katamatite a sniff, propped up by Alexis Iddles’ long-term stay.
Olivia Hooper eventually imposed her will on the chase with a final haul of 3-10, while Sophie Good collected a valuable pair of poles down the order to end the Tigers’ season 32 runs short.
So, it was soon time for United and Echuca to back it up, each desiring a grand final place and revenge on Mooroopna.
For the second time that day, though, United’s batters would struggle to break through, with no boundaries resulting in an agonising amount of actual running as temperatures soared.
Olivia Hooper would claim two more scalps to finish with five across the double-header, with Green needing 56 to advance to the final.
Echuca, perhaps mercifully, put the foot down and got across the line in the 11th over to quickly wrap up the preliminary final in a seven-wicket rout.
After a searing Sunday series, the result is a qualifying final rematch between unbeaten Mooroopna and Echuca Green on Sunday morning at Tongala.
The Cats’ bowling defined the day in the previous meeting at Mooroopna, but with tamer conditions forecast than were encountered at Nathalia, there might be more in it for the batters as the season crosses the finish line.