Shepparton United pulled off what may be the biggest upset of the Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield season on Saturday, defending its 99-run total against a rampant Central Park-St Brendan’s to clinch its first victory of the campaign.
With finals assured for the Tigers, United rolled into Deakin Reserve intent on spoiling the party and rounding out its difficult season on some sort of high.
The first innings certainly did not go as planned for Mahesh Kodamullage’s men, as they were bundled out for 99 after a rip-roaring Tigers bowling show.
Aidan Lloyd (3-17) got himself back among the wickets after his stop-start year, with Jarrod Wakeling and Dwain Vidler chipping in with two each.
With a mountain to climb, United was absolutely devastating in reply, tearing through the usually run-happy Tigers batters in lethal fashion.
United’s captain Chaminda Vidanapathirana sent shock waves through the Tigers’ camp in the second over by dismissing opener Tim Kelly, before sending Tyler Larkin’s stumps cartwheeling the next ball — the Tigers’ coach gone for a golden.
Brendan Scott compiled 23 in an attempt to weather the storm, but even the usually reliable captain could not mount a resistance, with Wajhe Bangash luring him into a loose shot in the ninth over.
Rhiley Lau, Connor Holland and Ramadan Yze fell victim to the spin heroics of Kodamullage, who ensured the middle-order didn’t get comfortable.
Scorers were inking the final details in the 32nd over, after Ethan McLaren (2-22) doubled down to claim the Tigers’ last two wickets to earn his side an early shower.
Kodamullage said the win was the perfect finale to his side’s season, having come close a number of times in the second half of its campaign.
“We’ve lost a lot of games by very close margins against top sides, Numurkah, Waaia, we showed as a team we are capable of winning big games in this league,” he said.
“It’s a great win for us, as a team; Central Park are a very good side.”
The win has given his side a newfound belief, he said, as he and the committee at Princess Park look toward the 2022-23 season.
“I’m looking forward to talking to the committee, we are hoping to talk to some top-order batsmen, two or three players for the club, I think most of the young kids will be back next season,” he said.
“Next season I believe we will have the talent to make finals, now (after the win) we believe we can do something.”
THE GAME
Central Park-St Brendan’s 90 (Mahesh Kodamullage 4-13, Chaminda Vidanapathirana 2-17, Ethan McLaren 2-22) lt Shepparton United 99 (Aiden Lloyd 3-17, Dwain Vidler 2-20, Jarrod Wakeling 2-29)
STAR PLAYER
Mahesh Kodamullage (Shepparton United): United’s spin king led from the front at the weekend, combining with Vidanapathirana to extract the Tigers’ top six in quick succession. To say he had batters bamboozled would be an understatement. Not only did he claim four wickets, he cost just 13 runs in his lethal nine overs.