Katandra was made to do it the hard way to ensure it reached the opening month of Cricket Shepparton’s Haisman Shield season undefeated.
The Eagles brushed aside a disastrous start with the bat to soar over Euroa by 74 runs at Katandra Recreation Reserve in round four action.
The visitors, led by opening quick Walter Jackson (4-31), executed with the ball and had the Eagles grounded at 5-47 in the 14th over.
A brilliant 82-run partnership from experienced heads Ray Ireland (51 runs) and Hadleigh Sirett (32) wrestled momentum away from Euroa.
Ireland was the hero with his half-century knock coming off 79 deliveries as the number seven bat guided the hosts to 7-152 when Jackson picked up his third scalp.
Some late hitting from the tail and handy extras (21 wides) gave Katandra a competitive total of 9-195 from 45 overs.
The Magpies were unable to break the shackles of Katandra stars Scott Richardson (4-28) and co-captain Jedd Wright (3-21) and the visitors were bowled out for 121 in reply.
Euroa struggled to string partnerships together out in the middle and bottom seven batters could only muster 32 runs between them.
Katandra playing coach Ryleigh Shannon said there was plenty of relief after his side was able to escape with the points.
“It was not the best start we could have hoped for really,” he said of the early wickets.
“They (Euroa) are a side we seem to have blips against. They were very disciplined with their line and length and full credit to them.
“It was just one of those games where you get the result and then get out of there quickly.”
Shannon praised the performances of his side’s standout performers in the gritty win.
“We back in our batting all the way down the order,” he said.
“When you have played as many A-grade games as them (Ireland and Sirett), you back them in knowing they can get the job done.
“Their experience, just attacking when they needed to and then blocking out the good balls. And it was a real workmanlike performance from him (Ireland). His running between wickets is probably the best in our side.
“The wickets haven’t really come for Scotty so far this season and it was great to see him get rewarded and Jedd just did what he normally does, he bowled really well.”
THE GAME
Katandra 9-195 (Ray Ireland 51, Hadleigh Sirett 32, Walter Jackson 4-31, Vaughan Kirk 2-40) d Euroa 121 (Josh Robertson 33, Nick Hill 18, Scott Richardson 4-24, Jedd Wright 3-21)
STAR PLAYER
Ray Ireland (Katandra): Talk about crucial knocks. With his side in all sorts at 5-47, the multiple premiership player fired with the bat with an important half-century. His 82-run partnership with fellow experienced head Hadleigh Sirett gave the Eagles enough to defend and that allowed Scott Richardson and Jedd Wright to work their magic with ball in hand.