After a seemingly cursed opening fortnight Mooroopna finally took flight on its 2023-24 Haisman Shield season, but the Cats’ bats fell short Saturday against an unbeaten Katandra.
Katandra, after its hot start to the season, was the fancied side going in even with several key personnel missing.
The contest was not totally on its terms, though.
After being set 164 to win, the early loss of Ben Pedretti unsettled the line-up before eventually crossing the line in the 38th over.
THE GAME
Katandra 7-167 (T. Wilson 48, A. Riordan 30, J. May 3-40) d Mooroopna 8-163 (J. May 29, L. Zanchetta 27*, R. Ireland 2-19)
STAR PLAYER
Joel May (Mooroopna): What more could May have done? Top-scoring with the bat in his side’s losing effort and finishing up as the Cats’ only multiple wicket-taker - with three - is a recipe for a huge outing, in victory or otherwise.
Pedretti’s hot bat was curtailed in the run chase, knocked over by Henry Barrow for a three-ball duck after averaging 50 across the first two weeks.
Meanwhile the Cats posted 8-163 from their 45 overs through a range of solid, if unspectacular, contributors led by the 29 off Joel May and an unbeaten late 27 from Luke Zanchetta.
Top scoring on the day was Talon Wilson, who helped his side rebound from Pedretti’s premature departure with 48 (five fours) before becoming the first of May’s three victims agonisingly shy of raising his bat.
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Chuck it around: Katandra's Andrew Riordan sends it back to his bowler. Photo by Megan FisherImage 2 of 8
Nice shot: Mooropna batters Tasman Hall and Brodie McDonald congregate after a boundary. Photo by Megan FisherImage 3 of 8
Go long: Katandra's Benjamin Pedretti throws from deep. Photo by Megan FisherImage 4 of 8
Cheers: Katandra's Corey Hickford receives the ball to prepare a delivery. Photo by Megan FisherImage 5 of 8
Full flight: Katandra's Scott Richardson sends one down the pitch. Photo by Megan FisherImage 6 of 8
Carefully placed: Mooroopna's Tasman Hall cuts a shot finely. Photo by Megan FisherImage 7 of 8
Lying in wait: Mooroopna batter Matthew Price anticipates the next ball. Photo by Megan FisherImage 8 of 8
Early adversity: The runs would not come easily for Mooroopna’s Brodie McDonald. Photo by Megan FisherRyleigh Shannon, having collected two scalps in the first innings, was pleased to continue Katandra’s perfect start.
“We were always confident in the team we had,” Shannon said.
“Coming into the year, we were certain we had A-grade depth and it was good to test it out against quality opposition like Mooroopna.
“Everyone played their role well.”
Mooroopna ― much made of its frustration-ridden fortnight with away games at Euroa and Central Park-St Brendan’s called off ― came in as an unknown quantity.
However, Katandra had no intention of underestimating a Cats outfit that, by its admission, may have lacked some match sharpness.
“We were expecting a good show and it was a high-level game of cricket out there,” Shannon said.
“We have confidence in everyone we pick each week, though.
“We never expect to win, but if we perform how we demand of each other, the results should go our way.”
Shannon shone a light on Wilson’s effort with the willow as an example of Katandra’s threat in the absence of some usual suspects.
“Talon making 48, for a young fella coming off an ACL injury last year, is good against top-level sides,” Shannon said.
“It’s handy that we don’t have to rely on Jedd (Wright) and Hadleigh (Sirett), and we can trust everybody to perform.”
Euroa, off to an inauspicious start in its own right after two weeks off, awaits the high-flying Eagles this weekend.
The message, Shannon says, will remain the same.
“If anyone has a bogey side, Euroa tends to be ours,” Shannon said.
“Sometimes our performances lack against them, but we’ll look to correct it this week.”