Katandra soars close to first day triumph after sluggish start to two-day Haisman Shield cricket

Katandra hosted ladder leader Numurkah at Katandra Recreation Reserve on Saturday afternoon for the first two-day match of the Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield season.

Having won the toss and electing to bat, Numurkah gun quick Connor McLeod dismissed both of Katandra’s openers early, leaving the score sat at 2-6.

The Eagles then fumbled and scratched their way to a few starts, however, no-one in Katandra’s top five scored higher than Stephen Barrett's 17.

After Numurkah import Ben Beaumont dismissed Katandra’s Graham Sharp for nine, the Blues appeared in control of the match at 5-68.

However, the Eagles' batting order runs deep, with two veteran all-rounders coming to the home side’s rescue.

Andrew Riordan (41 runs off 91 balls) helped stop the rot before Jedd Wright (46 off 41) put the pressure back on the Blues.

When Riordan was dismissed, Numurkah still maintained the upper hand with the score on 8-159.

The Eagles desperately needed some lower-order runs and, fortunately, the tail was happy to wag.

Coming in at number nine, Hadleigh Sirett raised the bat after scoring 50 runs off 63 balls, while number 10 Ray Ireland finished the day unbeaten on 41.

Katandra was eventually bowled out for 234, with Numurkah left nine overs to survive in fading light.

Sirett struck with his first ball in the second over, dismissing James Du Toit for one.

Soon after, English import Seth Westley claimed the other opener's wicket, before trapping Dylan Grandell LBW two balls later.

All of a sudden Numurkah was 3-1 and all the Blues’ hard work with the Kookaburra earlier in the day was slipping through their hands like grains of sand.

Westley then took another two wickets in his next over, with Sirett claiming his second wicket next ball in the following over making it an astonishing 6-4.

Katandra coach Ryleigh Shannon said, while he didn’t predict his side’s nine-over demolition, he couldn’t be happier with the way his players turned the game around.

“You don’t go out there expecting to take six wickets in nine overs, but you take what comes,” Shannon said.

“Switching innings and having to bowl a few overs at the end of the day, you probably don’t want too many more than nine, otherwise the ball gets too roughed up for next week.

“You have nothing to gain as the batting team, you are just looking to survive the night — it is all gain to the bowling team.”

At the end of the day’s play, Numurkah was left stupified at 6-14, trailing by 220 runs with another day's play remaining.

Despite both team’s top orders struggling to make an impact, Shannon said there were runs in the pitch for those willing to apply themselves.

“We always say it is a new ball wicket,” he said.

“If you can grind out and get through those first 20-30 balls, you always give yourself a big chance to produce some big scores.

“We have seen our players and opposition players, once you get in you can really cash in, and we also see a lot of scores of under 10.”

Sirett finished the day with 2-3 from his four overs to go with his half-ton, while Westley ended with 4-7 from his five.

Westley has now taken 14 wickets in his first five games in Haisman Shield.

Shannon said the Eagles' sizzling quick had made a massive impact at the club already during his time in the Goulburn Valley.

“We couldn’t be happier with him,” he said.

“Ironically, this is the most erratic that he has bowled.

“He bowled a few good nuts, but I think he would say himself he has bowled better.

“I think it is reward for a large period of time, not just yesterday’s four overs.”