One of Kyabram’s seasoned campaigners has slashed his first ton in 3619 days to lead the Redbacks to their first win of the 2023-24 Haisman Shield season.
Paul Parsons cranked 18 boundaries on the way to 114 as his side polished off Tatura by 158 runs on Saturday, playing the lead role in getting last season’s minor premier off and running in the new campaign.
The Redbacks posted 7-252 in a stand laden with strong partnerships before bowling out Tatura for 94.
It was a welcomed flip of form after a double helping of defeat in Kyabram’s opening fixtures, with coach Jackson McLay giving insight into the line in the sand drawn at training during the week.
“It was a pretty strong conversation after the Numurkah game, (that) was a pretty poor performance in a position that we probably should’ve won at the midway stage of that game, so it was good to turn it around,” he said.
“Last week I think we lost 6-13, so we just had to put a bit more time and effort in at the crease.
“Our fielding had to improve, so just our intensity across all three facets of training was much better than what they had been previously.
“On the back of that, we were able to put in a good all-round performance with bat, ball and in the field, so that was quite pleasing.”
Parsons and opening partner Billy McLay put on a promising stand before the latter left for 22.
Though Kyabram’s following batters made starts, only one man was doing the actual damage.
The Redbacks’ opener had Tatura’s bowling brigade in knots, slapping 72 runs in boundaries on the way to raising the bat ― his first ton since late 2013.
Parsons’ stunning 157 not out during a two-day win over Shepparton United a decade ago was to be marvelled. Still, his century on Saturday was probably more important as he shunted Kyabram into a match-winning position before holing out to Tom Vibert.
Cade Mueller also starred with the bat after missing last season through injury, falling one short of a half-century to Vibert, one of Tatura’s standouts with two wickets to partner Blake Armstrong with three.
The Bulldogs then got off to a horror start on the chase.
Preston Aurish was run out on the final ball of the first over, setting off a chain of cheap dismissals with skipper Jayden Armstrong (18 runs) the best of the Tatura bats.
Charlie McLay and Angus McKenzie collected three poles apiece to garner praise from their coach following the win.
“Charlie and Gus both bowled brilliantly; Gus is coming off a fractured leg, so he’s still building back a bit of fitness,” McLay said.
THE GAME
Kyabram 7-252 (P Parsons 114, C Mueller 49, B Armstrong 3-54) d Tatura 94 (J Armstrong 18, A McKenzie 3-31, C McLay 3-36)
STAR PLAYER
Paul Parsons (Kyabram): The Kyabram opener was seeing them like beachballs on the way to his first ton in a decade. His timing was impeccable, with 18 fours a fair indication of just how well he was seeing - and hitting - the ball.
“He actually bowled nine on the trot and bowled with good speed, so that’s exciting for us and hopefully over the next two or three weeks he starts to really hit his straps.”
McLay went on to heap plaudits on Parsons’ performance, with his knock even more impressive given he’s only just returned from back-to-back knee reconstructions.
“Over the first three weeks, he’s probably been the bloke that’s been hitting the ball as well as anyone,” he said.
“From pretty much ball one he was able to find the gaps, he was hitting the ball quite clean.
“Even just the mental strength to stick it out and get those partnerships which was the big key for us ― our top six getting partnerships.”