CRICKET SHEPPARTON
An explosive half-century by batting maestro Kyle Mueller propelled Kyabram to its third successive Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield win on Saturday.
The Kyabram skipper unleashed a barrage of six towering sixes and two fours in racing to an unbeaten half-century to engineer an eight-wicket win for his team over Euroa at Euroa.
Joining his brother Cade when Kyabram was 2-76 chasing Euroa’s 141 Kyabram took less than 22 overs.
They came together after a burst water pipe near the wicket threatened an early end to the game and held up play for about half an hour.
Chasing Euroa’s score of 135 Cade was unbeaten on 25 with three fours and one six off 36 deliveries when Kyabram hit the front and stumps were drawn in an early finish.
Earlier Kyabram’s openers, the in-form Billy McLay with 35 off 48 deliveries and Paul Parsons with 25 off 16 balls with five fours had laid the foundation for a winning score with a stand of 42.
Kyabram’s McLay brothers were again prominent in keeping the brakes on the Euroa batters.
After their clean sweep of the Shepparton Youth Club United batting line-up the previous week Jackson, Billy and Charlie all claimed two wickets.
Off-spinner Louis Sabbagh-Holt, who was thrown the new ball, took the wickets of both openers to have Euroa on the back foot early.
The most productive Euroa batter was Ryan Hill with 41 off 41 balls with five fours.
Kyabram hosts new side Pine Lodge, yet to win a game, this Saturday.
· In B grade, Kyabram chased down Euroa’s 8-173 in their clash at Kyabram Recreation Reserve with 4.1 overs to spare and four wickets in hand.
The Young brothers, Alec with 35 and Jack with a top score of 49, and Nick Chambers with 36 provided the bulk of the winning runs for Kyabram.
In Euroa’s innings all six Kyabram bowlers used got a wicket with Chambers and Alec Young both claiming two victims.
· Kyabram’s E-grade side had to chase Katandra’s daunting score of 7-253 and made a decent fist of it, replying with 5-241.
Veteran Ross Brown turned back the clock to make a breathtaking 92 not out with 14 fours and three sixes.
Brown, opener Paul Wickham with 67 off 45 deliveries, Max Coates with 26 and Flynn Burrows with an unbeaten 13 almost got Kyabram over the line in the high-scoring shootout.