You might be forgiven for thinking you were reading a recap of last year’s Australia-South Africa Test debacle at the Gabba reading this scorecard.
Mooroopna produced a fiery second-day bowling display, eventually enough to offset batting woes of its own, in a seven-wicket Haisman Shield victory over bottom-placed Karramomus.
The second 20-wicket effort of Cricket Shepparton’s A-grade competition in 2023-24 was a remarkable one.
THE GAME
Mooroopna 7-130 (Matt Price 48, Jack Gaskill 39*, Lachie Keady 4-40) and 3-50 (Brodie McDonald, 23*, Jac Smith Williams 16, Zane Newbound 2-17) d Karramomus 123 (Nathan Jones 53, Chris Keady 38, Luke Zanchetta 6-38) and 56 (Lachie Keady 21, Aaron Di Fede 3-3, Nick Breslin 3-19)
STAR PLAYER
Nick Breslin (Mooroopna): The most consistent in a wicket-taking frenzy on both sides, Breslin was significantly restrictive in the two Karramomus innings and left the game with five wickets and 10 maidens in a standout pair of outings.
Karramomus set a new season-low tally in their second go-around after Mooroopna declared at 7-130, promptly rolled for 56 to hold a meagre 49-run advantage.
The Cats’ sailing still needed to be smoother in chasing the mere 50 required for a fourth win in five complete games, but the Aaron Di Fede-led bowling attack had put paid to the contest.
Nonetheless, day-one MVP Luke Zanchetta takes the points.
“It was a bit of a bizarre game, really,” Zanchetta said.
“We had them five for single figures both innings, so it was a bit of a shock.
“Batting first, Matt Price and Jack Gaskill went about it exceptionally well, and they put on an excellent partnership to ice the game.”
A pure inability to play the ball on the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve pitch hampered both teams in large chunks, but the Karramomus trio of Cooper Delahey, captain Mitch McGrath and the unbeaten Chris Keady may not have been interested in getting the offence going.
The three combined for two runs ― and two wickets lost ― from a staggering 74 balls faced, with Keady the last man standing after facing four scoreless overs himself.
“I’m not sure if they came out with much of a plan to bat. They defended, and sometimes when you defend, it plays into the opposition’s hands,” Zanchetta said.
“Aaron Di Fede bowled really well at the top with three crucial wickets, plus we got a handy run out early.
“Nick Breslin continued his good form with the ball, and with more overs he’s getting better.”
So what gives with the almost free-falling state of both sides’ batting line-ups, then?
Was there something in the wicket that made it so reminiscent of the now-infamous Gabba deck that saw Australia and South Africa’s Test last fewer overs than this clash did?
Not according to the man in the middle.
“The new ball’s very crucial at Mooroopna, because once the shine wears off it becomes a nice wicket for batting,” Zanchetta said.
“The scores don’t justify how good the wicket actually is.
“If the ball was there, you needed to attack it, but a lot of average balls were able to go through.”
The Cats have big, big fish to fry in the near future.
From two straight wins over then-winless opposition, Mooroopna’s gaze shifts from the bottom to the top as Waaia looms large this weekend.
“Our next three games are a really tough schedule,” Zanchetta said.
“Depending on how we go, we’ll see where we’re going to finish, but barring catastrophe, we’ll fight for finals.
“We’ve put the sides away that we should have put away, and we’re grateful to have gotten over the line in a couple of close ones.”
Karramomus has its best remaining chance of victory awaiting in the next fortnight, hosting the also-winless Euroa.