Waaia would have felt good after restricting Mooroopna to a below-par total in Saturday’s crucial Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield affair.
Once the Cats fell for 212 all out, led by a reasonably aggressive 56 from Jac Smith Williams, the Bombers merely needed to get through six overs to close out the day and set the stage for a comfortable chase.
While Sam Trower’s five off 22 signified the intention to do just that and nothing more, Henry Barrow took the wicket to make Waaia think about it at the other end with the dismissal of Brayden Carey.
Wicketkeeper Carey had been busy through the day with two catches behind the stumps, but Barrow’s late production ensures there will be no repeat of the dazzling double-century stand that the Bombers nailed last time out.
Connor Brown will undoubtedly take day one MVP recognition after doing all he could to whip the Cats into the sheds much sooner.
Brown mesmerised Mooroopna from start to finish.
He clean-bowled three Cats batsmen down the middle en route to a dazzling six-wicket outing, giving the Bombers time to begin their reply in earnest.
However, anything could be possible after the early breakthrough, giving Cats captain Jack Gaskill plenty to think about.
THE GAME SO FAR
Waaia 1-12 (Sam Trower 5*, Henry Barrow 1-9) trails Moooroopna 212 (Jac Smith Williams 56, Brodie McDonald 40, Connor Brown 6-69, Jordan Cleeland 3-42)
“At the start of the day we were looking for about 230-250 as the wicket still had a lot in it, but we’re more than happy with 212,” Gaskill said.
“I’m disappointed that we were about 2-140 to then be 212 all out, but that’s the way it goes.
“Henry bowled really well in his three overs at the end and there’s still a lot in the wicket for us.”
On paper, the contest looks relatively even-keeled, which is a victory in itself for a Mooroopna outfit looking to rebound from its shocking batting display against winless Karramomus.
It was once the Cats turned from bat to ball that the outlook shifted, though.
“If we could get one wicket before the end of the day, we knew we’d be on top,” Gaskill said.
“Trower and Carey are good players, but we knew it would be massive if we could get one of them to open up.
“I think it’s evenly poised. They’ve shown how good their batting line-up is, but with our bowlers, I think we can do it.
“The early wicket is just vital for us.”