Day two was less than 30 overs long. That sums up the story of season-long dominance.
Waaia has clinched top spot in the Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield two weeks in advance with a comprehensive six-wicket win over Kyabram.
The stage had well and truly been set the previous Saturday, with the Redbacks dismissed for less than 150 before Waaia closed barely 100 runs from victory at stumps.
Both Bombers who kicked on as day two got under way would find themselves back in the sheds within 10 overs, presumably leading to thoughts of a far more even contest than previously imagined.
Any hopes that the visitors would reinsert themselves into the picture — even as much in need of a win as Kyabram is — were swiftly put to bed courtesy of Waaia’s South African connection.
THE GAME
Waaia 4-147 (Quinton Venter 48, Reinhardt Engler 43*, Jackson McLay 2-60) d Kyabram 144 (Kyle Mueller 45, Paul Parsons 33, Jesse Trower 6-47)
STAR PLAYER
Jesse Trower (Waaia): The relative comfort of Waaia’s win was down to the superb groundwork Trower laid on day one with a stellar haul. Far and away the most damaging bowler in the competition on his day, Trower stands to play a big role come finals time.
Reinhardt Engler and Quinton Venter went about taking the mathematical certainty of top spot home with ease, notching five fours each and going beyond at least once apiece in a powerful 76-run stand.
Venter’s dismissal on 48 denied the chance for a well-earned bat raise, but the damage had long been done with four runs needed to win, which Engler would go on to provide.
Kyabram’s Jackson McLay was naturally disappointed with the loss, but perhaps more so with its consequences for the Redbacks’ season.
“The plan was to put pressure on the middle order and the two guys (who started the day) didn’t get away,” McLay said.
“A couple more wickets would have been nice when the game was in the balance, but they were far too good.
“We had a bit of a chat after the game; first and foremost, we have to win and from then we’ll assess where we’re at.
“We’ll throw everything at maximum points and hopefully a few other results go our way.”
It was, of course, not Kyabram’s intention to sit outside finals ahead of the closing fortnight, needing help from around the grounds in addition to the bottom-placed Karramomus in front of it.
The Redbacks occupy seventh, sitting six points adrift of the next rung up in Katandra, so in all likelihood, more than six will be necessary to have a serious shot.
“We’ll see where we’re at when stumps comes on day one, but my message after the game was ‘we have to play well to give ourselves any chance’,” McLay said.
“Karramomus obviously don’t have finals to play for, but I saw (Tatura) upset Central Park, so we can’t take anything for granted and we have to stick to our process.
“Unfortunately, we’ve put ourselves in this situation where we have to rely on other sides, but I’ll back our group 100 per cent and have always done that.
“There’s a bit of pressure on, no doubt, but it’s up to us to get ourselves out of this position.”
The unenviable task of approaching finals knowing your ultimate fate rests in the hands of other sides hurts, but McLay nonetheless praised the competition’s ability to throw up unexpected results.
The amount of mathematical factors in play brought about by some upsets, he says, are “good for the comp”.