Waaia star Jordan Cleeland was one run away from playing the perfect cricket game.
The talented all-rounder was on fire with the ball during Waaia’s round 13 victory over Shepparton United in Cricket Shepparton’s Haisman Shield.
Cleeland took 5-45 from his 19.5 overs as the Bombers bowled United out for 177, 148 runs short of Waaia’s first innings total of 325.
In the Bombers’ first innings, Cleeland was dismissed for 99.
One more run and he would have secured the magic combination of a ton and a five-for.
Waaia’s captain Mitch Cleeland was quick to compliment the Bombers’ top order, giving credit to the batters who helped set up their monster score the previous weekend.
“It’s a bit funny he (Jordan) is my brother, so I don’t want to say too much,” he said with a laugh.
“He obviously batted pretty well last week and fell a little bit short. The guys up the top of the order did the hard work to set everything up to get a good score.
“His bowling has been consistent all year. Probably got a reward for effort yesterday and, yes, it was a pleasing result for us in that sense.
“Quinton Venter got 67 last week and it had been a while coming. He has been well overdue and he has probably been a bit unlucky with some of his dismissals, but it was nice to see him get among the runs.
“Brayden Carey’s 80-odd not out was a great innings as well, which got us that big total that we were chasing.”
THE GAME
Waaia 4-325 (Jordan Cleeland 99, Brayden Carey 81*, Sam Nash 4-109) d Shepparton United 177 (Jake Callow 34, Mitchell Jarrett 28, Jordan Cleeland 5-45)
STAR PLAYER
Jordan Cleeland (Waaia): The obvious choice for player-of-the-match honours. Was dominant with bat and ball and will be key in the Bombers’ pursuit of a Haisman Shield premiership.
Will Trower was dynamic with ball in hand as he took 3-15 from his 11 overs, including seven maidens.
Captain Cleeland was proud of his side’s season and the form it is taking into this year’s finals series, but the talented skipper knows the Bombers must stay focused if they are to push for the Haisman Shield title.
“Probably just our consistency,” he said.
“We just need to keep ensuring that we’re all aware of what needs to go on and our bowling needs to be consistent the whole time. I think if we can follow through on that, it will hold us in good stead moving forward.”
Waaia will take on Nagambie in the first round of finals.