An all-round performance from Kyabram’s captain Kyle Mueller has led his side to a 41-run victory over Old Students in Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield action on Saturday.
In the one-day match, Mueller was influential with bat and ball as he struck 36 off 43 balls (including two fours and one six) and finished with bowling figures of 4-36 off 8.4 overs.
After the Redbacks won the toss and elected to bat, opening pair Paul Parsons and Tim Nelson (38 runs from 78 balls) put on an impressive 124-run partnership to get their side off to a bright start.
Parsons was the first to be dismissed, but by that stage he had already produced a stunning knock as he hit 82 runs off 63 balls (including 12 fours and two sixes).
One of the highlights of the match came at the end of Kyabram’s innings as number eight batter Gus McKenzie struck four sixes from the last over to help boost the Redbacks to a total of 8-250 from 45 overs.
Sam O’Brien was the pick of the bowlers for Students as he finished with a tidy 2-34 from his nine overs.
But while O’Brien was tight with his bowling Students will be disappointed they gave away 25 extras, including 18 wides.
THE GAME
Kyabram 8-250 (Paul Parsons 82, Tim Nelson 38, Sam O’Brien 2-34) d Old Students 209 (Felix Odell 52, Sam O’Brien 45, Kyle Mueller 4-36)
STAR PLAYER
Kyle Mueller (Kyabram): The star Redback continued on with his impressive season as he was damaging with bat and ball. His quick-fire 36 off 43 balls and his four wickets, one of them being star batter Felix Odell, was the difference between the two sides on Saturday.
In response, Students were bowled out for 209 with two balls left in the match.
It was a valiant effort from the home side, with top-order batters Sam O’Brien (45 from 66 balls), Oscar Lambourn (18 from 34) and vice-captain Felix Odell (52 from 45) giving Students some hope.
Unfortunately for Students, the target of 251 was too far out of reach as they slumped to their ninth loss of the season.
However, for Kyabram, it was its fifth win on the trot and with only two rounds remaining in the season, the Redbacks are charging towards finals.
Kyabram coach Jackson McLay believes his side’s performances earlier in the year, where it went one win from five games, were not a true testament to its capabilities.
“We were well below where we should have been in the first month and that has put us on the back foot for the rest of the year,” he said.
“We have had no other choice other than to keep winning.
“The belief hasn’t wavered and we have turned it around.
“Our season is in our hands.”
Halfway through Students’ innings, McLay said the Redbacks’ standards began to drop and that it took a special performance from Mueller to help get them back on track.
“Through the middle overs, 15-30 overs, we were quite poor with the ball and in the field,” he said.
“At the 30-over mark we had a fairly robust discussion and Kyle brought himself on and changed the game.
“For a bloke that doesn’t bowl a great deal, to come on and assess the situation and bowl to what was needed was exceptional.
“He took four wickets, but he also had two or three dropped catches off his bowling.”
The next round of Haisman Shield will be highlighted by a match between ladder leader Waaia and the in-form Kyabram at Waaia Recreation Reserve on Saturday.