BLU was all class on its home deck, accounting for Fire Brigade by 79 runs despite a six-wicket haul from Fire Brigade’s Jack Donnell.
On the other side of the score sheet, spinner Sandun Ranathunga’s 5-20 in reply proved the more decisive bowling innings as BLU bundled out its opposition for 102.
“That’s the first time we have beaten Kyabram in a long time,” Holloway said.
“I think it’s about eight or nine years since we actually beat them. It was a good win for the club."
And it came in barn-storming fashion, no less.
Batting first, BLU threatened to push past the 200-run mark until a late-order stumble saw it post 9-181, with Luke Thompson (43) and Rathika Rajakumara (38) propping up the middle order with a 78-run partnership.
“We batted quite well,” Holloway said.
“The top five or six all got starts, but we didn’t have anyone go on with it.
“We still set a competitive score. Cody Thompson opened for the first time and batted really well.
“Luke Thompson and Rathika (Rajakumara) batted nicely throughout the middle overs to give us a good platform.
“We couldn’t go and get that 200-plus but it was still a good score to bowl to.”
Donnell ran rampant with ball in hand, finishing with figures of 6-29.
But it’s with ball in hand that Holloway’s side has excelled this season, and the leg spin of Ranathunga was too hot for the Flames bats to handle.
The Thompsons — Cody and Luke — started brightly to dismiss the dangerous Danny Kent and Miller Griffiths, before Ranathunga ripped through the middle order to wrap up the Kyabram innings in the 33rd over.
“The two Thompsons started really well and put the pressure right on them early,” Holloway said.
“Sandun came on and was the pick of the bowlers quite comfortably; in saying that, the boys fielded really well to back him up.
“(The pitch) doesn’t generally offer a lot to the spinners, it’s usually pretty bouncy and pretty good to bat on.
“It was the first game we’ve really gone on with it and got on top early.”
With several BLU players out, Holloway was pleased with the depth on hand, especially with a testing round-nine clash with ladder-leader Echuca this Saturday.
“We had a couple of outs yesterday; Greg (Pearse) was sore from the week before, and then Liam (Hamilton) pulled out the morning of the game sick,” Holloway said.
“(Echuca) will be a good test for us.
“They’e quite comfortably on top of the ladder; they’re looking stronger and stronger.
“Saturday’s win really helps us out moving forward and we just have to keep winning towards the back end of the year to finish off strong.”
BLU has now moved back into third spot, while the Flames have been consigned to their fourth loss of the season, sitting two games outside the top four.
