Kyabram wicket-keeper Gus Byrne and bowler Charlie McLay make a successful LBW appeal. Photos: Sandra Michalitsis.
In a difficult position at the end of day one, a five-wicket haul from Charlie McLay allowed Kyabram to keep its perfect record intact in the Cricket Shepparton’s Haisman Shield.
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Central Park-St Brendan’s resumed at 2-48 in reply to the Redbacks all out 189 from 55 overs.
Tyler Larkin continued on 8, while captain Rhiley Lau was the new man in at the start of the day’s play, but it wasn’t long before McLay got to work.
Lau battled for 24 balls, but was trapped in front for no score, and McLay reeled off the next three wickets to dismantle the Central Park batting line-up.
Reeling at 6-84, Jack McCarten and Ramadan Yze attempted a recovery effort adding 46 as a pair, but it was Jackson McLay’s turn to strike, and once the partnership was broken, the Tigers were all out of gas, dismissed for 149.
After a wicket on day one, Charlie McLay finished with 5-31, adding to a gritty 47 not out that dragged the Redbacks to a competitive total.
Kyabram’s Jackson McLay thunders in to bowl.
Coach Jackson McLay said Charlie’s efforts were pivotal to Kyabram notching its fourth win.
“Charlie's all-round game was probably the difference between the two sides,” McLay said.
“He got us out of a bit of trouble on day one – without his innings, the result probably could have gone the other way.
“He bowled all his overs yesterday into the wind and it was a fair headwind.
“He’s in some serious form and he was excellent yesterday.”
Kyabram sits atop the Haisman Shield with four wins from four, alongside the also unbeaten Old Students, which has three wins and a bye under its belt.
Charlie McLay took the first four wickets of day two.
The Redbacks head into another two-day clash over the next fortnight, this time at home at Kyabram Recreation Reserve against Katandra (2-1).
“Our batting will be the key; we’re going to have to bat a lot more overs than what we did last week,” McLay said.
“We weren’t happy with that output. Our scoring rate was fine, but just not enough overs out in the middle.
“We need to be able to bat that 80 overs, and we know if we can bat 80 overs, we're going to put a winning score on the board that we’ll back our bowlers to defend.”
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