Sport

Haisman Shield ǀ Gallery ǀ Cats purr through to finals with Bloods dismantling

By James Kleeman

Feb 27, 2022

All smiles: Mooroopna batters Brodie McDonald and Jac Smith-Williams. Photo by Megan Fisher

A win was required, and it’s what Mooroopna got on Saturday when the Cats rolled Karramomus to punch their ticket to Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield finals.

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It was a dominant all-round performance from Mooroopna on its home deck in the final round; the reigning premier ensuring it will not lie down in its title defence.

A slight stutter earlier this year had many pondering whether the beleaguered side had it in it; player shortages ripped through the Cats’ line-up, something which reflected in its results.

However, the champions have silenced all critics to steady the ship, finishing third to pencil in a home qualifying finals clash with Nagambie.

A solid start was likely the message to Mooroopna’s batters at the weekend and Jac Smith-Williams (25) and Brodie McDonald (14) duly delivered, seeing off the Bloods’ strike bowlers.

Brady Mulcahy (51) entered at four to manufacture a game-high knock, his highest score of the season.

A final, unbeaten stand from Brad Boyle (24) and Sam O’Brien (20) guided the Cats to 8-187 to close out their innings, a score well above what Mooroopna’s bowlers might consider par on their home surface.

Karramomus’ bowling unit finished its season on a high, with Angus Heslin spearheading the attack to take three important wickets.

As has been the story all season, the Bloods’ bats failed to garner any sort of momentum in the chase, under fire albeit from a savage Cats bowling attack.

Jack Gaskill (4-19) went back-to-back to seal another four-wicket haul, while Brad Boyle (2-20) and Riley Moon (2-22) also had a piece of the pie.

The Bloods were bundled out for 80 in the end, Mooroopna collecting its seventh win of the season to book its finals ticket.

The Lakers await in the qualifying finals, with a terrific run of form in the back end of their campaign fuelling their rise from 10th to fourth.

THE GAME

Mooroopna 8-187 (Brady Mulcahy 51, Jac Smith-Williams 25, Jaxon Thomas 2-21) d Karramomus 80 (Jack Gaskill 4-19, Brad Boyle 2-20, Riley Moon 2-22)

STAR PLAYER

Brady Mulcahy (Mooroopna): An important half-century from the Cats’ keeper was a turning point, as those around him struggled to push on after making a start. He’s never been far from runs this season, but deservedly raised the bat at the weekend to mark his first milestone of the campaign.