Kyle Mueller would have been confident in his bowling cartel, as he won the toss and elected to have a bowl on Numurkah’s home surface, rather than let his big-hitters in Paul Newman and Billy McLay unleash early on.
A stuttering start for the Blues’ batters had Kyabram’s tails up early, knocking over Numurkah captain Dylan Grandell for a measly 10, with fellow opener Kody Jackson going for a globe.
Michael Eckard was summoned to the crease far sooner than he would’ve liked, tasked with taming the dangerous Redbacks bowlers.
The all-rounder proved he won’t shy away from a challenge, however, going to work with Bailey Smith in steadying the Blues’ innings.
A lower-order knock from Jordan O’Dwyer (26 not out) dragged his side to 175 after 45 overs.
The visitors would have been licking their lips at the Blues’ target, and after posting formidable scores of 200-250-plus in the games leading up to Christmas — this total was well within their reach.
Numurkah’s bowlers would then put on what many could label the bowling performance of the season, tearing through the Redbacks’ batting order to have them all out for 79 runs after 25.2 overs.
Kyabram seemingly had no answer to the gallant Blues’ bowling brigade, with Eckard (2-9) and Smith (2-19) ripping through the usually run-happy top order of Newman, McLay and Mueller, before Mitch Grandell (3-6) and Bailey Roberts (2-2) stepped in to knock over the lower order; Kyabram’s final four all departing without troubling the scorers.
The win has Numurkah leap above the Redbacks into the hotly-contested sixth spot, as it makes its timely push for finals contention.
THE GAME
Numurkah 9-175 Michael Eckard 65 Bailey Smith 32 Jordan O'Dwyer 26* Charlie McLay 3-42 Jackson McLay 2-20 d Kyabram 79 Billy McLay 32 Mitch Grandell 3-6 Bailey Roberts 2-2 Michael Eckard 2-9 Bailey Smith 2-19.
STAR PLAYER
Michael Eckard (Numurkah): A complete performance from the Blues’ all-rounder provided his side with the inspiration required to subdue a usually devastating Kyabram outfit. His 65 with the bat, followed up with a pair of key wickets for nine runs, proved integral to their remarkable triumph.
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