In its first two-day encounter this season, Kyabram elected to bat, but the pace of a British import for Katandra upended the Redbacks’ best talent with the willow.
Joel Beaumont is one of Katandra’s young imports this season and, while he plied his trade solidly across the white ball matches, the youngster has come into his own with the red Kookaburra.
However, the initial grunt work in Katandra’s bowling was done by Dayne Wilson.
Wilson bowled to his field to dismiss in-form bat Paul Parsons for a duck, soon followed by opening partner Billy McLay, leaving the Redbacks 2-20.
Beaumont then began to fire in his spell, dismissing superstar bat Kyle Mueller for 13 runs with a peach that sent the bails to New South Wales, while Kyle Fitzgerald was unable to last longer than a ball, Beaumont delivering an identical corker to again uproot the stumps from the pitch.
The resistance came through Cade Mueller, who continued his stretch of runs while Kyabram was down 4-47, following his ton from a fortnight ago and a solid 35 against Waaia the previous week.
Mueller tallied 52 from 88 deliveries, recorded six fours and a six, but a mishit down Mitchell Black’s throat spelled the end of his time in the middle.
Corey Hickford and Wilson joined in the fun of sending bails airborne with Tim Nelson and Lukas Hanslow bowled, before Jackson McLay and a defiant Alec Young were sent walking by Beaumont.
Ultimately, Kyabram was skittled for 156 by the 58th over and it was an effort well received by Eagles coach Ryleigh Shannon.
The poor batting display is a surprisingly familiar sight for Kyabram, bowled out for a second time this season, and losing eight wickets or more for the fourth time this summer.
When the Redbacks are on song though, they are arguably the competition’s most potent batting line-up – the previous week’s 3-235 against Waaia reflects that.
But now, Kyabram will once again rely on its bowling to save it from a shock loss.
With the early innings finish, it gave Katandra plenty of time to be patient with its turn with the blade, handed 19 overs to see out the day and, while Hickford’s plucky seven was short-lived, Talon Wilson and Benjamin Pedretti ensured it survived, with the Eagles well-poised at 1-37.
