Sport

Redbacks back in control on tough first day

By Gus Underwood

Feb 17, 2026

Jackson McLay and opening bowling partner Sam Langley saw Kyabram into the ascendancy late on day one, the pair taking four wickets after the Redbacks were dismissed for 181 in the first innings. Photo: Megan Fisher.

Ladder leader Kyabram had a day of fluctuating fortunes on the first day of the Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield penultimate home-and-away-round on Saturday but held the edge over its rival Mooroopna by day’s end.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

The Redbacks squandered a solid start, despite the dismissal of opener Billy McLay for a duck, and self-destructed later in their innings with six of its last seven wickets contributing a total of only 13 runs.

Again it was skipper Kyle Mueller to the Kyabram rescue with a large helping hand from his opening batting partner, brother Cade.

They looked to have Kyabram on course for a healthy total, but the looming large stand between the two was thwarted when Cade was run out for 44 off 98 deliveries with five boundaries.

Kyle went on to top score with a controlled innings of 67 off 105 deliveries with 12 boundaries.

But only two other Kyabram batsman, veteran Paul Parsons with 21 batting first drop, and Lukas Hanslow with a brisk 31 off 44 deliveries with four boundaries, put up any serious resistance to the Mooroopna attack led by spinner Jack Gaskill with 4/45 off a marathon 20 overs with the Kyabram innings wrapped up in 58.2 overs.

Opening bowlers Corey Meyer and Cooper Sleeth both claimed two wickets for Mooroopna.

In reply, Mooroopna suffered early losses and by stumps was a teetering 4/27.

Bowling spearheads Sam Langley and Jackson McLay had each claimed two wickets to swing the momentum of the clash firmly back in Kyabram’s favour.