SYCU is pressing for its first win of the Haisman Shield summer, with a spirited fight with the willow aiding its chances, but not after a stop in play for multiple hours impacted the match.
Tyler Green dug deep for a gritty 24 off 55 as an opener, as Mooroopna’s Henry Barrow removed Keegan Armstrong early for 10.
Sebastian Menzhausen continued his good form however, gradually growing a score towards his third half-century of the season, but following a rain delay, water spilled onto the covers as they were being removed, resulting in a further wait for the pair at the crease.
SYCU coach Sam Nash explained he was proud of Menzhausen and 16-year-old OIiver Swain, who had to get their eye in twice given the circumstances.
“We had a bit of rain and some rain went on the wicket when the covers went off,” Nash said.
“So now it’s a reduced overs match - 72 each.
“It was a bit hard for Seb and Ollie, with not knowing when we were going to restart play, and then effectively having to start their innings again.
“I was proud with how they dealt with the difficulties.”
Menzhausen fell nine runs short of the half-ton mark for 41 off 143 deliveries, while Swain played in tandem with Menzhausen but failed to find the gaps at his ease, facing 102 balls but with only a reward of 10 runs before he was caught in the outfield off Simon D’Elia’s bowling.
After 50 overs, SYCU was 3-97, soon 4-103, but as Callow strutted to the pitch to mark middle stump, SYCU’s fortunes with the bat swiftly changed.
Callow tucked his chin and narrowed his focus as the first ball was sent his way, and the wicket keeper took no hesitation in sending it to the fence for four.
It set the tone for an aggressive mindset across the next 18 overs, with eight fours and a six helping Callow on his way to 69 runs unbeaten off 52 balls.
SYCU’s total nearly doubled to 182 in just a third of the time it took to reach the initial 100-run mark, providing United with hope it can defend the target with the ball next Saturday.
“The top order’s patience and ability to bat deep gives the others, like Jake, some freedom with wickets in hand,” Nash said.
“Without their (the top order) approach, Jake wouldn’t have had that freedom, and he was able to manipulate the field.
“Now we have four wickets in hand for the final four overs next week, so we can give it one final crack and push to a total of 200, which is really defendable we think with the reduced overs.”
Simon D’Elia was given major responsibility with the ball, bowling a whopping 28 overs that resulted in two wickets and 47 runs conceded, averaging out to be one of Mooroopna’s tidiest bowlers for the afternoon despite the heavy workload.
The Cats, which are 3-3 and ninth on the ladder, will be reliant on its top order finding form after the group struggled to make more than a dozen-odd runs each against Tatura in its first red ball match last fortnight.
Should Mooroopna win, it’ll head into the Christmas break with a positive win-loss record and remain on the hunt for a top six spot, but a loss will be a critical blow to its finals chances.
THE GAME SO FAR
SYCU 6-182 (Jake Callow 69 not out, Sebastian Menzhausen 41, Simon D’Elia 2-47) lead Mooroopna yet to bat
