Waaia outlast Mooroopna in entertaining clash to log perfect start to campaign

Winning the toss and electing to bat, Mooroopna were in all sorts of bother early on as Waaia skipper Mitch Cleeland tore the visitor’s top order apart, seeing off opener Jake Baker (11) and his replacement Corey Meyer in the fourth over – a double wicket maiden – to leave the Cats down 2-15.

Tight bowling from fellow Bomber Jesse Trower helped keep the visitors to two runs from the next three overs before Cleeland (3-43) struck again, removing Mooroopna’s remaining opener Joel May (four) as the visitors slumped further to 3-18.

Number four Cyrus Shafi, who has taken over as coach this season, found himself at the crease alongside Brodie McDonald a lot earlier than expected and took it upon himself to put his side on his back, ticking the scoreboard over as he began to build a defendable total.

While McDonald (seven) and Paul McDonald (nine) would each fall for single digits, they played a key role in rotating the strike for Shafi as Mooroopna gained momentum in the middle order, combining with the number four for stands of 25 and 14, respectively, as the visitors reached 5-57 by the time they had both departed.

The key partnerships were yet to come for Mooroopna, though, as Shafi continued to plug along, adding a 59-run stand with number seven Jake Wright (33) for the sixth wicket, reaching 6-116 by the time Wright fell, before continuing on with skipper Jack Gaskill, saluting a half-century during a 42-run dig for the seventh wicket.

By the time Gaskill was sent packing for 27, the Mooroopna had dragged themselves back into the game at 7-168 off the back of Shafi’s patient knock, though the Bombers soon had a reply of their own.

Jordan Cleeland (3-24) and Bailey Smith (3-41) would clean up the tail in quick fashion, snaring the final four wickets between themselves for only 13 runs, bowling Mooroopna out for 181 in the 39th over, though it would’ve been a lot less if not for the efforts of Shafi, who remained at the crease unbeaten on 77 when the final wicket fell.

With 182 needed for victory, the 2025-2026 two-day runners-up made a brilliant start to the chase, with Damian Atkins and Jordan Cleeland combining for an opening-wicket stand of 41 runs before Cleeland was dismissed for five off the bowling of Meyer.

New batsman Brenton Low would combine with Atkins for a 29-run stand, though again the majority of those came from the bat of Atkins, as Low was dismissed for five to leave the Bombers down 2-70, which soon became 3-77 as Atkins followed, both dismissed by Ryan Hallum (2-30).

But having belted a rapid 60 off only 47 deliveries, Atkins had set the Bombers up superbly, with Waaia needing only 105 runs for victory with more than 30 overs left to score them, and the patient approach from there paid big dividends for the home side.

Kaleb Gilmour (19) and Mitch Cleeland added 35 for the fifth wicket to reach 4-112 at the time of Gilmour’s departure, needing 70 runs for victory still, but with the skipper at the crease, the Bombers looked in control for the run home, with Cleeland combining for stands of 26 with Mark Meyland (10), 21 with Smith (3) and adding 19 alongside Trower, before he eventually fell for a composed 45 off 76, eventually holing out with the score at 7-178, just four runs shy of victory.

Brayden Carey wasted little time in getting the job done, though, hitting a boundary off his first ball at the crease to wrap up the three-wicket win for the Bombers.

The Bombers slot into fourth after the victory with the top three having all earned bonus points in round one, and will look to extend their winning start when they take on Pine Lodge next week, again at home, while Mooroopna will battle Numurkah at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve as both of those sides battle to pick up a maiden win of the campaign.