Haisman Shield | Gallery | Katandra holds its nerve to eliminate two-time reigning premier Mooroopna

But if there is one thing we have learnt in the past two years of the A-grade competition is never count out Mooroopna.

And with the match turning into an elimination final after fifth-placed Numurkah knocked off Central Park-St Brendan’s across the causeway at Deakin Reserve, the Cats’ bowlers mounted one last charge by taking 5-30 to swing the contest back in their favour.

As the situation read 16 runs required with two wickets and three overs remaining, the experience of Raymond Ireland came to the fore for the Eagles, as the much-loved quick belted two big sixes to level the scores.

One final twist in the tale had Ireland dismissed one short of finishing the job, which forced number 11 James Lythgoe to come to the crease and hit the winning run, putting the stamp on a famous one-wicket win for Katandra Cricket Club.

Skipper Ben Clurey said the triumph was one of the best of his time with the club.

“It was terrific, one of the best wins I can remember being a part of that is for sure,” Clurey said.

“Firstly the fact that it was our first final and then coming up against Mooroopna as well, who have been the yard stick of the competition for so long, it was always going to be tough.

“But for it to be so close throughout the day and the way it ebbed and flowed, it was a wonderful day’s cricket to be involved with and to get the win at the end of it was just awesome.”

The drama surrounding this match started well before the first ball was bowled.

Following an altercation in the previous week’s six-wicket loss to Numurkah, Mooroopna coach Luke Zanchetta was handed a one-match suspension for offensive and abusive language towards the crowd.

Without their accomplished front-line bowler, the Cats won the toss and decided to bat, as they hoped to limit the impact of the omission with a big first innings total.

Early on it looked like the home side was set to post 200-plus, with number three Jac Smith-Williams anchoring the effort with a classy 50 off 81 balls to have it sitting pretty at 3-107.

As the situation looked to be getting away from the Eagles, Clurey changed his tactics in the middle overs and immediately saw good results, as the spin of Jedd Wright (2-28) and Bailey Simpson (2-21) slowed the rampant Cats.

A rampaging Hadleigh Sirett then returned to the attack and cleaned up the tale, with his 3-48 vital in keeping Mooroopna to less than 200.

But having to chase against the class of the Cats’ attack is never easy and with 190 needed for victory it was anybody’s game as the second innings began.

The Eagles took a positive approach to the early stages of their innings, taking advantage of the weakened Mooroopna new-ball brigade to reach 65 for the loss of one wicket.

Dawson was the star early for Katandra, with his 43 off 51 balls paving the way for the fast start, before the Cats struck back by removing him and Wright in quick succession to have the match evenly poised at 3-80.

This is where the Eagles needed one more partnership to get themselves in position to win and, as we have seen so often over the years, it was Riordan who answered the call.

Playing with his trademark aggression, the veteran smacked a critical 48 off 53, as he along with Nathan Hickey (26) put together what ended up being a match-winning 64-run stand.

“One thing we have focused on all year was getting two really solid partnerships throughout our batting innings to set up a big total,and Riordo and Nathan were the guys that stood up for us,” Clurey said.

“Those guys did a terrific job for us, without them we don’t get in the position we needed to win, so I cannot speak more highly of the role they played.”

While the match did ultimately go down to the wire, Clurey said it was the calmness his experienced campaigners showed under pressure that ended up being the difference.

“I think our experience showed itself in the end there, nobody panicked and we kept our mind on the job,” he said.

“From the way Riordo kept ticking over the score through the middle to what Ray did at the end, it shows the calibre of players and character we’ve got in our group.”

A team now brimming with confidence after knocking out the reigning champion, the Eagles’ attention now turns to a semi-final clash against traditional rival Numurkah on their home deck on Saturday.