Numurkah on the board in Haisman Shield with Mooroopna triumph

Scoring an even 100 for his first century since 2024, and overcoming two outs in the 90s last season, Aravinthan put the Blues on his shoulders for the club’s first premiership points of the summer.

Numurkah won the toss and elected to bat at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve and openers Matthew Price and Dylan Grandell got proceedings underway in flying form.

The duo batted together until midway through the 10th over when Price was bowled by Mooroopna’s Ryan Hallum, but that only brought Aravinthan to the crease.

Aravinthan’s first shot went for four as an early disclaimer for what was to come.

Aravinthan and Grandell produced a classy 130-run partnership before Grandell departed for 82, but the Blues coach aimed to get to triple figures.

The 39th over saw Aravinthan take Cat Cooper Sleeth to the cleaners with a six, followed by three consecutive four, while former Waaia cricketer Isaac Chandler introduced himself to A-grade with a four off the over too.

Later, a thick edge went to the boundary off Mooroopna’s Corey Meyer, seeing Aravinthan make the ton, before he was dismissed the very next ball as Meyer dislodged the bails.

But it was enough to prompt a competitive total for Numurkah, ending the innings 4-261.

Mooroopna had its own weapon though, as Cyrus Shafi marked middle stump with the Cats 2-63.

It had been a solid start by Joel May and Jake Baker, before May’s quick fire 41 off 26 ended off Riley Dawson’s bowling, while Will Wood lasted no longer than five balls at the crease for a return of eight runs.

But after fighting to the death without reward against Waaia in round one, there was optimism left for Shafi to continue the charge against Numurkah on Saturday afternoon.

Just like Aravinthan, Shafi struck willow to leather first ball for a boundary to signify his intent from the outset.

However, as the gun Cat batted on, those around him dropped in and out on the turf at Mooroopna.

Brodie McDonald’s 19 was a decent start, but beyond that five Cats made single figures, the remaining batter yet to be mentioned an 11.

While Shafi was near-unbeatable across his innings, the wickets forced the number four bat to stabilise at times instead of take on the bowling, the required run rate sneakily climbing as the innings endured.

After a single was punched away in the 41st over to bring up the ton, Shafi’s wicket fell at 103 in the 43rd, the final team wicket arriving for Numurkah two balls later to seal a hard-fought 38-run win.

Mooroopna is left to chase its first win of the season in round three against Old Students which return from the bye, while Numurkah will be hoping this week’s victory has kicked the wheels in motion, and the Blues can take a quotient-boosting scalp against Pine Lodge at Lemnos Recreation Reserve in round three.