Wagga batted first and got off to a rollicking start. On what Yass captain Dave Field said was an ideal wicket for batting, the hosts looked to set a dominating tone early. 

“They started off really well,” Field said. 

“I brought the spinners on and they tied Wagga down in the middle [overs]. Then we ended up bowling them out, [because] they had to try and pick the pace up late.” 

Unfortunately, Yass could not replicate Wagga’s emphatic start with the bat and, after bowling the hosts out for 198, quickly stumbled to 3-45 from 12 overs. 

“We started off with a few early wickets, which hurt us,” Field said. 

“Then we picked it up during the middle, but we couldn’t quite catch up.” 

The Yabbies fell short of Wagga’s total by 18 runs in the end, which makes their next clash against Goulburn on December 2 a must-win match. 

However, Field is confident that his side can turn their form around, particularly considering that the side got off to the same start against Wagga last year before they won the title. 

Despite his confidence that Yass has the team to win the shield again, Field conceded that it will be no easy task to rebound against Goulburn. 

The match is set to be played at Victoria Park, an advantage which will be critical against a relatively unknown side. 

“It’s a must-win game if we want to make the final,” Field said. 

“[I’m] a little bit nervous, not knowing what we’re up against.”

Yass will be hoping for good weather in the interceding weeks leading into their next fixture, and Field said that the team’s preparation was less than perfect prior to the season opener. 

“We haven’t played a lot of cricket,” Field said. 

“A lot of teams have only had one or two games really, with the washout and a bye, so we’re probably a couple of weeks behind a lot of other comps.” 

The Stribley Shield match between Yass and Goulburn will take place from 10am on December 2 at Victoria Park, Yass.