The final nail in the coffin this week, but confirmation Moe’s first XI won’t be playing finals for the first time since 2018/19, when relegated from Premier A in the first season of the LVDCL.
Centrals require just 18 runs with 7 wickets in hand for first innings points against Toongabbie, which will put the 3844 based Lions into an unassailable lead over their 3825 counterparts. Moe can still finish the campaign strongly if they can chase down a big Ex-Students total.
Moe needed an outright victory so losing the toss and bowling first wasn’t a bad result for the Lions. But after Clinton Taylor picked up an early scalp (Dyke 🦆) at 1/2, the next batters scored a minimum of 26 runs each, with two half centuries.
Jimmy Pryde (54) & Mitch Harris (43) added 100 for the second wicket before Harris was bowled by Keenan Hughes & Pryde ran out by Andrew Philip in quick succession. 3/109. Lee Stockdale & Jackson McMahon were the two fresh batters at the crease.
Stockdale was caught behind for 30 off Laytten Smith at 4/152. McMahon & Michael Stockdale put on a further 59 for the 5th wicket. It was a tough game for our bowlers, and when things aren’t going your way, players can lose concentration and miss a half chance that might’ve been taken if on top in the contest. The best players can miss those moments too, so to see Jordan Shields – 0/61 (13) at the time – in the face of adversity, pop up with a diving reflex caught and bowled was a magnificent sight. It dismissed McMahon for 49 in a moment that could’ve gone begging for the Lions if Shields wasn’t alert to the opportunity.
Battista (26) added another 47 runs for the 6th wicket, his innings ended by Taylor picking up his second scalp. M.Stockdale moved past fifty and remains unbeaten on 57* overnight. Taylor collected another 2 wickets late in the day (Potalej 2, Warne 1) as the Sharks ended the day’s play at 8/290 from 85 overs. Ex-Students have the option to bat a further 10 overs on day 2 (95 total) leaving Moe 75 overs to either chase the total to win or survive the day for a draw.
Taylor finished the day with 4/50 (19), with Smith 1/44 (14), Hughes 1/75 (27.3) & Shields 1/87 (18). Phoenix pulled up lame bowling (0/4 off 2.3) so hopefully he’ll be right to bat next week, and with Ritvik & Atkinson back in B’s for finals preparations, skipper Noah Kane had a trundle with 0/10 off 4.
