Moe travelled to Morwell for the second time this season, looking to solidify their spot in the Top 4 against 6th placed Morwell, whose only win came against Moe in Round 6. In that hard-deck meeting at Northern Reserve, Moe posted 168 (Straughair 85, Bilic 4fa) but were chased down by the Tigers, 6 down in just 36 overs (Semmler 39, Giddens 38, G.Gniel 31*, Johnstone 3fa).
Moe won the toss and batted on the Keegan St turf wicket.
MOE INNING
Randy Straughair (17) couldn’t match his performance from five rounds earlier, but with Mark Micallef did set a platform with a 36 run opening stand before Straughair fell lbw to Shane Gniel (1/15 off 9). Mustafa Glibanovic (10 off 40) spent some valuable time at the wicket in a 41 run stand with Micallef. Glenn Gniel (2/29 off 9) dismissed the pair to make it 3/92. Micallef mustered a hard earned 53 off 87 balls, with 5 fours. Coach Paddy Spiteri (23 off 27) got a start with almost a 100 strike rate and helped build the total to 4/123 at time of dismissal. Aaron Johnstone (8 off 17 including a six) was dismissed in the later overs (5/149) as the Lions tried to ramp up the scoring to finish the innings. Pickering (11 off 13) offered a short cameo late to push the total to 6/163 with a few balls left, closing at 6/165 from 45 overs. Evan Sheekey (29* off 61) was the mainstay for the latter part of the innings, with Brodyn Blandford (1*) also not out. The Gniel brothers were Morwell’s best with the ball.
MORWELL INNING
An eerily similar total to the first meeting, and the same bowlers leading the attack for the Lions with Johnstone, Pickering & Farmer.
Johnstone (1/21 off 9) & Pickering (1/29 off 8.) struck early with the wickets of Semmler (7) & Gettings (6) to reduce the Tigers to 2/18. Josh Seymour (28 off 46) added 54 for the 3rd wicket with Craig Giddens before Ben McCartney had Seymour caught by Spiteri at 3/72. Giddens & Glenn Gniel then took the game away from Moe with their 7 bowling options used unable to strike again. Giddens hit 6 fours & 2 sixes on the way to an unbeaten, run a ball 75* (75), bringing up the victory with a six in 36.2 overs, again, eerily similar to the chase from the first meeting. Gniel finished with a solidly paced 48* (52) too. Morwell added a further 14 runs in 10 balls after passing the total, closing at 3/180 off 38 overs.
Moe Bowling:
A.Johnstone 1/21 (9) – J.Pickering 1/29 (8.) – I.Glibanovic 0/21 (3) – D.Farmer 0/37 (8.) – B.McCartney 1/29 (6) – M.Glibanovic 0/23 (3) – K.Micallef 0/8 (1)
Moe remain 4th but the Tigers close the gap after reinforcing themselves as a bogey team for the Lions.
B Grade have the bye next week so let’s get good numbers in attendance to support both A’s bowling and C Grade playing at Trafalgar for their first post-Xmas match
