Matchday 10/12 Result – T20
Moe travelled to Rovers in a must win final group game. With Rovers carrying a win over Latrobe and Moe having a loss to Morwell, the Lions not only needed to win but win by enough to flip the net run rate (Rovers 0.8, Moe -1.6) in their favour to finish 2nd in the group to advance.
Morwell 2/65 (8) def Latrobe 10/64 (18.5) in fast order in the other game in the group tonight to qualify for the quarter finals top of the group.
Rovers won the toss and batted on a pitch that apparently had had approximately 400 overs of cricket played on it with a two day match plus a full week of Marist Schools Cricket Carnival games. It looked like it had too.
Rovers Inning’s:
Tyler Pearce (22) & Ewan Williams got Rovers off to a solid start, putting on 48 for the first wicket. Whilst on 15, Williams survived an edge for four off Blunt in the 7th over, the only chance he gave on his way to carrying his bat through the innings for 57* off 45 balls, including 6 fours.
Pearce was caught behind by Blandford off Ritvik (1/16 off 4) the next over. Quigley, survived a dropped catch in the deep for four off Blunt to get off the mark. Quigley made 17 off 27, before holing out to gloveless Noah Kane in the deep off Phoenix. Williams & Liam Little (20* off 19) saw Rovers through to close at 2/124 from their 20 overs.
Moe bowled well on a road on a small ground to keep the hosts to just over a run a ball. Ritvik finished with 1/16 off 4 as the pick of the bowlers. Phoenix (1/25 off 3) was the other wicket taker. Johnstone (0/19 off 4), Hughes (0/25 off 4), Blunt (0/27 off 4) & Edwards (0/11 off 1) rounded out a solid team effort with the ball.
Moe Inning’s
With net run rate a factor, a quick online calculation suggested Moe needed to chase down the total in between 16 & 17 overs to progress to the quarter finals. Braden Finn (8.) was first to fall at 1/16 in the third over. Jesse Pheeney & Rob Phoenix pushed the visitors to 1/79 off 11 overs (RR 7.2).
Moe needed 46 off 30 balls for safe knowledge of progression so Keenan Hughes went in at #4 following Phoenix’s dismissal for 22 (26). Hughes wasted no time, taking 11 off the next 5 balls including a six to take the total to 2/90 off 12.
10, 13 & 12 runs followed from the next 3 overs to wrap up the match in just 15 overs, securing passage to the next stage of the competition. Pheeney managed his way through the innings superbly, finishing 40* off 38 balls. Hughes got the job done with him, hitting out with 34* off 15 balls, including 3 sixes & 2 fours.
Next Up T20:
Quarter Final Tuesday 17th December: Away v Centrals (1st in Group C).
