A Grade hosted Trafalgar in a Grand Final rematch at Ted Summerton Reserve. Both teams generally knew what would happen at the toss as Moe would elect to bat & Trafalgar would elect to bowl, for a number of years, but with two new skippers, that changed as Trafalgar won the toss & Ayden Connolly elected to bat.
TRAFALGAR INNING
Aiden George & Ayden Connolly opened the batting and it was an even bat vs ball affair for the first 12 overs against Moe’s opening pair of Royce Colgrave (0/17 off 6) & Robert Blunt (0/16 + a leg bye off 6 first spell). The score was 0/34 at the bowling change and Bailey Wilson (1/21) got the breakthrough at 1/46 with Connolly dismissed for 6 off 44 balls. George, Rhys Holdsworth & Jackson Noonan saw off Callum Grant’s 10 overs, a conservative 0/26, with only George falling at the other end during that time. George played a great innings, scoring 57 runs off 76 balls, with 6 fours & 2 sixes, the last six hitting the upstairs windows of the club rooms, before a couple of balls later, Ashley Savige (1/34 off 7) got his revenge trapping George lbw to make it 2/84. Sean Spiteri took over from Grant at the South St end and when he dismissed Noonan (4) at 3/115, with a couple of absentees, it felt like it could be a bit of ‘Holdsworth or bust’ for Trafalgar. Billy Claridge 🦆 didn’t last long, run out by coach Pat Spiteri as Holdsworth attempted a quick dash on ball 6 of an over to retain strike and hesitation mid pitch nearly turned a downfall as they crossed very late to even have Claridge as the dismissed bat. Brendan Dawson (11) added a short resistance in a 34 run pairing before stepping on his stump to give Spiteri his 2nd wicket at 5/160. Jarryd Atkinson bowled well (0/28) and was unlucky with a couple of catch attempts going down. Holdsworth had given no chances on his way to 94, with 11 fours and 2 sixes, also hitting a six off Spiteri into the club room window, even higher than Noonan’s shot earlier. Blunt returned to the bowling crease at 5/185 (47) and bowled Cooper Burgess (7) with his first ball back. Three balls later, Holdsworth nibbled at one and skipper Noah Kane calmly collected to see the Traf mainstay fall six short of a second century in three games against the Lions. Spiteri collected his third wicket later and some run out chances were left begging in the last overs. Trafalgar’s innings closed with 3/12 off the last three overs as they avoided being all out, with 8/197 from their 50 overs.
Moe Bowling
R.Colgrave 0/17 (6) – R.Blunt 2/22 (8.) – C.Grant 0/26 (10) – B.Wilson 1/21 (3) – A.Savige 1/34 (7) – S.Spiteri 3/46 (10) – J.Atkinson 0/28 (7)
MOE INNING
Noah Kane & Riley Baldi have had some very strong form against the Ships in the past couple of seasons, and Saturday was no exception. Baldi did escape with a life early as an attempt went down with Dawson hospitalised from a shoulder injury in the attempt. We wish Brick all the best in recovery. Sub fielder Christian Burgess replaced him to keep 11 in the field, at least until Aiden George – who Burgess was meant to replace – had to leave at 4.30. Kane & Baldi put on another 50+ partnership with Kane dismissed at 1/74. Kane’s 35 off 47 included 4 fours & a six. Baldi & Andrew Philip added a further 41 and at a better than a run a ball 1/115 off 19 overs, the Lions were cruising for a bonus point victory (chase down inside 40 overs). Baldi made Traf pay for the early drop but didn’t make Holdsworth pay for dropping him on 60, his inning coming to a close, caught behind, on 61 off 46 balls, with 7 fours and a 133 strike rate. Young Owen McLeod-Agland was stoked with that wicket and couldn’t believe his luck when two balls later, he had Philip (17 off 25, two fours & a six) dismissed via the same method. The Uncle/Nephew Spiteri duo didn’t last long as the nephew Sean (11) became Barry’s second wicket after he got the opening breakthrough earlier. Pat Spiteri (24 off 47) & Callum Grant (22 off 42) put on 43 for the 5th wicket to get Moe within 30 off the total with 17 overs left, but a bonus point still in sight if they could get the required runs within 42 balls. Spiteri fell at 5/170, the run flow slowing dramatically to wipe the idea of bonus point victory. Grant’s dismissal at 6/178 & Jarryd Atkinson’s (3) run out at 7/182 made even just getting victory no certainty. Ash Savige (20*) then played a lone hand in getting the Lions the win as Royce Colgrave 🦆 & Blunt (0*) added no score at the other end. Moe winning by just 2 wickets, with 29 balls to spare. McLeod-Agland (3/27 off 7) & Barry (2/56 off 10) were the Ships best with the ball, with Noonan, normally getting that title, going for a rare 0/48 off 10.
In the first few games, the Lions haven’t managed to fully hit their strides yet, but have still collected 3 wins from 3. Next week, they’ll need to be on their ‘A’ game as they host in-form Morwell who only have lost a rain affected match to date, posting 249 against Raiders, 4/183 (39) in the rain affected match and rolled teams for 89 & 47.
