12/1/26
Morwell proved a bogey side once again in 1st & 2nd XI matches whilst C’s went down to the league leaders.
In Prem A, after losing 4 early wickets, Mat Hibbs (49) & Brodyn Blandford (33) helped Moe post 165. Ford & Brincat took 3 wickets each for the Tigers. The hosts cruised through the chase, starting with a 90 run 1st wicket partnership and ultimately claiming a bonus point victory. Cukier 50, Mills 46 & Fortuin 37 getting it done for Morwell, Ben McCartney 2 & Royce Colgrave 1 took the 3 wickets to fall for Moe.
Premier B batted first in a crucial 7th v 8th matchup and Mark Whitney (29) & Ash Savige (31) put on 49 for the first wicket. A few got starts of 12-15 runs before Craig Boswell made 23* as Moe put on 40 from the last 5 overs to get a potentially defendable total of 155. Gray 2/24 the only multiple wicket taker for the Tigers with 2 run outs also. Morwell, notably Joe Pullen (49) did what they did punishing the one or two bad balls an over offered up, cruising to 1/82 (22) at the halfway mark before Haydn Edwards took 2 quick wickets. Cheffers & Rob Semmler pushed the total to 3/117 (29) leaving 39 runs required from 96 balls. Two wickets in two balls saw Daniel Farmer on a hat trick, the second sharply taken by Shannon Murphy at gully, but Shane Gniel blocked out the hat trick ball. Moe tightened the screws bowling 13 overs for 24 runs and another 2 wickets down and the equation was down to 15 needed off 18 balls, but Semmler was still at the crease and 3 boundaries off the next 2 overs saw him to 39* and the hosts victorious with 8 balls left.
Premier C Grade – Moe (4th) travelled to league leaders Rawson and batted first. Paul Cake (63) was the only one to pass 20 as Moe were bowled out for 120. Metcalfe took 4 wickets & Watson 3 for the Kookaburras. The hosts made the chase look easy with all 5 batters posting double digits and 4 surpassing 20. Jarvis (34*) & Watson (24*) at the crease when the win was secured with 7 overs to spare.
All grades must bounce back next week in the indigenous fixtures against Centrals – before that, we have a T20 Semi Final vs Ex-Students
