Moe v Morwell 
Sitting 2pts behind 4th, Moe entered yet another must win match to try to keep their slowly dwindling finals hopes alive. The Lions sought to end a 5 match losing streak to the Tigers, which included a 1 wicket loss in the one dayer earlier in the campaign. For the second time in 3 seasons, the two day match was now another one dayer following last week’s wet weather. Morwell won the toss and sent Moe in to bat.
Moe Innings
The hosts got off to the worst possible start with Rob Phoenix 
dismissed with Brincat’s first ball of the day to start the second over. Andrew Philip joined Laytten Smith at the crease and the pair added 66 from a patient 24 overs. The former did the majority of the scoring with Smith next out at the halfway point of the innings for 16 from 77 balls.
Shortly after, Philip passed fifty for the 8th time in the season. Jordan Shields (9 off 30) added 40 for the 3rd wicket with Philip, the latter up to 75 when Cukier claimed Shields’ scalp. Sheekey (6 off 16) became Homyoon’s second victim at 4/131 to end the 41st over, 9 overs left, Philip 90*.
During the 5th wicket pairing with Hughes, Philip brought up century number 28, his 26th in first grade. Congratulations Andrew – A phenomenal achievement. 
Hughes (15) & Micallef (1) were dismissed in the final two overs as Moe closed at 6/171 from their full 50 over allotment. Philip finished unbeaten on 112* with Atkinson 2*. Cukier 2/25 & Homyoon 2/40 took multiple scalps for the Tigers, with Ford & Brincat each claiming one.
Morwell Innings
Fayaz Homyoon can be forgiven for feeling a case of deja vu. Saturday was the third time this campaign he has been caught behind cheaply against the Lions, and to three different bowlers (to Smith for 4 at Keegan St in one dayer, for a to Blunt in the T20 at Moe, & to Hughes for 4 again this game). Mark Cukier scored 24 runs of the opening 29 run stand with Homyoon.
Clint Taylor started well with 0/1 from his first two overs before Cukier took fancy to him, hitting 34 off of his next 4 overs, 6 fours & 5 twos. Smith didn’t start with any better success to Morwell’s opener, conceding back to back fours also, putting Cukier within 2 of a half century. Smith’s second over was a different story with a wicket maiden, dismissing Cukier for 48 at 2/63. Smith bowled Fortuin (9) in his next over, 3/66 (17) at the first drinks break with Moe back in it.
The second stanza didn’t bring any success for the hosts, Morwell (just about) doubled their score (65 off 17 overs) without any loss. 3/131 from 34 overs, requiring 42 runs from 96 balls to win, and 42 off 36 for victory with a bonus point.
The 36th over saw Blair Clymo became the second batter to fall on 48, stumped by Blandford off of Atkinson the next ball following a six, 4/149. Jordan Campbell (48*) & Blake Mills (11*) saw Morwell through to their 6th consecutive win over Moe, by 6 wickets and getting the bonus point with a ball to spare.
Elsewhere, Centrals def CATS with a bonus point gained, which puts the 3844 Lions 7pts ahead of their 3825 counterparts. If Moe are to play finals, they now need to get an outright victory over Ex-Students and Centrals take no points from their clash against Toongabbie. The chances might be slim, but anything is possible until it isn’t. Strange things can happen in this sport.
frogbox note – Apologies, due to a live scoring mix up (tablet was still in the web-deleted two day match, rather than the new one day match file created mid-week), so there was no score on the livestream. Due to live score not being linked to live stream, there will also be no highlights package this week)
Thanks to Barrell, Linda & everyone else involved in ladies day lunch. I believe we had almost 30 in attendance for a good afternoon of fundraising for a good cause, and of course….good food!
