A Grade – Day 1 vs Raiders
The Lions won the toss and batted, hoping to turn their hopes around after losing to the top two teams the past two weeks. Now sitting 3rd, this final round match is for 3rd place. A Moe win would see them finish 3rd and Raiders fate depend on the CATS v Latrobe result. That match also will see the loser relegated. Moe couldn’t drop beyond 4th regardless of result but a loss to Raiders would see them have gone down to all opposing finalists in the 3 weeks preceding finals.
Moe’s innings got off to a jittery start with Noah Kane (4) dismissed early. Raiders were kicking themselves when they put down chances off Riley Baldi not once or twice but four times. Unfortunately for the hosts, he couldn’t make them pay, bowled for 18. Harry McColl (2/26) collecting both openers wickets. Perera struck twice in three balls to see Robinson (2) & Phoenix 
in the sheds at 4/38. Former and current Stenhousemuir CC players, Andrew Philip & Callum Grant added 54 for the 5th wicket before an uncharacteristic Philip (48 off 112) skied top edge off Macfarlane, closing in on the lunch break. Pat Spiteri (9) fell in the last over of the session at 6/109. After the break things didn’t get better as Moe lost Grant (24), Colgrave (1), Taylor (4) & Blunt (1) to be all out, losing their last 5 wickets for just 14 runs. Johnstone 5*. Perera did the same thing CATS quick Callum Stewart did to Moe on their deck a month earlier, taking 7 wickets (7/33 off 16) with the Lions dismissed for the exact same score of 123.
Any hopes of a bowling miracle like vs CATS has been mostly banished with Raiders 1/86 at stumps. Chris Stanlake dismissed for 50 whilst Burrows is on 25* off a patient 115 balls (Moe only had Philip & Grant face more than 32 deliveries and Baldi was the only other to face more than 16 balls). Hutchinson 4* off 29 is at the crease with Burrows.
Moe need to take a miracle 9/36 to reverse the result. If Raiders win 1st innings, outright result won’t do anything so game should be called early for A Graders to support B & C’s last round finals qualifiers. If the miracle happens, Raiders will want to try to reverse outright to save their finals spot and not rely on result elsewhere.
B GRADE – BYE
B Grade had the bye but it’s a simple final round equation next week. The Lions sit 5th, half a game behind 4th placed Boolarra, who they play in the final round. Win and play finals.
C GRADE – Thriller keeps season alive
Moe’s inning started disastrously with Mark Micallef & Mustafa Glibanovic 1 dismissed almost immediately. Ben Jackson (18) added 32 with Shannon Murphy to steady the ship before a wonderful 95 run partnership between Murphy & Troy Oakley put Moe right back in the game. Murphy fell for 45 which triggered a collapse of 5/24 chasing late runs (De Vent 2, Edwards , Pickering 5, I.Glibanovic ). Oakley raised the bat for his first half century since October 2016 (although a few 40’s in that time), finishing unbeaten on 51*. Kye Micallef 2* at the other end as Moe closed at 8/161 off 40 overs. Toogood was Mirboo’s best with 3/24 whilst Pinkerton & Shaw grabbed 2 scalps each.
Mirboo started strongly with Anderson (5) & Bickerton putting on 43 for the first wicket, Anderson dismissed by Edwards (1/25). Bickerton’s fast paced knock of 51 including 3 sixes and 5 fours was ended at 2/70 by Ibi Glibanovic (2/30), who struck again four runs later (Gray 4, 3/74). Van Der Zalm & Toogood added 12 each before falling to Ron Whitney (1/40) & Mustafa Glibanovic. The latter made it 6/117 with Basarke (2) bowled, 4 wickets in hand and 45 runs required. Shane Peters & Paul Woodall (15) ticked off 19 to make it 26 to win when Glibanovic collected his third wicket. Hutton (4) became his 4th scalp and now it was 2 wickets vs 20 runs, set for a grandstand finish. Glibanovic proved too strong for Peters (29), collecting his 5th wicket (5/26) at 9/149, 13 required. Paul Banks (6*) & Comrie (7) added 10 for the last wicket before young Aiden Savige (1/20) dismissed Comrie, via a Pickering chest mark for the Lions to win by 2 runs! Mustafa was Moe’s impact bowler whilst Pickering was supremely economical (0/12 off 8.)
The result keeps Moe’s season alive. The Lions sit 6th and play 7th placed Boolarra. Winning will see them overtake the lose of Trafalgar vs Centrals to gain 5th, and then rely on CATS to beat Mirboo North if Moe are to make finals. First up, C’s need to win.
