Match Review 7/1 – Premier A Grade
“The Reverend delivers his New Year’s sermon”
CATS v MOE
After going down to Mirboo North from a winnable position on Saturday, Moe had no time to lick their wounds as they needed to back up on Sunday against a fresh CATS outfit who had the day prior off. Phoenix, Pheeney & T.Baldi came out of the side replaced by Jarryd Atkinson, Randy Straughair – in just his 2nd career 1st Grade game – and Ben McCartney, making his A Grade debut.
CATS won the toss and sent the visitors in. The lingering factor was an expected storm in the afternoon that could prevent a result being reached, so the hosts hoped to bowl Moe out early in order to get a chance at the points.
MOE INNING’S
Experienced UK bowler Callum Stewart surely didn’t know what to make of Randy Straughair’s unconventional batting style (for typical A Grade batsmen anyway), as Straughair proceeded to make 14 off 27 balls. Straughair was first out to Moore (1/18) in the 8th over at 1/32 as Moe set off at a solid 4 an over pace. After scoring 20 the day prior, Noah Kane (30 off 39) set another good platform but again, couldn’t capitalise on it as he picked out Cam McDonald at short fine off the bowling of Paul McGill (1/50). Andrew Philip & Riley Baldi added 86 for the 3rd wicket partnership at a solid but steady pace. A three ball patch of 4, 6, 4 from Baldi saw him suddenly level on runs with Philip, at a much higher strike rate. At the 30 over mark, Moe were 2/138 with plenty of wickets in hand. The old adage being to double the 30 over score would’ve seen Moe heading for 276, so based on that, the aim was at least a minimum of 250.
Shortly after that point, Baldi (40 off 52) was bowled by Tinashe Panyangara for the same score he had made the day prior. Callum Grant joined Philip but couldn’t maintain the pace, struggling to get singles away which would’ve got Philip back on strike. The partnership was 35 runs off 65 balls, with Grant only able to muster a 33 strike rate, scoring 14 runs off 42 balls. Philip called him through for a quick single but hesitation from Grant at the striker’s end saw him short of his ground. The very next ball saw Philip caught for 59 (103) and Moe were 5/180 off of 45, having added just 1/22 from overs 30-40. Add in overs 41-45 and it was 3/42 in the 15-over period to that point, as CATS reined Moe’s total back in to a much lower prospect than it could have been.
Aaron Johnstone (4), Jarryd Atkinson (12* off 15) & Clint Taylor (13* off 11, including a rare big six), saw Moe add 32 off of the final 5 overs to close at 6/212 from their allotted 50. Panyangara took 2/31 (10) whilst Moore, McGill & Cochrane each got a wicket. Stewart took 7 wickets in the last match between the sides (in a 2 dayer), and was economical (0/24 off 10) despite wicketless.
CATS INNING’S
A short lunch break given the impending weather, and Clint Taylor got the ball rolling on the resumption, snicking off J.Moore (5) at 1/15. Both teams played at a high tempo early to get through the overs and a change to spin at the both ends saw Cochrane (21) stumped off of Atkinson at 2/36. Keeping track of DLS due to weather, the par score at 2 wickets down at the 20 over mark (minimum to constitute a game), CATS needed to only be on 70 and 3 wickets down, 82 runs would’ve been the total needed. The hosts were 2/55 (9) and then 2/68 (12), well ahead of the pace required. In the 13th over, Robert Blunt’s 2nd, Nathan Harrup (22) edged through to Noah Kane at 3/71. Blunt’s 3rd over saw H.Moore glove a short ball through to Kane again to make it 4/79 in the 15th. The two wickets completely altered the DLS scenario to approximately 95-100 required after 20 and whilst now relatively even on that target, Moe were getting the ascendancy with momentum.
Blunt’s spell ended at the 3 overs completed and figures of 2/10, with Taylor brought back on to attack from the front. It worked as Taylor bowled Josh Bellingham for 23 in his second over back to make it 5/86 (19). With DLS at 5 down being approximately 120, Moe were well ahead and now just needed to focus on taking the remaining wickets, with the dangerous duo of Callum Stewart at the crease and Panyangara still to come. A few overs passed and Sam Gissara (13) tried to offer some resistance before Spiteri sharply caught him at square leg off of Taylor. The silver hair of a fired up Taylor glistened in the constant drizzle of rain, as he charged in with his tail up and 3 wickets under his belt and his next over brought number 4, bowling Panyangara (2), 7/106. Proceedings wrapped up quickly after this, as McGill (4) skied to Blunt in the deep off of Grant in the following over for wicket number 8 to fall. Taylor’s next set saw Stewart (9) bowled to bring up ‘Rev’s’ first ever 5 wicket haul in any grade. One ball later, he made it 6fa, dismissing McDonald (0), caught behind for Noah Kane’s 5th dismissal of the day behind the stumps and wrapping up the victory in style. CATS all out for 113 in 26.4 overs as the storm never eventuated during play as the contest finished 140 deliveries short of the match’s maximum.
Taylor, the destroyer with 6/28 (7.4) and Blunt took 2 vital wickets with 2/10 (3). Atkinson (1/30 off 6) & Grant (1/20 off 5) took one wicket each whilst Johnstone (0/19 off 5) had another day involving a chance going down off his bowling.
Summary:
Saturday had the team staring down a relegation fight post match, a more switched on effort Sunday saw the team upset CATS to go 4th, equal with 2nd on points but both battling for finals & avoiding relegation simultaneously. 2nd to 9th in a nine team comp are separated by just one outright victory with only two day matches to go (top 4 finals, bottom 2 relegated).
Next up–
Is 2nd placed Raiders. Win and go 2nd, lose and could be as low as 7th in just one round. It’s a very even comp and no match is a given result – which speaks volumes to the competitiveness of the league following the merge. How cricket should be!
