Matchday 26/1 – Day 1 Friday v Morwell
Last time Australia Day fell on a Friday, we played Morwell away and did it again this year. In discussion between the executives of both clubs, making it an annual meeting has been proposed. Next year falls on a Sunday and 2026 falls on a Monday so watch this space in 10mths or so.
The hosts won the toss and batted at Keegan St in a 2022/23 semi final rematch.
Morwell Innings
After sharing the limelight last match with a combined 7 wicket haul with Clint Taylor, the spotlight was purely on Aaron Johnstone in the early going on Friday. Johnstone took the first 4 wickets of the innings (Clymo 10, Shafi 1, Mason 4, Cukier (0) to reduce the Tigers to 4/23. After Cukier’s first ball dismissal, Johnstone was unable to get the hat trick. That incoming bat of Blake Mills made 13 of the 15 run 5th wicket stand before falling to Benn Zomer at 5/38. Campbell & Ford had almost doubled the score, total up to 75 when Johnstone returned to the bowling crease and trapped the former lbw for 27, Johnstone completing his first A Grade 5-wicket haul.
Ford & Brendan Brincat continued the recovery with a 40 run pairing before a direct hit run out by Royce Colgrave saw Ford depart for 40. A 78-run 8th wicket stand from 23 overs by Brincat and Johnson vastly changed the complexion of the game. Five bowlers used during that period, and Zomer was the one to end it, bowling Johnson (29). Between 2015 & 2017, Brincat made 262 from 4 hits (only dismissed twice) facing Moe, but had managed just 22 from his past 6 innings against the Lions since. Yesterday he re-found form as a Moe opponent, with a knock of 71, and was second last man out at 9/212 to Callum Grant. The last wicket (L.Day 6) fell in the following over for Rob Phoenix’s 250th A Grade wicket for Moe (144 at Mirboo North).
Morwell all out for 216 from 78 overs. Johnstone finished with 5/34 from 18 whilst Zomer 2/31 (13), Phoenix 1/32 (14) and Grant 1/39 (17) also took wickets.
Moe Innings
Noah Kane & Jesse Pheeney survived a tense 3 over period at the end of Day 1 v Raiders and had to face another tricky 5 overs before stumps this match. This time, they couldn’t escape unscathed with Pheeney (0) out the final over of the day. Grant 2* played night watchman for the rest of the over and will start next week at the crease with Kane.
