Since B Grade got promoted, the past 3 seasons have been clean sweeps between these sides. Thorpdale 2 from 2 in 2020/21, Moe won both in 2021/22 and Thorpdale won all 4 including the semi final last year. The Blues won the toss and batted with the known two danger men in the top 3. Since returning to Thorpdale from Moe, Kayne O’Connell has finished top 5 in the league runs for Premier B Grade in the past 4 seasons, winning the aggregate twice, including in 2022/23. Matt Powell in the that same time has finished top 3 twice and led the league runs going into yesterday’s game
Thorpdale Innings – 8/151 (45)
Outside of a big 50/50 first over lbw shout on James Durkin (7) the Blues got through the opening six overs (0/16) cautiously. Over 7 brought an even bigger lbw shout off Blunt and this time Liam had no choice but to raise the finger for his brother’s dismissal. Four overs later, one stayed low and trapped Powell (2) lbw also. Blunt bowled out with figures of 2/23 from 9 overs. Heath Ferguson (36) with O’Connell added 58 for the third wicket before Ash Savige (1/34 off 9) rattled the woodwork.
Mark Whitney took care of the middle order to reduce the Blues to 6/98. On loan from Trafalgar (WDCA), Liam Durkin joined O’Connell to practically see the innings through to the end, Kayne falling in the 44th over for a hard earned 64 as Whitney’s 4th scalp (4/25). Durkin was bowled for 30 by Evan Sheekey (1/17 off 2) in the final over with Thorpdale closing on 8/151. Farmer (0/17 off 7), Atkinson (0/24 off 8.) and McCartney (0/10 off 3) were all economical in their overs.
Moe Inning – 4/154 (38.3)
Jarryd Atkinson & Randy Straughair saw off the opening bowlers with 30 off the first 10 overs. Kenny Dron took 9/38 off 26 overs across his 3 meetings with the Lions last season, and it started to be deja vu when he bowled Atkinson (5) in his first over. Straughair (31) fell lbw to Liam Durkin in the over that followed before Dron was on a hat trick, dismissing Moe skipper Evan Sheekey for a golden duck to start his second over, Moe now 3/38 after losing 3/4. Josh Keyhoe in his second game for Moe and Ash Savige got the Lions to drinks at 3/70 off 22 overs, needing 82 runs from 138 balls.
After drinks, the Blues tinkered with their bowling, giving Gibson (0/16 off 3) & McKenzie (0/15 off 2) a crack, but the Lions batters capitalised and put the equation well into their favour. Savige fell for 41 to Dron (3/30 off 9) to end the match winning 76 run partnership. Johnstone (6*) joined Keyhoe to add 40 runs from 49 balls to complete the win with 39 balls to spare. Keyhoe with 2 match winning half centuries from 2 games, both the times B Grade have won this season.
Both of the matches against Thorpdale to come are away on the Blues’ hard deck.
Next Week:
Mirboo North visit Ted Summerton Reserve
