Murphy’s Law: Moama captain out injured as Echuca South capitalises

The setback didn’t stop the rest of the Moama side from digging deep in the first innings with Russell Stockdale getting off to a flying start and Fraser Buchanan being the anchor of the innings.

Stockdale didn’t last long as he copped an lbw and departed for 23, bringing vice captain Anthony McMahon to the crease.

While Buchanan looked steady at the crease and attempted to establish an innings, McMahon didn’t waste any time, notching 19 runs off 28 balls before also falling to lbw, this time at the hands of A.K. Gunathilaka.

Matt Saunders came to the middle and managed to slow the bleeding with Buchanan but the number five lasted only 19 balls before being dismissed to yet another lbw again at the hands of paceman A.K. Gunathilaka for 11.

Playing coach Michael Hill didn’t have an opportunity to settle out in the middle, as he was on the receiving end of a beauty by Asantha Singappuli that sent him packing for a single run.

A quiet period in proceedings meant that Buchanan and Archie Teasdale were able to build some momentum, scoring 24 runs between them, until a lapse in concentration resulted in Moama’s danger man being run out for 30.

The father-son duo of Archie and Kirk Teasdale notched just one run before the former was caught by Echuca South captain Jayden Rosin off Ben Eade’s bowling in the 30th over.

The duo of Ben Eade and Jayden Rosin struck again just three balls later when Moama’s Mitchell Stephens was sent packing for a duck, Eade collecting a double in an over and the Swans could now well and truly smell blood.

Much like Stephens, A-grade debutant Kaj Huddle survived only three balls when more confusion between the wickets resulted in his dismissal by run out, sending him back to the sheds without score.

Veteran Kirk Teasdale was able to dig out a hard-fought 12 runs in the tail to try and build any sort of structure at the end of Moama’s innings but was ultimately clean bowled at the start of the 35th over, bringing the first innings to a close.

Moama’s final score was 9/130, a total Echuca South would be confident it could chase down.

Following the break and a man down, Moama needed to strike early to give itself any chance of taking the match.

While it took Moama’s opening bowlers eight overs to strike, Echuca South was only able to put on 17 before Michael Hill drew first blood, Jayden Rosin edging one behind to Fraser Buchanan to send him walking for five.

Other opener Clayton Watson and Singappuli were able to chip away at the total until a pearler from Rishabh Kothari saw a shot from Singappuli land straight into the hands of Anthony McMahon, the ace number three departing for 16.

With Rathika Rajakumara arriving at the crease, he and Watson were able to build strong momentum, putting on a 54 run partnership for the third wicket and putting Moama on the backfoot.

The bowling of Kaj Huddle proved to be the breakthrough, with Mitchell Stephens hanging onto a catch to send the opener walking for 28.

Often times, one wicket brings two as partner Rajakumara was dismissed in the proceeding over by Archie Teasdale who caught one off Mitchell Stephens’ bowling.

Leg spinner Russell Stockdale landed a nice ball to trap Tristan Watson in front and send him off for 16, but by that time the damage was already done as he and Grady Smith developed a 28 run partnership.

A boundary by Grady Smith in the 34th over brought an end to the contest as Echuca South managed to oust the 2023 competition runners-up, who will now await an update on the health of their captain through the week as to what their next move will be when they face BLU next week.