Moama goes top with victory over L-G

The home side was looking shaky in the early overs, and Marcus Stubbs capitalised, removing both openers, Fraser Buchanan for 5 and Michael Hill for 13.

From 2-24, captain Anthony McMahon and Matt Saunders forged a valuable partnership, adding 59 for the third wicket.

McMahon was on the verge of a third half-century in four innings, but couldn’t reach the milestone, becoming the first of three straight Simon Tatt victims on 44.

Then 3-83 became 6-107 after wickets began to tumble with regularity.

Tatt sent Archie Teasdale to the sheds without score, before adding Saunders (35) to his list of victims later in his spell.

Rhys Drennan got one to the boundary before departing for 4, leaving Moama with plenty of work to do.

Kirk Teasdale linked up with Russell Stockdale for an innings-saving seventh-wicket partnership, the duo putting on 43 together.

Teasdale went on with the job after Stockdale’s (37) dismissal, running between the wickets a key facet of his innings.

The club president made 38 unbeaten from 35 balls, striking at 108.57 despite only finding the boundary three times.

Simon Porter (19) proved an asset late, working with Teasdale to help the home side post 8-202, an impressive score considering the lean spell in the middle of the innings.

Four batters logging more than 30 runs typified Moama’s all-round threat up and down the order.

For L-G, Tatt’s devastating 3-9 from nine overs proved crucial to restricting Moama in the middle overs, while Stubbs added Stockdale to his list of victims to also take three wickets (3-36).

There was a nightmare start to the L-G run chase as the top four left the middle as quickly as they arrived.

Opening bowling pair McMahon and Drennan took two wickets each to reduce L-G to 4-11, nine overs eaten up in the process.

After his work with the ball, the visitors looked to Tatt to salvage the batting effort, Jason Keath his partner in a recovery push.

Each making composed 30s, the two added 61 runs, dragging their side into a more respectable position.

Needing to end the dangerous partnership, Moama found joy through Stockdale, whose spin evaded Tatt (31) and crashed into his pegs.

Not many runs later, James Keath came and was run out without score, quickly followed by Jason (33).

With little hope left at 7-81, Marcus Stubbs added 22 batting with the tail, eventually the last man to depart as L-G were dismissed for 123.

Following up on his early scalps, Drennan finished with 4-21, earning best figures for Moama, while McMahon’s opening four-over spell yielded 2-4, and Stockdale (2-30) also grabbed two wickets.

The new leader won’t stay there for long, as Moama heads into a bye of its own, the winner of the night game between Rochester and Echuca guaranteed to regain pole position.

Meanwhile, L-G needs to secure points in its trip to Kyabram Fire Brigade to remain in line with the finals contenders.