Moama has made a bright start on day one of its clash against Bamawm-Lockington United as it looks to bounce back from its first defeat of the season in round 12.
Taking on the in-form Lions, who had won each of their past four matches, at Moama Recreation Reserve, the home side lost the toss and was asked to bowl, and it was Michael Hill yet again who made the early breakthrough for his side.
Liam Hamilton was the casualty for BLU, caught behind for eight in just the third over, as Moama looked to be up and about early.
Declan Pearse joined skipper Regis Chakabva at the crease and the pair looked to dig in and build a big total, however after facing 55 deliveries for his 21 runs, Pearse was caught short after a Kirk Teasdale throw rendered him run out.
Werner Brand (26), one of four half-centurions in BLU’s most recent innings, strode out to the middle and combined well with Chakabva, with the pair lasting 16 overs together at the crease before Hill again struck to remove Brand.
Chakbva batted on, with the former Zimbabwean international passing 50 for the fifth innings in a row, however he joined teammates back in the pavilion after Hill (4-38) trapped him in front for a brilliant 71.
James McPhee was the best of the Lions’ lower order, contributing 14 as his side fell to be all out for 184, with Rhys Drennan (2-19) tidying up the tail for Moama.
It left the home side with a tricky 11-over period to face before stumps, yet skipper Joel Murphy and Fraser Buchanan remained unscathed at the crease when the umpire removed the bails to signal the end of play.
Murphy was happy with the performance from his side, which enters the clash off the back of its first loss of the season last week to Rochester.
“I thought we were really good, we were really disciplined as a unit and we fielded pretty well,” he said.
“That's always the goal in two-day cricket, if you're bowling first to bowl them out, so we were able to do that.
“We know they've got a couple of really good batters, but we were able to eventually work our way through those guys, and then sort of get rid of the other guys at the end, so it was a good day all around.”
With Chakabva showing there is plenty in the pitch for batsmen who get themselves in, Murphy is confident his side will be able to chase down the runs required on day two next week.
“I think we should be able to if we bat well enough,” he said.
“Regis batted really well. He sort of knuckled down and he's a really classy player, so he batted well, but we were still able to keep taking wickets at the other end and eventually get him.
“There was a little bit in it (the pitch) all day. It was sort of nibbling around all day and our bowlers made use of that, but hopefully we can knock off the runs next week.”
And while his side experienced its first loss for the season last week, Murphy said it had only served to lift the intensity among the group as finals approached.
“There probably was a little bit of a pick-up at training during the week and the intensity lifted,” he said.
“With two games to go until finals, it's time to really start switching on and getting into it, so there was a bit of a lift and I thought yesterday was really good.
“The second week against Rochy we were really good as well, we just mucked it up the first week, but the last two weeks really we've been really happy with how we're going and we're definitely heading in the right direction, I think.”
Moama will resume at 0-20 next week, needing 165 to claim the points and victory number 12 for the season, while BLU will be desperate to win given there are just six points separating second from sixth in what looks to be an enthralling lead up to the finals.
The Game
Bamawm Lockington United 184 (Regis Chakabva 71, Werner Brand 26, Michael Hill 4-38) vs Moama 0-20 (Joel Murphy 9 not out, Fraser Buchanan 7 not out)