With season points all tied up between Moama and Rochester, their two-day contest in round 13 had particular focus as the outcome would have significant ramifications for the finals.
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Travelling to Rochester Recreation Reserve, the Mowers, coming off a rest last week, were eager to exert their will on Rochy, winning the toss and electing to bat.
Openers Michael Hill and Fraser Buchanan were able to navigate Rochy’s bowling attack early and turn over strike.
Yet Buchanan (3) found his outside edge and was caught behind by Kuldeep Lal off Sean Williams in the sixth over, heading back to the sheds and leaving his side down a wicket inside the first 10 overs.
Hill and first drop Archie Teasdale were able to steady the ship after an early loss, consistently turning over the strike and building momentum.
However, Teasdale (7), falling into the same trap as Buchanan, was also caught behind by Kuldeep Lal, this time off Adam Ward’s bowling in the 12th over.
As was the case with much of Moama’s innings, Hill and McMahon managed to stave off a batting collapse and combined well to build a partnership.
But, just as the pair could build momentum and begin to put pressure back on Rochester’s bowling unit, a lapse in concentration meant Hill (13) was caught looking to move through the gears.
Matt Saunders was then brought to the crease with Moama three down and looking in a bit of strife, with the pairing of McMahon and Saunders proving successful so far this season.
While McMahon was able to make a start (19 off 49), he too edged one straight to Lal, who was having a field day behind the stumps, his third dismissal in 27 overs.
Just three balls later Lal again found the ball in his gloves, this time new batter Russell Stockdale (0) edging to the keeper who seemed to be a ball magnet.
It wasn’t the first time Saunders and Rhys Drennan found themselves batting in a precarious situation.
The duo managed to battle through 10 overs at the crease together, which helped to turn Moama’s fortunes through the crucial middle overs.
In this time, Saunders and Drennan compiled a much-needed partnership before a disastrous 38th over saw Saunders (22) bowled and Kirk Teasdale (0) trapped lbw by Sean Williams.
This perilous passage of play also saw Drennan (12) dismissed the very next over, becoming the fifth batsman of the innings to be caught behind by Lal, with Adam Ward claiming his forth wicket in that fashion.
As arguably the most well-rounded team in the competition, Moama is able to bat deep, and that managed to come in handy against Rochester.
While brothers Liam (7) and Mitchell Stephens (10 not out) weren’t accumulating a ton of runs together, they were able to soak up deliveries and occupy the crease.
Between them and young gun Jackson Groves (8), playing just his second game of A-grade, they were able to face a combined 83 deliveries.
This meant the Mowers could fight their way to 52 overs, where they were all out for 104.
Adam Ward and Sean Williams both excelled with the ball in their hands, the former claiming 5-32 and the latter taking 4-31.
With 25 overs still to be bowled, Rochester was able to have a crack at chasing down Moama’s total.
Yet, the chase may not have been as easy as it seemed as fiery paceman Drennan got the better of both Rochester openers within five overs, Saunders catching Sean Williams (4) in the first over and Mitchell Saunders hanging on to a Brandon Byrne (1) shot.
Drennan couldn’t be stopped inside the first 10 overs. This time Archie Teasdale caught Vibhor Yadav (16) while he was trying to change the momentum.
Claiming three quick wickets to start a first innings defence was precisely what Moama needed, with their young quick fired up, and things looked good for the New South Welshmen.
However, with Kuldeep Lal and Dylan Cuttriss at the crease, the game turned back in Rochy’s favour with the home pair able to see out Drennan’s pace and take on the rest of the bowling attack.
Ten overs passed before Moama got another breakthrough, Drennan removing both Lal (31) and Cuttriss (44) within two overs in his second spell.
Drennan managed to take all five of Rochester’s wickets, finishing with figures of 5-29 from six overs as the home side finished the day on 5-116, claiming those valuable second innings points.
As the two sides head into day two, Rochester will leapfrog Moama into second place on the table, but the Mowers will be able to minimise the damage by not letting Rochester get on top of them next week.
Cadet Journalist