Newly appointed Moama coach Matthew Saunders led from the front in Moama’s clash with Kyabram Fire Brigade at Northern Oval, with the classy all-rounder snaring an unbelievable hat-trick to power his side to a dominant round one triumph.
With the Flames batting first, all seemed quite peaceful to start the innings, with Shannon Flemming and Miller Griffiths navigating the first five overs with relative ease.
However, a bolt by young paceman Rhys Drennan got the ball rolling for Moama, knocking over Griffiths for five ― and from there, the visitor couldn’t be stopped.
As Saunders stood at the top of his mark to steam in for the eighth over of the match, nobody knew the chaos that was about to ensue.
A slick catch from Duane Johns gave Saunders his first, brining an end to Shannon Flemming’s (19) innings, before a huge lbw appeal delivered Saunders his second as Jake Gascoyne departed for a golden duck.
Then, new Fire Brigade signing Cooper Fawcett got his ‘welcome to the competition’ as he tried to leave a Saunders rocket that jagged back and took off-stump, completing an astounding hat-trick just eight overs into the season.
Anthony McMahon got into the action a couple of overs later as Bohden Learmonth nicked off to Moama keeper Kobyn James for a twelve-ball duck.
Saunders almost got a second hat-trick in the 16th over, dismissing Oliver Hughes (1) and Hunter Fawcett (0) in successive deliveries.
Wil Harrison (16 not out) was the only Flame to put up a fight as Saunders claimed his sixth wicket, dismissing Fire Brigade captain Rob Salter for five, while Clay McGregor cleaned up the tail in back-to-back balls.
With a small chase on for Moama, chasing 62 for victory, the Fire Brigade knew it had to bowl almost perfectly to stop the Mowers from running over the top.
Jackson Barnett got an early wicket, dismissing explosive opener Russell Stockdale for five before jagging his second, claiming the big wicket of Fraser Buchanan (7) at the start of the 12th over.
From there, returning skipper Joel Murphy and James guided Moama to victory before the 20th over, scoring 35 not out and 12 not out respectively.
Reflecting on the match, Moama captain Joel Murphy emphasised that the side is trying not to get ahead of itself just yet, despite a stellar team effort led by Saunders.
“We were really pleased with how it (the game) went,” he said.
“They started pretty well, I think it was none for 20-odd, and then Saunders come on, and it all changed.
“He hit his length straight away, and before we knew it, they were four or five down and the game had completely changed.
“Everyone who bowled did their job. Rhys (Drennan) and Tony (McMahon) bowled well at the start with a bit of pace on the ball, and Saunders was the one who got all the wickets. He bowled really well, but it was a bit of a team effort with the ball.
“It was a good game. I think round one can sometimes be a bit deceiving: it's never as good as you think, and it's never as bad as you think.
“It was just a one of those days when we got some wickets and got on a roll, but Ky (Fire Brigade) will be a good side, and we've still got lots to work on.”
The Game
Kyabram Fire Brigade 61 (Shannon Fleming 19, Will Harrison 16 not out, Matthew Saunders 6-17) defeated by Moama 2-62 (Joel Murphy 35 not out, Kobyn James 12 not out)
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