With Asantha Singappuli making a huge 113 in the first innings for Echuca South against Moama in round two of the McMahon Shield - the Swans would’ve thought they had the game in the bag.
Well, they’d be wrong - enter: Russell Stockdale.
The swashbuckling opener matched Singappuli with an explosive century of his own to power the Mowers to an extraordinary one-wicket win at home and announce them as the prohibitive top-dogs of the competition.
Batting first, the Swans got off to a decent start as openers Jayden Rosin and Clayton Watson combined for 28 runs before the latter was caught by Duane Johns off Rhys Drennan’s bowling for 13.
It wasn’t long before Rosin was heading back to the sheds, as Stockdale hung onto a late cut to send him packing for 13 in the following over.
From there, the game plan for Echuca South was simple: let Singappuli go to work and rotate the strike, a plan that worked well-enough as the dynamic number three feasted in the first innings.
Rathika Rajakumara (16) managed to hang around for just under 10 overs as Singappuli went about his business but a full ball from Clay McGregor caught the Swans’ number four off guard, sending one straight to Jack Russell at gully.
Joel Stephens added four off 32 balls and played a key role next to his dynamic number three before Clay McGregor struck again and Stockdale got his second catch.
Stockdale couldn’t stay out of the game as he sent two head spinning leggies down which resulted in two stumpings by Kobyn James either side of Singappuli’s half century to dismiss Ben Walker (4) and Brendan Lewis (3).
As the wickets kept tumbling around him, Singappuli held firm and kept looking to score, a mindset which paid off in spades - raising the bat and ending the innings as the last man standing for Echuca South on 113 not out.
With 206 required for victory, Moama knew it had to bat out of its skin if it was going to remain unbeaten to start the summer.
Thankfully for the Mowers, Stockdale stuck to the brief at the top of the order - blasting his maiden century for Moama, 106 from 71 including 15 boundaries and five maximums.
By the time of Stockdale’s dismissal, an lbw by A.K Gunathilaka, Moama required 59 runs for victory with six wickets in hand and 23 overs to play with.
Fraser Buchanan (2) and Joel Murphy (0) couldn’t get much going at the top of the order, as James (27) played a nice cameo at number four.
Singappuli tore through Moama’s middle order - taking the scalps of Anthony McMahon (9), Drennan (0) and Matt Saunders for a golden duck.
Duane Johns (32 not out) was defiant down the order for the Mowers, getting assists from Jack Russell (14) and McGregor (8) and hitting the winning runs in the 42nd over to claim a spectacular one wicket victory.
The match proved to be an eye-widening potential preview for things to come in the new year as both sides look to be early favourites to play finals.
It’ll be a competitive round three for the pair as each side will take on the 2024-25 grand finalists, with Moama hosting fierce rival Echuca and the Swans travelling to Windrige Oval to take on Rochester.
The Game
Moama 9-210 (Russell Stockdale 106, Duane Johns 32 not out, Asantha Singappuli 4-51) defeated Echuca South 206 (Asantha Singappuli 113 not out, Matt Saunders 3-22, Russell Stockdale 3-38)
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