Anthony McMahon led the way for Moama with the ball, taking 5-7 including a sensational hat-trick with the last three deliveries of the innings. Photos: Jordan Townrow
Moama will head into the new year unblemished after besting defending champion and cross-border rival Echuca and holds a 10-0 record in Goulburn Murray Cricket’s 2025-26 McMahon Shield.
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Hosting Moama at its surrogate home ground of Moon Oval, Echuca won the toss and elected to put runs on the board early.
Echuca openers Brendan Moyle and Archer Carlile couldn’t build much of a platform before Rhys Drennan got the former to nick behind to Kobyn James for eight in the third over.
Ben Henson powers it through covers.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Fellow opener Carlile was following suit a few overs later after being beaten all ends up by Clay McGregor for two.
Aidan Young was on his way the next over, facing a peach of a delivery from Anthony McMahon to be dismissed for four.
Clay McGregor took the wicket of Archer Carlile in the first innings.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Anthony Dennis and Charlie Hinks managed to knuckle down and bat time, giving the host some breathing room.
The pair guided its side past the 30th over before McMahon struck again, castling Dennis for a hard-fought 18 off 67 deliveries.
Easton Carlile square drives off the back foot.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Hinks almost saw out the 50 overs, but was brought undone due to a mix-up between the wickets, being run out by McGregor for a gutsy 47 off 116 deliveries.
It was exceptional theatre in the final three balls of the innings as McMahon snared an unbelievable hat-trick, dismissing Easton Carlile (16), Simon Maddox (0) and Ryan Caldwell (0) in successive balls to bowl the hosts out for 118.
Rhys Drennan took the key wicket of Echuca captain Brendan Moyle to open Moama’s account.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
With a scant target to chase down, Moama started off strongly, with openers Fraser Buchanan and Russell Stockdale seeing out the first 10 overs while ticking over the strike.
Buchanan was the first Moama wicket to fall, being cleaned up by Archer Carlile for 17 before Stockdale followed suit, being caught off Maddox’s bowling after a swashbuckling 38 off 36 balls.
Jack Russell guided Moama home with the bat, finishing the second innings with an unbeaten 27.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Joel Murphy (5) came and went quickly as Maddox picked up his second scalp before Jack Russell and Kobyn James steadied the ship.
Russell (27 not out) batted on when James was sent packing for 16, partnering Archie Teasdale (six not out) down the stretch to chase down the total in less than 24 overs.
Joel Murphy doing some tidy work on the boundary.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Moama is the overwhelming favourite to claim the McMahon Shield at the halfway mark of the season and the Mowers will look to continue their blistering form at the resumption of the competition on January 10 at home against Kyabram Fire Brigade.
Meanwhile, Echuca is on the outside looking in on the top four, currently sitting in sixth position and will come up against a formidable BLU in the new year.
Charlie Hinks cuts hard off Russell Stockdale’s bowling.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
The Game
Echuca 118 (Charlie Hinks 47, Anthony Dennis 18, Anthony McMahon 5-7) lt Moama 4-120 (Russell Stockdale 38, Jack Russell 27 not out, Simon Maddox 2-27)
