Mowers stay perfect as Oddie almost Nondies hero

The Mowers would have expected to crush the league’s cellar-dweller and, while their performance batting first was solid, the writing was on the wall that this game wouldn’t be a walk in the park.

The key duo of Joel Murphy and Anthony McMahon put Moama in a commanding position, after both made 50s in a 93-run partnership.

By the time McMahon fell for 62, the Mowers were 3-126, but the middle and lower order didn’t show the same resiliency.

When Murphy (53) went with the score at 171, Moama was now six down, and the league leader dropped its next three wickets for 13 runs, as it crawled to the finish line at 9-184.

Oddie (2-6) and Jamal Sukhon (2-49) were the wicket leaders for Nondies.

Although 184 looked a target beyond Nondies given recent form, it was by no means a comfortable total to defend, and the hosts had their best crack at it.

Oddie went to the crease with Josh Novoselek to begin the innings and 50 overs later the Nondies opener was still toiling away.

Facing 147 deliveries, Oddie carried his bat, falling just short of a century with 96 runs.

Unfortunately, the host couldn’t find anyone to go with its marathon man, no other batter reaching double figures until last man in Leigh Johnson.

Although the innings had declined to 9-126, Johnson made 15 not out from 20, adding 39 for the last wicket and creating some concern in the Moama camp, although the Nondies pair would run out of overs, the innings ending 9-165.

Russell Stockdale posted a crafty 3-15, while the previous week’s five-wicket man Anthony McMahon followed up with 2-14 to go with his 62 runs.

Although not the most convincing effort, Moama remains the unbeaten leader, and can complete the sweep of every side with a win over leading contender Bamawm-Lockington United on Saturday.

Nondies will hope their upswing of form can be converted into points this week when they face Echuca at Moon Oval at Rochester.