Wandella v Nyah District
A 59-run, two-wicket performance from all-rounder Peter Moore helped Wandella secure a six-wicket win over Nyah District in a rematch of last year’s semi-final on Saturday.
Moore returned to the Bombers line-up after missing his team’s Round 2 loss to Barham-Koondrook, and had an immediate effect, with the Demons having no answer to his composed innings with the bat.
Moore’s 59 runs from 71 balls proved decisive in a game where several batsmen made starts. Wandella captain Ryan Barnes was full of praise for the all-round performance of his star recruit.
“‘Moorey stepping up with ball and the bat, leading the way for us was very handy, he was the sort of player we were missing last year to be honest,” Barnes said.
“He’s the sort of guy we were looking for all season. He just happened to come back to us on our terms and has been a really big positive for our team.
“His experience is invaluable for our younger guys. His ability to turn a game with either the bat or ball will be a key factor in us potentially having a successful season.”
Moore (2-24 off eight overs) and fellow opening bowler Bohden McKnight (3-16 off eight overs) had Nyah District in all sorts of trouble early, with the top order of Mitchell Grinham, Charlie Boulton and Max Thompson all dismissed without scoring, leaving the Demons innings in tatters at 3 for 8.
Nyah District’s middle order slowly started to rebuild their innings, with Ben Shadbolt playing the perfect captain’s knock with 38 from 37 balls, alongside Justin Toomey (23) and Alex Wilson (21).
While the Bombers reply started off in less than perfect fashion, with Patrick Oliver bowled for a duck off the second ball of the innings from Wilson, there was little else for the Demons to celebrate. Moore combines firstly with Daniel Higgs (14) for a 35-run second wicket partnership, then Samuel Copland (33 not out) for a match-winning 63-run third wicket stand.
“We were very happy with our effort with the ball, although we went through a bit of a quiet patch throughout the middle overs,” Barnes said.
“I thought we finished off our effort in the field really well and then carried that momentum into our innings with the bat.
“We just wanted to bat out our 40 overs, we knew if we took our time, got ourselves in and enjoyed some time in the middle, we’d come away with the result.
“We know from the previous two seasons that they (Nyah District) have a really good bowling line-up, so we had to be patient and wait for our opportunities to score. I thought we did that really well.
“After the previous week (against Barham-Koondrook) where we had a bit of bad luck, it was good to roll up and face Nyah on their home turf and walk away with a good win.
Wilson (2-17 off six overs) and Charlie Boulton (2-29 off five overs) were the only wicket takers for the Demons, with Boulton taking the prized wickets of Moore and Greg Dickson (4) to give the home side a late sniff of victory.
But it wasn’t too be, with Copland and Bohden McKnight (20 not out) scoring the final 35 runs required off of just 32 balls to steer Wandella home.
