Fire Brigade couldn’t douse Moama’s flame

The Flames won the toss and elected to bowl, a decision which would put them on the back foot immediately thanks to the exploits of Moama openers Russell Stockdale and Fraser Buchanan.

The pair put on a staggering 129-run stand for the first wicket, taking the game away from Fire Brigade from the start.

Current champion player and batting competition leader Stockdale was the first scalp for Fire Brigade, being caught off Robert Salter’s bowling after carving out 85 off 68.

After struggling with the bat for much of the season, Buchanan found some vindication, raising the blade for a hard-earned 50 before being run out by Wil Harrison for a patient 62 off 98.

The rest of Moama’s batters built off the platform the openers created, with captain Joel Murphy making 27 before being trapped lbw by Jackson Barnett.

Kobyn James at number four went almost a run a ball, nailing 34 off 36 before becoming Salter’s second scalp.

Anthony McMahon was the pick of the middle order, hitting 45 off 39 then being beaten all ends up by Barnett.

Rhys Drennan (6) didn’t add much to the scoreboard, as Duane Johns (16 not out) and Archie Teasdale (5 not out) guided Moama to a total of 6-289 off its 50 overs.

The Flames had the opposite start to their innings, as opener Miller Griffiths was cleaned up by Drennan’s sheer pace on the first delivery.

Fellow opener Bohden Learmonth and first drop Salter got things going for the visitors; however, the Flames couldn’t protect their stumps as McMahon snuck one through the gate to dismiss the latter for 15.

Two balls later Jake Gascoyne was out for a duck, the same way as McMahon found his groove.

The situation continued to go pear shaped for the Flames as Stockdale plucked one off his own bowling to dismiss Cooper Fawcett for no score.

Learmonth continued to be the stone in the stream for the visitors, while Wil Harrison (4) was able to protect his wicket for 29 balls before he too fell, being caught by Murphy off Stockdale’s bowling.

Shannon Fleming managed seven off 12 before he was bowled through the gate by a Stockdale flipper to put the visitors in serious trouble.

Learmonth raised the bat for a gutsy half-century off 80 balls at the top of the order, but that was short-lived as he was cleaned up by Drennan, leaving the Flames at a perilous 7-83.

Moama was well into Fire Brigade’s tail when Oliver Hughes (29 not out) played a defiant hand alongside Nick Smart (16) and Hunter Fawcett (19) to push their side into triple figures.

However, it was too little too late as the Flames were rolled for 157 in 48 overs, falling 132 runs short of victory in a lop-sided affair.

Not only did Stockdale top score with the bat, he also took 5-35 with the ball to emphasise his claim as the best player in the competition.

The Moama train will keep on rolling with the Mowers looking to extend their tirade at home against Tongala in round 13.

Meanwhile, Fire Brigade will look to get back on the horse against Leitchville-Gunbower at Northern Oval.