Newly appointed Moama coach Matthew Saunders’ lethal exploits with the ball led his side to an eight-wicket win in the opening round of the competition.
With the Flames batting first, all seemed peaceful to start the innings, with Shannon Fleming and Miller Griffiths navigating the first five overs with relative ease.
However, a bolt by young paceman Rhys Drennan got the ball rolling for Moama, knocking over Griffiths for five — and from there, the visitors couldn’t be stopped.
As Saunders stood at the top of his mark to steam in for the eighth over of the match, nobody knew the chaos that was about to ensue.
A slick catch from Duane Johns gave Saunders his first, bringing an end to Fleming’s (19) innings, before a huge LBW appeal delivered Saunders his second as Jake Gascoyne departed for a golden duck.
Then, new Fire Brigade signing Cooper Fawcett got his ‘welcome to the competition’ as he tried to leave a Saunders rocket that jagged back and took off-stump, completing an astounding hat-trick just eight overs into the season.
Anthony McMahon got into the action a couple of overs later as Bohden Learmonth nicked off to Moama keeper Kobyn James for a 12-ball duck.
Saunders almost got a second hat-trick in the 16th over, dismissing Oliver Hughes (1) and Hunter Fawcett (0) in successive deliveries.
Wil Harrison (16 not out) was the only Flame to put up a fight down the order as Saunders claimed his sixth wicket, dismissing Fire Brigade captain Rob Salter for five, while Clay McGregor cleaned up the tail in back-to-back balls.
With a small chase on for Moama, needing 62 for victory, Fire Brigade knew it had to bowl almost perfectly to stop the Mowers from running over the top.
Jackson Barnett got an early wicket, dismissing explosive opener Russell Stockdale for five before jagging his second, claiming the big wicket of Fraser Buchanan (7) at the start of the 12th over.
From there, returning skipper Joel Murphy and James guided Moama to victory before the 20th over, scoring 35 not out and 12 not out, respectively.
Fire Brigade has another tall order ahead of it in round two, facing four-time defending champion Echuca at Moon Oval on Saturday.
The game
Kyabram Fire Brigade 61 (Shannon Fleming 19, Will Harrison 16 not out, Matthew Saunders 6-17) defeated by Moama 2-62 (Joel Murphy 35 not out, Kobyn James 12 not out)
