A magical Michael Hill hat-trick headlined Moama’s big win over Nondies-Cohuna at the weekend, extending its winning streak to five.
Hill struck three times in the 52nd over, dismissing Nondies import Archie Sussex for 59 before knocking over Sam O’Shea’s stumps on the third delivery.
The Moama recruit made no mistake for the third wicket, tearing through Peter Taylor’s defences to confirm the hat-trick at Cohuna Reserve.
Hill ended with figures of 4-27 off 18 overs, playing the leading role in Moama’s defence of its first-innings total of 254.
Nondies resumed at 0-20 at the weekend with Karim Marcelle and Sussex at the crease.
However, it wasn’t long before the wickets began to tumble.
Rishabh Kothari quickly dismissed Marcelle for 17, but Sussex continued to craft a valuable innings, eventually notching 59 off a watchful 147 deliveries.
But the three wickets that fell before his eventual dismissal had all but decided the outcome of the clash as Hill’s barnstorming spell reduced Nondies to 7-101.
Archie Teadale contributed two wickets of his own while Matt Saunders, Kothari and Rhys Drennan each claimed a scalp, helping Moama to a first-innings win of 128 runs.
Moama then batted for 21 overs for a return of 1-111, led by skipper Joel Murphy with 46, before both captains called it a day.
And while it was an impressive result for Moama, the pressure is coming from below.
Echuca’s outright victory over Cooma has the reigning premier on a roll, and Moama will be hoping to keeps its positive form line tracking upwards in next week’s one-day clash against Rochester.
It will be A-grades first game back on Moama Recreation Reserve this season following works on the centre of the ground.
The Game
Moama 254 and 1-111 (Anthony McMahon 92, Matt Saunders 50, Rhys Bradley 6-46) d Nondies-Cohuna 126 (Archie Sussex 59, Michael Hill 4-27)