PIES TAKE POINTS IN SEESAWING BATTLE
NORTH Geelong captured a thrilling seven-run win over Murgheboluc, with the game’s fortunes fluctuating for the duration of the contest.
“It was a full day of ups and downs for both sides,” a relieved Magpies skipper Tom Mathieson said.
“Once we lost Sam Hall early, it was good to see we had Blake Troy (31) and Adam Costello (33) dig in and get us back on track, but then Murghe again took over with 4-14 and they were back on top.”
Towering all-rounder Alistair McCann played a vital innings, pacing a crucial unbeaten 40 from 59 balls to propel the visitors to King Lloyd Reserve to 9-164.
“Normally he’s a 100-plus strike rate, but it was a really mature knock to soak up some pressure and then get going later in the innings,” Mathieson said.
Jason Grozdanovski restricted the run flow with 3-18 from his 10 overs, while Luke Webb chimed in with 2-38.
Slipping behind the required rate in the latter overs, the Frogs needed 12 from the final over, with Mathieson (4-20) stepping up to remove Luke Brown (49) and stall the scoring, in doing so, delivering his side its first win of the season.
Brown had earlier combined with Owen Dunipace (30) for a 40-run stand, although Tom Bagg’s run out of Dunipace was a decisive moment in the game.
“They weren’t going at a huge rate, but they were going at a rate that was going to get the game close, particularly with Jason Grozdanovski and Luke Webb, who can both hit a big ball to come,” Mathieson said.
The employment of Mitch Troy with the new ball had earlier borne fruit as he captured the wickets of the Murghe openers on the way to 2-22.