By Justin Flynn
After a season marred by injury, Grovedale star Jordan Moran reminded everyone of his batting prowess with a majestic century in round 2 of Geelong Cricket Association Division 1 on Saturday October 12.
Moran broke his thumb and tore the tendon, which required surgery and ended his season before Christmas in 2023/24, but bounced back in a big way against South Barwon.
Moran made 137 from 135 deliveries as the Tigers made a hefty 8/274 at South Barwon Reserve. His knock included 12 fours and five sixes.
Moran said South Barwon bowled well and he had to bide his time by “knuckling down when it was tough”.
“They bowled well in periods and I probably didn’t have my timing where I wanted it or my placement early in the innings,” he said.
“I was hitting (the ball to) lots of fielders. So to be able to graft that out and get through that little tricky period and then enjoy a bit of a bit of freedom once the timing and some rhythm came back was nice.”
Opener Kane Pozman made 40 from 33 balls and Michael McNeel contributed 30. Moran said Pozman’s knock was just as important as his own.
“We spoke about that after the game that it’s probably the one of the most crucial 40s you’ll see because it got us ahead of the game and allowed Micka (McNeel) and myself just to rebuild,” he said.
“And then when South were bowling well there wasn’t really that scoreboard pressure because we’re already ahead of the game. A very crucial 40 and just like he was when he was playing with us before he had 12 months off with uni, just looking quality and hitting the ball very cleanly.”
South Barwon never really looked like troubling the run chase although Nick Butters started well with 46 from 39 balls. Spinner Rohan Smith (4/52) and Jack Wrigglesworth (3/28) did most of the damage in getting the Swans out for 180.
“Wrigglesworth took a wicket first ball of the first over and they never really got any momentum going until Butters came in,” Moran said.
“Probably his first 10 balls were pretty scratchy, but then he would have his 40 off the next 15 to 20 balls.”
Although Smith’s 10 overs came at more than five an over, Moran said the four wickets were crucial and with Luke Guest conceding just seven runs from six overs, they complimented each other nicely.
“He bowled better than what those figures suggest, we didn’t field the best and I reckon we had three boundaries go between guys’ legs,” he said.
“So a little bit unlucky there, but bowled extremely well and then probably in tandem with Guesty at the other end, I think allowed Smithy to build that pressure.”
Grovedale finished last season in third spot in a very tight season that resulted in half a game between third and sixth.
“We’ve changed our coaching structure and got a bit more specialised one-on-one coaching going on,” Moran said.
“So rather than the two of us doing it, I’ve got a coaching panel of about six, which is just allowing access to players a lot easier. We’ve got five hard wicket nets instead of two so obviously the freedom to be able to do a bit more has been pleasurable. Everyone’s buying into our motto and our vision of just enjoying each other’s success and it’s a collective buying in rather than just one or two.”
A SUPERB 128 from Andrew Casey allowed St Joseph’s to defeat East Belmont. Casey’s 128 saw Joeys make 6/235 and then Cameron Port (4/44) and Ryan Simmons (3/37) bowled the team to victory by 46 runs.
SAM HALL (77) and Bailey Sykes (3/24) were the architects in North Geelong’s six-wicket win while Greg Willows (60) and Fionn Neeson (3/36) had good games for Highton.
NEWTOWN & CHILWELL defeated St Peters with an even team performance that saw nobody truly star although Lachie Sperling bowled well to take 2/23 from 10 tidy overs.
