Batsmen Dan Smith and Luke Condon did the most damage for the Tigers on the turf at Hanging Rock – the pair combined brilliantly for a 74-run partnership that all but set up the big victory.

In fact, most of the Bay’s middle order stepped up with the bat in the very hot conditions as the hosts posted a total of 191 after winning the toss and electing to bat.

Tigers captain Gavin Smart was happy with his team’s efforts, especially the middle order, which set up a defendable total.

“We’re coming into the business end of the season and it’s time to get serious,” he said. 

“We need to get all the guys to get to training so when it comes to the finals, there are no excuses.”

After being sent into bat by their skipper, Tigers opening batsman Paul Gallen was soon on his way back to the sheds without troubling the scorers. 

He spooned an easy catch to square leg off Brett Chown’s bowling to give Moruya an early breakthrough.

And in the next over, both openers were back in the shade after Gavin Ladmore gloved an Ivan Mylott bouncer to fine leg for 15.

That signalled the arrival Smith and Condon – both found themselves up the batting order and neither disappointed.

Moruya skipper Scott Sullivan got the breakthrough 74 runs later when he had Smith caught out for 35, before he also removed Condon in similar fashion a short while later for 38.

Sullivan (3/46) then had three wickets from as many overs when he bowled Brad Hancock for seven.

Dan Walsh blasted a six and two fours on his way to a quick-fire 22 before he had his stumps removed, while Andy Malcolm (22 not out) kept the runs flowing despite the Tigers’ tail failing to wag.

Chown (3/18) finished off the hosts when he removed Gavin Smart (four) and Paul Brown for a duck to have the Tigers all out for 191. 

Condon had the visitors rattled early on in their run chase when he clean bowled AJ King for just two, while Chown took a liking to Dave O’Toole’s bowling, sending the leg spinner over the fence twice in quick succession. 

However, O’Toole had the last laugh when he trapped the big-hitting Chown LBW for 21.

Hayden Salter kept the scoreboard ticking over nicely before O’Toole (2/ 41) had his second wicket.

Tim Johnston failed to interrupt the scorers when he was caught off Walsh’s bowling for a duck and Malcolm then clean bowled Mylott for one.

Salter’s innings came to an end on 28 when he was caught off Hancock’s bowling and two balls later Sullivan was on his way back for a duck when he edged a Hancock delivery Gallen.

Hancock (3/13) got his third scalp when Corey McAlpin was caught for one before Malcolm (2/6) chipped in with his second wicket.

Lachlan Paterson finished off Moruya’s innings with his first delivery to have the visitors all out for 86. 

The Tigers now look forward to this weekend’s game against Tuross Head, who they defeated in the T20 grand final.