4 Pines Player of the week – Adam Crosthwaite
Crossy scored his 3rd ton for the year in a great display on Saturday. Following some uncharacteristic low scores, Crossy needed a big one after the top order lost their way on Saturday. Firstly, with Justin Cox he stabilised things then, still in some bother at 5/128, he and Taylor Beatty partnered up for a 168 run partnership. Crossy played all the shots and hit 24 x 4 and 1 x 6. Adam is enjoying a great year with his average up over 50 and his leadership and determination are a big ingredient in 1st grade’s hunt for some silverware.
Eyes on the ball
The boys turned up to Manly Oval on Saturday morning looking to prove a point after last weeks display against Sydney Uni. With the one day quarter against the Saints on Sunday as well, the toss was crucial. Skipper Cruickshank delivered and Manly batted.
After losing an early wicket, Edgell (28) started the rebuilding process with an important knock which helped set up the day for the Tah’s. Edgell, Merchant & Cruickshank then all fell in quick succession to leave us 4/70 just before Lunch.
Crosthwaite fought through the whole first session after finding himself in after 2 balls. He was the star of the day with his 166, fighting through slowly to 50 in an important partnership with Cox (37) before turning it on in an 168 run partnership with Beatty (58) to push the Tah’s up past the 300 mark.
Beatty showed great maturity and class scoring a fifty under pressure in his first innings in ones batting at 7. More runs to come from this man!
They both fell in quick succession nearing the end of the day, allowing the bowlers to have some fun with McLachlan (18), Diserens (10) & Buck (16*) all scoring quick runs to leave the boys 9/343 at the end of the day.
Batting the day was crucial as it kept the Saints out in the field for 96 overs before the One Day Quarter the next day and we did the job.
It’s set up for the bowlers to do the job next week and secure another important 6 points. Well done Crossy.
Nick McLachlan
It was too be a long, long, long day in the field for the Tah’s. From the get-go there was good carry from our opening bowlers Mickey and Ashdeep, but once the new ball had lost its shape it was only to become a batting paradise for the Saints batsmen. Fielding for all 96 overs, the boys did well to take 8 wickets and restrict St George to 379 by the end of the days play as they were certainly motoring towards a monstrous score with one of the batsmen suparsing a century.
Our bowlers fought hard, in conditions that were very much against them, but it was to be patience and persiverence that would bring about wickets for the Tah’s. Pughy with 2fa, Ashdeep with 2fa, the skipper with 2fa, 1 for Tom Kaye and a run-out showed that it was a real team effort, with everyone chipping in.
Certainly a long and tough day for the boys, but nothing that we can’t chase down on what looks to be the flattest wicket in Sydney.
GO MANLY!!!
Sam W
3rd Grade – Manly 2/56 v St George 139 (M Alexander 3/33, L Grant 2/30, R davis 2/30)
A great turnaround for the main grade this week. From the get go Matt, Luke and Ronnie got their line and length right. Bowling the way a 2 day game should be played they bowled consistent maidens which led to wickets falling at regular intervals. St George only managed a mere 139 with Mattoes picking up the first 3 wickets, Ronnie bowling great areas for his 3fa, Luke sneaking 2 wickets in, Dylan with 1 and Faz with a superb run out in the back end of the innings.
In reply, Manly are 2-56 with Gummer falling LBW for 0 and Ryan getting bowled by a jaffer that clipped the top of off stump. We will resume next week with Ralphy on 27no and Lance on 4no.
Jarrod Rawlings
4th Grade – Manly 271 ( R Hamman 104, B.Wilson 39no, J Mason 37) v St george 3/23 ( N Toomey 2/14)
Harold Fraser presented a rock hard, well grassed pitch that St George, no doubt, with hindsight, regretfully sent us in on. Joel Mason (37) and Rowan Hamman (104) got us off to a great start, racing to 72 before Joel was adjudged LBW to add yet another 30 to his name. He raised his 5000th run for the club in this innings so well done Joel on this massive achievement. Sam Hole (21) then came in and made sure we didn’t lose another quick one. He did it well against some very good medium paced bowling from their elder statesman who finished the day with 6/60 ( a great reminder of where we need to bowl).
Sam then failed to commit to a slower ball and departed at 2/164 . Rowan reached his 3rd ton from 5 digs on the stroke of tea, and like his previous three tons, he then got out soon after (108, 104, 104). Not a bad weakness to have I suppose but I know he was kicking himself as he had 41 overs to bat still. This brought on a middle order collapse with Trewartha (2) possible unlucky to an LBW, Mat Cole (11) flicking one straight to the fieldsmen from a nothing ball, Josh getting trapped for 12, Jacob (0) falling for a leg side stumping from the med, Evans (7) also getting stuck in front. This carnage took us from 1/164 to 8/209. However the lower order duo of Wilson (39no) and Toomey (18) combined for a great 37 run partnership, then Kittlety (9) showed he can bat and put on 25 valuable runs with Brad Wilson. If Brad survives the first few balls ( always a bit touch ‘n go) he can often play some great shots all over the park. Once again he is proving to be a usefull lower order bat.
With 9 overs to bowl, Nick (2/14) got us off to not a bad start having them 2/0 after 5 balls care of an LBW and a mistimed pull shot. Brad followed up with a tickle to Josh Petersen who claimed his 250th scalp as a keeper and all up, with Saints at 3/23, we will enter the second day confident of doing well, as long as we have a couple of good sessions this week.
Warren Evans
5th Grade – Manly 2/14 v St George 219 (T Kelly 4/41, W.Outred 4/70)
A decent opening stand should have been broken earlier than at 46, due to some dropped chances, but TK got the breakthrough.
TK (4-41 off 16) then knocked over the 3 & 4 in a great spell, supported by Golden Child Carden (0-6 off 6) from the other end.
This just showed what comes from maidens and pressure. 3 for 130 odd at tea was probably a bit slow from them, given the great deck and a very short boundary.
After tea we took 6 for 40 odd to get the upper hand. Wilbur (4-70 off 20) bowled unchanged from 1 end and gradually got more and more turn and accuracy. Some clever adjustments to his fields got rewards. Their captain came out swinging and got away with a few for the last wicket, but all out for 219 was good for the boys. It looked like a 250 minimum day to me.
We had 8 overs to face and lost 2 for 14, which wasn’t ideal. However, given our batting strength and a week to prepare, I’m quietly confident of a hard fought victory next week.
Special thanks to Alex Bain who came down to act as 12 man for the day. Really appreciate it Alex.
Dave
Outred gets down to business on Saturday
Tom Kelly sending one down on Saturday
One Day QF v St George
Manly 7/232 ( T Cruickshank 101, A Beadle 67) beat St George 107 (N McLachlan 4/25, A Beadle 2/14, N. Buck 2/49)
Most of the squad turned up fresh for the quarter final after the batting day on Sat and Cruickshank continued his mid season toss turnaround with another win ensuring the Saints would spend another 50 overs out in the field before the Tah’s bowlers had to do anything.
Ritchie (16), Crosthwaite (16) & Beadle (67) started cautiously against a first-class opening pair on a tough slow deck and really helped set another excellent platform for the day.
Around the 25 over mark the score was approximately 2/80 and we needed to really push forward to set a competitive total.
Enter Skipper Cruickshank, who started slowly before dispatching the Saints bowlers to all parts, bringing up his first 100 of the season off about 90 balls, including 7 massive bombs, providing entertainment for the increasingly intoxicated crowd on the hill. A great knock from the Skipper when the team really needed it. Special mention to AB who batted most of the innings for his 67 and ensured wickets weren’t lost at important times. The rest of the order added some late runs to leave up 7/232 off the 50 overs.
Saints started very aggressively, with their English import taking the Manly attack to the sword. Babula (1/11 off 6 with 4 maidens) started well before Beadle (2/14 off 3.3) took the important wicket. Babula then dismissed Copeland with a jaffa before McLachlan (4/25 off 10) ripped through the middle order with 4 wickets in 3 overs to leave the Saints reeling at 7/64. Saints never really recovered, with Patterson providing the only resistance, as St George were bowled out for 107. Onto the Semi Final against ND’s!
Special mention goes to Timbo for his terrific ton and to all the boys on the hill for the support and banter throughout the day!
Nickos
Timmy returning to form in the QF with a great century
