The 2013/14 season got off to a positive start for the Manly Warringah Waratahs on the weekend with some great scores with the bat, some tough work in the field, and a fantastic turn-out at Manly Bowling Club on Saturday night to top it off.
Our batting coaches Marks and Crosthwaite must be very peased with the effort of our batting group over the weekend with scores of 355 in 5th grade and 339 in 1st grade. The scores came about in very different ways but the scoreboard at the end of the day is all that counts and the boys certainly showed some application with the bat when needed. Lets hope our 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade batting squads can do the same next week and guide their teams to victory.
4 Pines Player of the week – Ahillen Beadle
T
here were a couple of contendors for the player of the week with great bowling from Michael Visser (6 for 51), Sam Alexander (5 for 56) and Toby Poole (98) and Tom Kelly (87) all staring on day 1.
However Ahilllen Beadle had to get it this week in an innings described by Club President Andrew Fraser as one of the best grade innings he has seen. Coming in at 3 for 31, AB saw another wicket fall on 37 before launching a stunning counter attack, hitting 18 boundaries to bring up his hundred in 90 balls, but getting out 2 balls later. His partnership of 168 with Luke Edgell for the 5th wicket was vital in getting the side to a very competitive 339.
A back to the wall innings with your side in trouble is always the most satisying innings, and usually the most vital. It was no exception on Saturday, with AB’s ton setting up a very competitive total. For this, AB wins the award this week.
1st Grade – Manly 339 (A. Beadle 104, L. Edgell 67, S. Webber 50, J. Cox 42) vs UNSW 1 for 28
First grade were sent in on Saturday on a deck that looked pretty good to be honest. We found ourselves in a bit of trouble at 4-37 as the UNSW opening bowlers bowled a consistent line and length and let the new ball nip around a bit. After this mini-collapse it was important we consolidated and put together a few partnerships. Beadle and Edgell did this in fine style, both batting in an aggressive yet controlled manner as they wrestled the momentum back to the Manly boys.
Beadle in particular was in fine form, timing the ball beautifully and playing shots to all parts of the field. Any loose ball, whether full or short, was punished as he bought up his century in only 92 balls. It truly was a quality innings, not only for its skill but also taking the situation of the match into consideration. Lukey played the perfect supporting role, taking advantage of any loose balls and rotating the strike well. He finished with an excellent 67 of 90 balls. In all, their partnership took our score to 204 however when they both departed in close proximity of each other it was game on again.
Coxy came together with debutant Sam Webber with the score on 214 and set about re-building our innings and taking us towards the 300 mark. The veteran and the youngster both played the situation perfectly, batting without risk and milking the UNSW spinners and while taking advantage of the odd loose ball. Sammy showed fantastic maturity in his first 1st grade outing to post an even 50 (when was the last time a Manly player made a 50 on their 1st grade debut?) while Coxy made 42 and batted as though he hasn’t had any time away from the game at all. Nickos chipped in with a very handy 19 at the end to push our score to 339, a score we would have taken at the beginning of the day.
For the final 8 overs of the day our aim was to take 2 wickets. Nick McLachlan got the ball rolling with an LBW decision going our way, however we were unable to take another as UNSW ended to day at 1-28
Jack Ritchie
2nd Grade – Manly 1 for 23 vs UNSW 277 (M. Visser 6 for 51, L. Disserens 4 for 87)
The mighty 2’s turned up to a magnificant looking Manly Oval on Saturday. Skipper Ryan “Dootchman” Bonner tossed incorrectly and the UNSW boys chose to bat first.
A couple of nice drives from the UNSW openers saw spin introduced in the 5th over of the day, Luke Disserans making his Manly debut at the bowling crease. Taking the first 2 wickets caught and bowled, “Dizzy” bowled superbly all day to take 4 for 87 off 26 fantastic leg spin overs.
The Manly Oval deck proved to be very flat but the bowlers toiled hard to go in at 2 for 80 odd at lunch. 2 quick Michael Visser wickets after lunch reduced UNSW to 4 for 110, however a big partnership ensued. Visser was again the partnership breaker, geting his third. Viss and Dizzy bowled well in tandem for most of the day to take all 10 wickets between then. Visser was the star, taking 6 for 51 in his best ever 2nd grade figures. He showed great control and extracted movement on a very flat deck to be the pick of the bowlers. At the end of the innings, UNSW were dismissed for 277.
facing a tricky 8 overs before stumps, we lost Rawling LBW in the first over before Visser showed he has the allround game to keep the bowlers out for the rest of the session along with Jarrod Walter. We finished at 1 for 23.
Another flat deck and fast outfield next week should see the boys home with some solid batting.
Luke Disserens takes his first ever wicket for Manly on his way to a 4 wickets haul from 26 overs
Visser on on his way to 6 wickets against UNSW
Viss about to send one down
Manly Oval on Saturday. Doesn’t get any better
3rd Grade – Manly 0 for 2 vs UNSW 245 (S. Alexander 5 for 56)
Third Grade headed to UNSW to start the 2013/14 campaign. After losing the toss, we were in the field on a hard, flat deck. After strong opening spells from Craig Little and Arshdeep Virdi, the skipper got the early breakthrough after a good catch from Josh Peterson behind the stumps in his return to the club. After that it was a hard slog for the bowlers who managed to keep the scoring down and built pressure on the UNSW batsmen. Raging Ronnie Davis and Luke Grant supported the openers well but couldn’t break the frustrating partnership. It was Arshdeep who took the 2nd wicket in his second spell through a sharp catch from Genie at mid wicket. UNSW were 2-86 at tea.
After the break, Sammy Alexander came into the attack with immediate effect taking a wicket in his second over and seemingly swinging the momentum in our favour. However, after a counterattack from the UNSW number 5, they were back on top as the score raced over 140. It was Genie and Ronnie who then came on and dried up the scoring from both ends. Both took a wicket during this period and importantly kept it tight. UNSW had moved on to 5 for 180. From then on in, it was the Sam Alexander show. He was fantastic and bamboozled all of the opposition batsmen. His spell prevented UNSW from making the 275+ score that looked possible throughout the day. He ended with figures 5/56. The home side was restricted to 245 after Sam Gainsford took the final wicket after a strong spell.
Left with 3 overs in the day, Matt Cole and Adam Gummer strode to the crease and didn’t look troubled by the opening bowlers. We finished the day 0-2 and a big chance of chasing down the runs next week. Well done to Sammy on his 5 fa.
Go Manly
LG
4th Grade – Manly 0 for 11 vs UNSW 289 (S. Hole 3 for 67, B. Wilson 3 for 43)
A tough day, but ultimately a satisfying start the season. Losing the toss, Uni chose to bat on a flat wicket, and what proved to be a lightning fast outfield.
Early wickets to Angus “Gus, Gussy, Vita-Weat” Reid, and Wilson saw them 2-25, before a further 2 wickets to Jacob Graham saw the visitors at 4-75.
Despite a century partnership, our boys hung in, bowled straight and put in a great effort on a bumpy outfield. Sammy Hole bowled 24 overs straight and Pete Lindsay, after a great slips catch, decided it was his day, and bowled a great spell to pull the visitors back. Wilson came back to claim a couple of late wickets and Uni were eventually all out for 289, leaving us 2 overs to bat, successfully reaching 0-11.
289 is not a lot…. if we can bat all day, we’ll win.
Well done to all the boys who worked hard in the field, and never dropped their heads. Great work from all the bowlers who bowled good lines to straight fields. Big thanks to Cliffy Lyons, who was outstanding in the field, diving around like a 40 year old, and putting his body on the line all day.
5th Grade – Manly 7 (dec) for 355 (T. Poole 98, T. Kelly 87, B. D’Arcy 57) vs UNSW 0 for 17
The new look Manly 5’s turned up to David Phillips hoping to bat on a hot windy day. The skipper called correctly and we had our chance.
Billy D’Arcy and Hamish Ferguson on debut were excellent opening up. Confident from the great work the coaches have put in with the batters, we raced to a run a minute first session at drinks. Hamish was out for a well made 20 odd, bringing another on debut to the crease. Tom Kelly started quickly (nerves) but soon settled down and played brilliantly, with Billy at the other end showing class and patience.
Billy got a tough LB call and was next to go for a stylish 57. Toby Poole was next in and from the get go looked in good nick. Runs then started to flow. No slogging, just good cricket shots with minimal risk. Both passed 50 and got better as UNSW started to feel the pinch in the field. The 200 was passed, then the 250. We were scoring at 6 an over but with no risk.
TK and Pooley both deserved 3 figures, but fell just short. TK – 87, Pooley – 98. Great batting, great partnership, great to watch. Excellent cameos from Doug McGrath (aka Greg ‘Butch” Boyer) and Will Outred to lift the run rate allowed the skipper to declare at 7 for 355 and have a chance at a few early wickets.
Justin Knight and Ben Kittlety on debut bowled really well but we couldn’t find a breakthrough.
Fantastic start to the season and we look forward to next week.
Dave Farrell
