Monday News – Rd 5 v Gordon – Day 1 + PGs v Hawkesbury – One Dayer

A solid weekend with all grades in with a chance against Gordon. Batting first in all grades meant some difficult times given the abundant moisture throughout the week but we acquitted ourselves well and we should chalk up some points on day 2 in what will be some close games. 1st and 2nd grade are evenly poised, 3rds will find it tough, 4s are on top and 5s a bit behind but in with a chance.

4 Pines Brewery Player of the Week – Logan Weston

Logan has rejoined Manly after a shock departure last season to Gordon. Whilst enjoying his brief stay there he realised it wasn’t as good as Manly and he had to get back.  Having a stint in the UK kept his eye in and despite not having a bat for 8 weeks he batted beautifully for most of his knock. A little streaky at first, a little streaky straight after tea but for the majority of it he played powerfully on both sides of the wicket. Going in at 2/5 he dominated his partnerships and he was unlucky not to get a really big one as there was plenty of time left for him. No doubt he will head up the grades. It’s great to have this level headed competitor back and he will provider the backbone to many big scores this season.

1st Grade – Manly 230  (T Cruickshank 70, N Watkins 38, M Cleary 38) v Gordon 4/100 (N McLachlan 2/21, M Edwards 2/24)

A solid day for our 1st grade side against the consistent Gordon team, although without doubt more runs could have been obtained. We won the toss and batted, and once again it was the Tim Cruickshank show after a few early dismissals, belting a quick fire 70 to beging to take the game away from the Stags. Most batsman got a start, however it was really only solid contributions from Nick Watkins and Mitch Cleary, both with 38, that got us up to 230. In all honestly, probably 30-40 short.

With 30 odd overs to bowl, we got off to a good start with Nick NcLachlan trapping their opener infront in the 2nd over. While our bowling was consistent a steady partnership formed before Mickey Edwards bowled with good heat to take the next 2 wickets. These were his first 2 in 1st grade with undoubtedly more to come. At 3 for 94, we really needed one more before stumps to make it an even contest, and we got that through another McLachlan wicket. At 4/100 at stumps the game is in the balance.

2nd Grade – Manly 207 (L Edgell 89, M Pugh 38, M Alexander 27) v Gordon 3/62( M Alexander 2/23)

The determined 2nd grade returned back to the lovely Manly oval, much to the delight of the lads. Moooorks lost the toss and we found ourselves being sent in to bat on a patchy manly wicket. Watto was looking in attacking form until he was caught. Lowey fell in  the same way which put us on the back foot until bomber strode to the crease. He and Pughy put on 40, with the pre-pughbescent looking class as usual until he missed a leg stump full toss and was bowled for 38, leaving us 3-64.

The badman came out next and fought hard, playing the perfect foil for bomber to dispatch the gordon bowlers. the partnership was worth 90 when Luke was caught for 89, a fantastic innings and unlucky not to ton up. Javed fell shortly after, leaving us 5-156. Tommy kaye came out and smoked a couple then fell for 10, Marksy copped a couple of jaffers and was then caught behind. this then brought Webby and Mattos together, with the circuit king playing a very patient innings whilst the Alabama man bombed 2 huge sixes off the spinner and respected the meds until he spooned one back to the bowler. Webby then fell, leaving mez and shoulders in.

Mez hit a fantastic straight drive for 4, much to the delight of the bowler and then was skittled. Manly all out for 207, leaving us 23 overs to have a crack at the gordon batting outfit. Mattos and Merrick watts opened up and after a wayward first over the plow king bowled with pace and control. Mez operated from the Sydney road end and settled into a rhythm, his 5 overs going for 7 but constantly beating the outside edge. Mattos was the first to strike, getting the edge of the opener and soon after bringing one back to the unsuspecting opener, off stump having a little lie back. 2-15. Bomber then replaced Mez and once again gained a rhythm quickly. this brought the edge of the number 4, brilliantly caught by pughma low to his right at 2nd slip. 3-38. Rammy then replaaced Mattos, trying to get a wicket on a responsive pitch but failed to do so. Jav had an over and looked threatening but couldnt grab a wicket.

Overall an alright day by the manly boys but we need to start well next week to make inroads in the middle order. bring it on!

 Spongebob

3rd Grade – Manly 156 ( C Little 32, S Gainsford 25no) v Gordon 2/64

 The main grade rocked up to Killara oval to damp conditions after the overnight rain. The covers were drawn and, as expected, there were several dark, damp spots to be seen scattered across the deck. So a somewhat new look team took the warm up with S&P and Digits returning from running in the Melbourne cup, Ronnie stepping up after hitting too many helmets last week and Wilson was on debut. Top 5 took out touch cricketball after some lacklustre defence while old mate with his broom nearly soaked everyone as he cleared the gutter of water during stretches.

As expected, Genie lost the toss and we were sent in. A bit of early luck was had when ralphy missed a straight one off a no-ball to be given a second chance but maxy was the first to go after edging one onto his stumps via his boot. Scotty P entered the arena and started playing his shots on the unpredictable deck, the third man boundary copping a pounding. Ralphy then missed another straight one but off a legal delivery this time so he had to walk off for a good 15 and Jordon replaced him. Jordon and Scott started putting a partnership together until scotty played early on a pull shot that stuck in the wicket and sent it skyward for a good 20. Taylor ‘the man’ replaced him and again looked promising with Jordan, however the latter was also bowled soon after. Digits joined Taylor in the middle and edged the first one onto his pad and was immediately fired, the penguin employing the 11^th mode of dismissal, so captain squid was sent in. Papa squid started playing his shots, after quick runs, planning to have a bowl at the stags before stumps but Taylor was the next to fall, edging a good one behind. Woodduck joined the skipper and were batting well, until squid played all round a straight one losing his off pole. Jimmy ‘Rabs’ Boyer and wooduck got us through till tea with the score on about 120 odd.

After the stags tried their best turning a poor tea into an average one by putting out more plates of the same food in low quantities, the hungry batting pair was told to play their shots during the interval in the anticipation of 30 overs with the ball before stumps. Unfortunately Rabs fell soon after and Ronnie joined woodduck, who was batting extremely well and carrying on his form from the Watson shield. Ronnie started flailing the willow on the ever flattening deck adding crucial runs to the total, but eventually fell for a another vital 20. The debutant Wilson finally tucked his shirt in played a couple of nice shots to the boundary off the spinner however his eyes lit up one too many times and was stumped for 8. The total of 150 was a good one considering the conditions and was definitely defendable if good bowling and fielding was employed.

With 34 overs left to play, Genie and Taylor opened up looking for early poles, genie being the first to strike after removing the openers off peg. Taylor being unlucky from his spell, unable to gain the consistency and swing that he’s so renowned for, so Ronnie stepped from his end. The stags started forming a partnership, and although boring were slowing grafting away at the total. Ronnie then created the second wicket after a few prolonged stares and a few chosen words he bent his back and produced a wicked bouncer that the batsmen gloved behind to rabs. The manly boys looking to make inroads in the last 15 overs, Wilson replaced genie and bowled well, unlucky not to get a wicket, however misjudging a chance off his own bowling. Sammy was brought on in the late overs to see if they wanted to have a go but they continued to dead bat everything until stumps. The manly boys bowled and fielded really well after not having the better of conditions and the stags finished on 2/62. With plenty of work to do, the lads can prepare themselves for an intense week at training to hopefully trample the stags next week.

Go Manly

Bring a towel

Digits

4th Grade – Manly 232 (L Weston 94, A Verdi 39, S Alexander 26no) v Gordon 2/15 ( J Sheedy 1/8)

Graham’s had a nice tinge of green to it and was hard. The atmosphere favoured the new ball but we knew it would flatten out in the afternoon so with a bit of umming & aaahing LG, assuming correctly he would win the toss, decided to have a bat.

Things were a bit dodgy early with Falconer and Hole in the sheds with 5 on the board and the ball hooping. Weston (94), fresh from 12 hrs sleep in the aeroplane from the UK, started off a bit scratchy (first ball cut over gully for 4, a firm, but not out the middle cover drive just missing a diving mid off for 4 etc) but he settled into a nice partnership with Sky (21) before Tom got another tickle to the keeper. Gardiner then lost his head and was cleaned up and we are in a bit of strife at 4/65.

Tully looked very comfortable in the middle order and he looked the goods before he mistimed a slow off cutter and got an inside edge that just touched the leg bail. Grant and Weston then saw things through till tea. And what a tea it was! Big Kev went to enormous troubles ensuring everybody was catered for – we had fruit platters, sandwiches, wraps, cakes, chips, dips, frankfurts, biscuits, tea, coffee – the boys were happy except for Gardiner who next time wants brown bread as white bread gives him indigestion. Well mate, your shot gave me indigestion. Anyway, after tea LG gets caught at slip and Weston comes out swinging. Evans joins him but on 94 he taps back a full toss to the opening bowler to be dismissed. Evans then departs for 5 LBW. He would not have complained if more than one person appealed, but he did feel a bit unhappy when he was walking off the wicket taking bowler says to his mates, “thanks for appealing” and the slips said “well it wasn’t out”. Verdi though is joined by the in form Alexander and they go about things expertly putting on over 50 before Ash (39) is caught having a go. Sheedy then did what he does (hard to explain) to score 6 and Sam finishes with an important 26no. A very competitive 232 is posted, again due to gutsy lower order batting – a key ingredient to successful sides. A great score given the early troubles.

 Gordon have 8 overs to face. Sheedy & LG bowl good lines and we get rid of their dangerman caught behind off Sheeds. Then with the pressure building the other opener runs himself out with some great glovework from Sky to have Manly on top with Gordon 2/15.

Wazza

5th Grade – Manly 140 (R.Trewartha 47) v Gordon 2/33 (Z Trewartha 2/7)

 After a brief delay at the start of the day, the mighty 5s were sent in to bat on a wicket which was almost the same colour as the outfield. Ben Wickham and Harris Rogers battled hard early on against some accurate line and length bowling which was aided by the green wicket. Unfortunately both boys were unable to take advantage of seeing off the new ball and pretty soon the wickets began to fall. Once again, captain Ross Trewartha led by example with the bat and steadied the ship with his hard fought 47. Matt Cole also produced a nice little cameo at the end of the innings to help the take the team total to 140.

 Although the boys were disappointed with the batting performance, the team took to the field full of confidence knowing that with some consistent bowling we could swing some momentum back in our favour. Like us, the Gordon batsmen struggled early on as opener Zac Trewartha’s 2 wickets, the first of which included a father and son special, gave us a timely boost heading into next week. Will Jonkers also produced a tidy opening spell and Justin Knight bowled well without luck.

 Whilst it was a frustrating day with the bat, the boys can be pleased with their performance in the field which sees Gordon currently 2/33 after 21 overs. Though we are going to have to work extremely hard next week to defend our low target, if we can continue to bowl in the right areas and trouble the batsmen we will give ourselves a fair chance of winning the match.

 Andrew Glassock (Sac)

PG’s – Manly 9/164 ( J Badyari 68, J Daly 29) lost to Hawkesbury 166 (L. Grant 3/31, M Alexander 3/31)

The manly PG side rocked up to the wonderful Bensons Lane to take on undefeated Hawkesbury. The toss was won by the good guys and they sent Hawkesbury in to bat on a hard pitch that looked like it might offer something early. All the bowlers bowled well keeping it tight and picking up wickets in regular intervals. Our Achilles heel however were the 22 wides we bowled. The pick of the bowlers were Luke Grant (3-31) and Matt Alexander (3-31); special mention to Taylor Beatty who ended with figures of 0-9 of 7 overs. The Hawkesbury innings ended when Lowey threw down the bowler’s stumps, even though the guy running to his end was out by 2 meters, for 166.

The Manly boys got off to a good start with the bat, rotating the strike regularly and putting away the bad ball. Most batsmen contributed to the total, with the pick of the batsmen being Javed Badyari (68) and Jordan Daly (29). With about 10 overs to go we were 4-143 needing 24 runs to win. However after losing wickets in bundles it came down to the last over and we needed 7 to win with 1 wicket in hand. Unfortunately we were unable to get the 7 we needed and finished 9-164, 2 runs short.

It was a hard loss for the boys considering the position we were in and the fact that the team we were playing showed very little sportsmanship. The most disappointing thing however was the fact that we bowled 22 wides and they bowled 3; in the end this played a huge role in the result.

Pughy.