The opening weekend of December brought with it a far more successful series of results for the Tahs, recording 7 wins and 2 losses. Some brilliant individual and team performances saw the Men go 4 from 5 against Fairfield-Liverpool, M2s the only ones to falter in a close contest. Meanwhile, the Women went 3 from 4, headlined by an incredible come-from-behind victory from W1s to get their season back on track.
That’s where we’ll start with the weekend’s proceedings, W1s travelling to Drummoyne to take on an always strong Sydney outfit. Sent into bat, Shivani Mehta (53) and Isabella Zovi (40) began the innings superbly with a measured 92 run opening partnership, before skipper Lauren Kua played an excellent captain’s knock of 74 from 77 balls. Further contributions from Eliza Henry (20) and Alana Horsfall (20*) leading the Tahs to a strong total of 5/238. Early wickets amongst Mia Phelps, Kristie Crawford, and Kua, had Sydney on the back foot, before the home side counter-attacked to shift the momentum with a 122 run partnership. With the game quickly drifting away at 3/194, Kua, Chelsea McLerie, Phelps and Crawford combined to take a ridiculous 7/34 as the Tahs recorded a heart-stopping 10 run win.
W2s were at Grahams against North Sydney, with Renee Hough’s team asked to field first. A slow start with the ball saw the pressure on the Tahs, until an economical spell from Lara Hughes created the opening breakthrough. Wickets from there fell at regular intervals, shared between Hughes, Laura Judson, Mia Nel, Lizzie Cambridge, and Molly Kidd, but it was Erica Sharma that led the way with 4/23 from 8 overs in a game-changing spell of bowling. Chasing an even 150, Cambridge and Gabby Dunnage made a positive start, before the loss of two quick wickets halted momentum. No need to worry, with Cambridge (69) and Nel (48*) combining for a match-winning 109 run partnership, both batting with great composure and decision making to lead the Tahs to a 7 wicket victory.
W3s continued their winning run in a thrilling T20 fixture with Bankstown, away at O’Neill Park. Skipper Sallie Molyneux won the toss and elected to bat, Daisy Addison anchoring the Tahs’ batting innings with a measured 30* from 33 balls, supported by important contributions from Emily Hatfield (14), Lily Crabbe (10), Emma Lyon (10*) and Cam Pryor (9*) as the Tahs finished with 5/88 from 20 overs. An early breakthrough to skipper Molyneux was countered by a strong second wicket partnership from Bankstown to put them in the box seat. However, the Tahs stayed in the fight, a wicket to Pryor, run out to Crabbe, and a clutch two-wicket final over from Sophia Randall leading the team to a gutsy 5 run win.
Brewers made the trip to Birchgrove Oval to face Sydney, who won the toss and elected to bat, with the Tahs’ in the field first. The home side began positively before Olivia Champion broke the opening partnership, followed by two wickets to Kaya Punter to have the game in the balance, until Sydney consolidated to be in control at 3/127. An important run out saw the Tahs’ begin to claw back momentum, as three wickets to Darcey Whiteley, including that of the set batter for 89, kept Sydney’s score in check, helped by late wickets to Lily Crabbe and Annabel Kyme. Set 167 for victory, the Tahs’ unfortunately were unable to gain any ascendancy in the run chase as a result of some terrific opposition bowling, all out for 52 to fall to a heavy defeat.
M1s had their first Saturday/Sunday fixture for the season, returning to Manly Oval to take on Fairfield-Liverpool. Skipper Jay Lenton won the toss and elected to bat on a beautiful batting wicket, Joel Foster (108) and Ahillen Beadle (76) justifying Jay’s decision with a classy 189 run opening partnership, Foster bringing up his second hundred for the season. Starts to Jack Edwards (27) and Matt Brewster (24) continued the momentum, before Ned Hole ended the Tahs’ day superbly with a quick fire 48 off 37 balls to take the total to all out 321. Day 2 was a grind as the wicket flattened out, but the Tahs’ bowlers toiled away, a Foster screamer giving Bertie Foreman the first wicket, before Fairfield-Liverpool consolidated to be 1/73 at lunch. Josh Seward struck the important breakthrough just after lunch, before Ryan Hadley knocked over the opposition skipper. The set batter was still proving tough to dislodge, until Jacob O’Sullivan struck gold in his first over to dismiss the danger-man, followed by another wicket soon after. From there, wickets fell regularly amongst Tom Kaye, Beadle, and Foreman, along with a run out, as the hard work from all bowlers proved fruitful with the Tahs’ bowling Fairfield-Liverpool out in the 75th over to record a 165 run win.
Andrew Jamieson M2s side were back in the coloured clothing, facing Fairfield at Rosedale in a one-dayer. Sent into bat on a dicey wicket, the Tahs’ were in strife early at 4/19, before the in-form Ben Bryant (74) combined with the returning Jordan Daly (80*) as both summed up the conditions cleverly, to resurrect the innings with a patient 140 run partnership. The Tahs’ finishing with 8/197. Skipper Jamieson struck early but the bowling turned into a real grind as the wicket dried out. A key breakthrough to Lachlan Ford was then followed by a series of regular wickets between Michael Counsell, Roop Dhillon and Isaiah Vumbaca, to keep the Tahs’ in the game, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough as Fairfield passed the total 7 wickets down in the 46th over.
M3s had a remarkable bonus point victory on Saturday at Grahams, with the game done by 1pm inside a total of 30 overs. Winning the toss, skipper Sam Hole chose to bowl on a green wicket, his bowlers backing him up perfectly with a clinical team effort. Three wickets apiece to opening bowlers Matt Sunshine and Josh Lawson putting the Tahs’ on the front foot, before Fraser Noack picked up four wickets of his own as Fairfield were bowled out for 55. Special mention to some superb catching from Hole, Noack, Lachie Trewartha to name a few. The Tahs’ made the run chase look a bit more difficult than necessary, passing the total for the loss of five wickets in the 13th over, Josh Coyte (18) and Lachlan Charles (15) the mainstays.
A wet outfield at Fairfield Oval meant a delayed start for M4s, skipper Adam Parkinson choosing to bowl after winning the toss. The Tahs’ began brilliantly with the ball, wickets early shared between James Waddington, Preston Lee and George Cumming to have Fairfield 5/43, before the home side steadied briefly. This was until skipper Parkinson came into the attack, taking three quick wickets, supported by one to Josh Cooper, and a run out, as Fairfield were bowled out for 127 in the 40th over. The run chase began shakily with the loss of an early wicket, before Jayden Kennedy (63*) and Andrew Boulton (55) put the game beyond doubt with a counter-attacking 112 run partnership, both registering excellent half centuries. Ellis Raymond finished the game in style with a first-ball six to bring up a bonus point 7 wicket win for the Tahs.
M5s are in some serious form at the moment, and this continued on Saturday with another resounding victory at Mike Pawley Oval. In the field first after losing the toss, it was the Julian Osbourne show as he tore apart Fairfield’s top and middle order with a ferocious spell of fast bowling, picking up the first six wickets before finishing with 7/42 from 10 overs. Will Matheson supported well with 2fa, Fairfield 9/78 before a frustrating last wicket partnership saw them post 146, Liam Dinan with the final wicket. Ollie Melville (58) continued his run-scoring form with a magnificent half century in the run chase, backed up by 32 to Oscar Lucius in a 74 run partnership between the pair. A few nerves late at 7/132 still needing 16, but Jack Donnan and Matheson saw the Tahs’ home comfortably to win by 3 wickets.
Onto next weekend where the Men take on Sydney in one-day matches, M2s and M4s at home while the rest are on the road. PGs face off with Easts at Manly Oval with a finals spot on the line for the winner. W1s host Northern District at Grahams, W3s are at Tunks against North Sydney, Brewers face Gordon at Mike Pawley Oval, while W2s have the weekend off with a bye.
See you all next week.
