Four of a possible five grades will compete in this week’s Grand Finals, after an action-packed weekend of cricket across Saturday & Sunday. With M1s, M3s, M4s and M5s all progressing on the back of strong team performances, while unfortunately, it wasn’t to be for M2s as they bowed out of the competition.
Jay Lenton’s M1s side were sent into bat once again at Manly Oval on Saturday. Joel Foster (21), Ahillen Beadle (39) and Lenton (23) making positive starts before a couple of quick wickets meant a rebuild was required. Joining each other at 3/86, Ollie Davies (108) and Jack Edwards (165*) steadied the ship and combined for a quite phenomenal 195 run partnership to put the Tahs back in the box seat. Ollie continuing his rich vein of form with more belligerent ball-striking, while Jack set up the game for the Tahs with a classy unbeaten knock spanning over 340 balls. Late wickets on Day 1, but Jack and Bertie Foreman (68*) saw it through to stumps, before batting ND’s out of the game in the first session of Day 2, combining for a brilliant unbeaten 126 run partnership. The game called at 6/435, the Tahs progressing to the big dance.
M2s made Coogee Oval home again, bowling first after losing the toss. Skipper Andrew Jamieson with the opening two wickets before Wests consolidated with a strong partnership to be 2/94. However, two quick wickets to Isaiah Vumbaca, with another in-between to Jamieson, flipped the game, 5/105. From there, the bowlers toiled away, taking regular wickets just as partnerships built. Another wicket apiece to Vumbaca and Matt Sunshine, to go with a run out from Jordan Daly, but it was the skipper who did what he does best, leading the way with 5/39 from 23 overs. Wests all out 235. Unfortunately, it was a disastrous end to Day 1 with the loss of three early wickets to be 3/24 overnight, and this continued into the morning of Day 2, the Tahs slumping to 8/49. Ben Bryant (52*) and Jamieson (64) did their absolute best to conjure a miracle comeback, with an 88 run partnership as both passed fighting half centuries, but it just wasn’t to be, the Tahs eventually all out for 167. One last effort with the ball, Wests 2/71 when the captains shook hands. Not the way the boys wanted things to finish, but a season to be proud of nonetheless.
Back at Grahams Reserve were Sam Hole and his M3s side, asked to field first after losing the toss. Josh Lawson struck early after a patient opening spell from he and Lachlan Ford, before Easts rebuilt to be 1/55. This was until Jacob O’Sullivan turned the game with two quick wickets, courtesy of incredible reflex catches behind the stumps to Sam Webber. Easts once again fought back to be in control at 3/112, but this is where the Tahs kicked into gear. Lawson with the big wicket of the opener for 54, while Lachie Trewartha dismissed the other set batter for 30. Regular breakthroughs from there on, O’Sullivan and Trewartha both ending up with four wickets each, Easts bowled out for 188. Brynn Mendel (64) kick started the Tahs’ chase in blistering fashion with some brutal hitting, combining with skipper Hole (31) for a 97 run opening partnership to have the Tahs well on top. A couple of quick wickets late on Day 1 halted momentum, but Andrew Boulton (25) and Webber (22) steadied things with a composed partnership until both were dismissed on the morning of Day 2. Cam Merchant (31*) guiding the troops to victory with unwavering calmness under pressure, O’Sullivan (7*) the other not out batter, the Tahs winning by six wickets to advance to the GF.
M4s returned to Mike Pawley Oval, skipper Adam Parkinson winning the toss and electing to bowl. Big quick Will Skinner was on fire early with two breakthroughs in the first half hour, before all the Tahs bowlers settled into their work. Heading into lunch, an excellent two-wicket spell from Fraser Noack and an important wicket to Josh Coyte had the Tahs in control. Wests fought back post lunch, before George Cumming picked up two wickets of his own, with further breakthroughs between Parkinson, Skinner and Noack, Wests all out 154. Lachlan Charles (49) and Jayden Kennedy (43) were off to a flyer in reply with an entertaining 96 run partnership until a few quick wickets halted momentum. Josh Coyte (26) and Brodie McDowell (29) steadied the ship in a crucial 53 run stand, but a late collapse on Day 1 and into Day 2 saw the Tahs all out for 190, with a 36 run advantage. Wests began aggressively, until George Cumming turned the game with three big wickets. This trend continued through the remainder of the innings, wickets taken just as partnerships began to set. Skinner with a monumental effort across 18.1 overs with 4fa, backed up by 3fa to Noack. The Tahs set 113 to win outright, or 38 overs to survive. A shaky start ensued, 3/17 and then 4/47, but Brodie McDowell (52*) stepped up on his 18th birthday with a match-winning half century, supported by Ellis Raymond (21) before the skipper iced the game with 8no. Tahs winning outright by five wickets to book a home Grand Final.
M5s made the trip once more to Blacktown International Sports Park, bowling first after losing the toss. The Tahs started brightly with Julian Osbourne taking the opening breakthrough, but the game was in the balance at 1/31. Enter Kai Croft, who got into a rhythm and bowled quite superbly, picking up the next five wickets himself, his out-swingers proving unplayable at times. Gordon slumping to 6/46. All bowlers did their job after this, one to Chris Halloran, two more to Osbourne, and a Keelan Mendel run out seeing Gordon bowled out for 69. An early wobble in reply at 2/19 and 4/47, but as they did last week, Ollie Melville (46) and Reuben Kapoor (42) took the sting out of the Gordon attack with a 52 run partnership. Small contributions from Croft, Simon Waddington, and Halloran pushing the Tahs total to 177, with a lead of 108. Gordon were back into bat, Ryan Bishop-Perrett striking early to go with a brilliant direct hit run out from Jake Hutchings, before Gordon consolidated momentarily. But the Tahs bowlers were just relentless, RBP dismissing the danger-man, followed by a cluster of wickets. Halloran with one, three more to Croft who made it eight wickets for the match, before the golden arm of Hutchings closed out the innings with the final three wickets. Gordon all out for 95 in the second innings, the Tahs winning outright by an innings and 14 runs to progress to next week’s finale.
All the hard work from a gruelling pre-season to now, it all comes down to this. 4 Grand Finals. Two teams away, two teams hosting. M1s, M3s, M4s, and M5s earning the right to compete for the silverware, but nothing is guaranteed. The Tahs will have to fight for every moment across the coming weekend, to hopefully create more history. What is for certain, is that it will be a weekend full of anticipation, a mixture of nerves and excitement, and the Tahs will be ready for battle.
Fixtures as follows:
M1s vs St George @ Cricket Central – Saturday 30th, Sunday 31st, Monday 1st
M3s vs Sydney University @ University Oval #1 – Saturday 30th, Sunday 31st
M4s vs Northern District @ Manly Oval – Saturday 30th, Sunday 31st
M5s vs Parramatta @ Graham Reserve – Saturday 30th, Sunday 31st
Bring on the weekend, and as always, up the Tahs!
