Saturday fixtures:
M1s made the long trip to the foot of the mountains to face Penrith on Day 1. Skipper Jay Lenton won the toss & elected to bowl on a Howell Oval offering enough assistance for the bowlers. However, Penrith started steadily seeing off the new ball, until Bertie Foreman & Josh Seward struck in consecutive overs to get the Tahs’ rolling. Foreman with another shortly after to have Penrith 3 down in the first session, but the home side consolidated with a couple of solid partnerships, broken first by Andrew Boulton with the big wicket of the opposition captain, & then by Seward for his 2nd of the day. From there, the Tahs’ bowlers remained disciplined with their patience rewarded, Foreman picking up his 3rd, 4th & 5th to continue his rich vein of form, before Ahillen Beadle took the final two wickets to close Penrith’s innings at 201. Not to mention some high class wicket-keeping from Lenton, with 5 catches & a stumping. With a tricky 11 over period to navigate, the Tahs’ top order stumbled early on to be 3/12 in reply, but Lenton (12*) & Foreman (19*) safely saw the Tahs to stumps, 3/41 with work to do next week.
M2s were at home once more to take on Penrith, who won the toss & chose to bat on a docile looking Manly Oval wicket. After a positive start from the visitors, Matt Sunshine struck twice in quick succession, backed up by a breakthrough to Michael Counsell to have Penrith 3/26. Either side of lunch, the visitors fought back with a steadying partnership, which was halted by important breakthroughs to Sunshine & Roop Dhillon, 5/86. Sunshine continued to run rampant, picking up his 4th & 5th after an excellent spell of pace & accuracy. Penrith fought & scrapped past 150, but Dhillon & Lachie Trewartha closed out the innings with smart bowling, Penrith all out 168. In reply, the Tahs went berserk to try to narrow the deficit quickly, Brynn Mendel (42) & Zach Trewartha (53) particularly damaging in a destructive 67 run opening partnership. Trewartha crafting an important half century to lead the innings. Contributions from Henry Rogers, Ryan Farrell, and skipper Jordan Daly (32) propelling the Tahs to first innings points & an immediate declaration. 4 overs at Penrith to no avail before stumps, but an important search for outright continues next week.
Bill Ball Oval in Penrith welcomed M3s, Manly in the field first after losing the toss. After a lengthy stint out with injury, Josh Lawson returned with a spring in his step & bowled with his usual threatening lines & lengths to pick up two early poles. Another to Julian Osbourne had the Tahs on the front foot before Penrith fought back momentarily, until a run out from skipper Sam Webber turned the tide back in the Tahs’ favour, 4/65. From there, the Tahs’ bowlers didn’t let up with a consistent display. The final 6 wickets falling for 59 runs, two more wickets apiece to Osbourne, Josh Coyte, & Josh Cooper, all who bowled with great discipline throughout the day. Penrith all out 126 from 58 overs. Coyte (21) & Webber started positively in reply, however, a late cluster of wickets just prior to stumps sees the Tahs 3/39 & in need of a steadying partnership.
M4s were keen to continue their strong form, skipper Jayden Kennedy winning the toss & electing to bat at home at Grahams. Penrith however began strongly with the ball, taking three early wickets to have the Tahs on the back foot, 3/16. But it wasn’t going to stop the Tahs’ skipper, as he counter-attacked his team out of trouble with some phenomenal aggressive stroke play. Blasting a 88 ball hundred, his first for the club, & more importantly combining with Liam Dinan (41) for a 3rd wicket partnership worth 120 to steady the Tahs’ innings. Jayden dismissed after a remarkable 112 off 93 balls. Lower order contributions from George Cumming & Ryan Bishop Perrett, but it was Luke Watts (36*) that really gave the Tahs the ascendancy late, batting with great smarts to push the team’s total to 261 when the final wicket fell. With 13 overs remaining in the day, James Waddington struck two crucial breakthroughs late, one courtesy of a great leg side catch to keeper Brodie McDowell. Penrith 2/22 at stumps.
Also at the foot of the mountains were M5s, at Rance Oval. Fielding first after losing the toss, Simon Waddington’s men were at their disciplined best with the ball, particularly early on. Zac Buchanan & Will Matheson continuing their damaging new ball combination to have Penrith 3/14 early in the first session, two to Buchanan & one to Matheson. A couple of small partnerships momentarily steadied the ship for Penrith, however the Tahs’ bowlers were simply relentless, breakthroughs to Chris Halloran & Bill Martin backed up by run outs to Buchanan & Nathan Pryke, supported by some excellent catching. As he’s done so consistently this season, Adam Searle & his crafty off-spin took 3 of the last 4 wickets, Penrith all out 98. Toby Seward (28) & Bill Martin (29*) began positively in response with a solid 45 run partnership to kickstart the Tahs’ innings, but a few late wickets halted momentum slightly. Martin & Jordy Brewster seeing the Tahs to stumps at 3/64, needing 35 more for first innings points.
Finally the inclement weather held off enough for W3s to return to the field for their first game in over three weeks. Back home at Balgowlah Oval hosting North Sydney. The Tahs sent into bat first after losing the toss. Sophie Beukers (19), Emily Hatfield & skipper Sienna James began the Tahs’ innings in steady fashion, before a quick flurry of wickets meant a rebuilding partnership was required. Renee Hough (24) & Daisy Addison (18) were up for the task with an important 40 run partnership, but the Tahs struggled to maintain this momentum late in the innings, the final few wickets falling in quick time. With 122 to defend, Addison gave the Tahs a strong start with an early breakthrough, however, North Sydney’s batters responded in counter-attacking style with their #3 playing the match-defining innings. Further wickets to Hannah McPhail, Olivia Champion & Addison, and a spirited effort from all bowlers, unfortunately not enough as North Sydney passed the total 4 wickets down in the 33rd over.
Sunday fixtures:
PGs were back in action on Sunday, on the road to Raby Oval for a T20 double-header. Morning fixture against Mosman, Tahs skipper Joel Davies winning the toss & electing to bowl. Mosman began steadily, one opener particularly threatening, but wickets in consecutive overs to Will Skinner & Roop Dhillon kept things under control. A decent partnership followed, however, the Tahs’ bowlers remained disciplined. Nathan Pryke the pick of the bowlers with an excellent spell, 3/24 from his 4 overs. Late wicket to Bertie Foreman, backed up by some great fielding, including 3 catches to Davies. Mosman with late cameos to post 6/140. Henry Rogers (28) began the chase steadily, but the Tahs struggled to find any real momentum in the first 10 overs, to be 2/53. Skipper Davies (53*) built into his innings, a 46 run partnership with Akshay Joseph (17) setting the foundation for the Tahs to launch late. Down to the last 4 overs still needing 32, Andrew Boulton (25* off 17) combined with Davies for the match-winning partnership, the pair calmly handling the pressure & the latter icing the game with two balls to spare. Tahs winning by 7 wickets.
PGs afternoon fixture saw home side Campbelltown-Camden win the toss & choose to bat, making a positive start in the powerplay. Two decent partnerships from their top order were broken both times by Roop Dhillon in an important spell. Their quickfire 3rd wicket partnership however, worth 72, threatened to take the game away, including a big power surge. But the Tahs’ bowlers fought strongly at the death, two late wickets each to Foreman, Julian Osbourne & Kai Croft helping restrict Campbelltown to 8/155. Despite a relatively early wicket in reply, it was the Henry Rogers (81) show in the run chase. Some phenomenal powerful & crafty T20 batting in a match-winning innings of 81 off 47 balls. Supported by the captain Davies (30) & then Akshay Joseph (21*) in partnerships worth 55 & 56 respectively. Joseph & Boulton (7*) finishing the game calmly, Tahs winning by 7 wickets with 13 balls to spare.
W2s were at home at Grahams on Sunday, hosting Greater Hunter Coast in a T20. The Tahs were in the field first after losing the toss, but a disciplined start from the bowlers meant the run rate remained under control, particularly early in the innings. A 30 run opening partnership broken by Charlotte Croll, the catalyst for a collapse of 9/21, a classy effort through the middle overs from the Tahs’ bowlers. Lara Hughes with 3/9 off 4 overs in an economical spell that had the Tahs well in control. But it was Kaya Punter that was the standout performer late in the innings, taking an incredible 5/11 from 4 overs to lead the attack. A late partnership from Greater Hunter pushing their total to 9/85. The run chase didn’t begin in ideal fashion despite a start to Charlotte Camburn, as the Tahs struggled to accelerate the run rate. Leaving work to do in the final 6 overs, with 36 still required. The partnership, although brief, between Arabella Handley (14) & Mia Nel (17 off 10) swung the momentum in the Tahs’ favour, before a couple of quick wickets had nerves building, but Punter & Hughes iced the game under pressure. Manly winning by 2 wickets with 7 balls remaining.
Looking to continue their winning ways, Brewers made the trip to St Andrews to take on Sydney University. Tahs skipper Saoirse Ford won the toss & chose to bat, her decision justified with an opening partnership that proved decisive in the context of the match. Willa Pearson (26) & Eve Burke (34) combining for a partnership of 49 to get the Tahs’ innings off to a positive start & set the foundation for a competitive score. Both batting with controlled aggression to settle into their innings. Unfortunately the Tahs lost their way through the middle to late overs with regular wickets, finishing with a total of 7/91 from 20 overs. With the ball, all the Tahs bowlers were on the spot, Matilda Brown with an important wicket and this was backed up by some terrific efforts in the field, including 4 run outs (one a direct hit from side on to Abigail Bland). Sydney Uni’s chase went down to the wire, but the Tahs stayed calm under the pressure, some great captaincy & a team hat-trick in the final over, including two wickets to Annabel Kyme. Leading the Tahs to a 10 run victory.
W1s played host to Campbelltown-Camden in a T20 on Sunday morning at Manly Oval. Manly captain Lauren Kua winning the toss & electing to bat, with Saskia Horley & Ella McCaughan making a positive start that was unfortunately short-lived. The Tahs’ innings was a story of not being able to find any real ascendancy, some tight bowling from the opposition restricting the Tahs’ scoring. Megan Sturge (15) & Eliza Henry (21) did their best to shift the momentum, but it wasn’t to be at the Tahs scraped to 9/87. The bowling would need to be spot on, and unfortunately it just didn’t seem to be the Tahs’ day, as Campbelltown’s opener played a dominant innings with an unbeaten half century to get their run chase off to a flyer. Late wickets to Sturge & Kristie Crawford not enough, Campbelltown passing the total 2 down in the 13th over.
All in all a positive weekend for the Tahs with plenty of teams in action all across Sydney.
The Men resume on Day 2 this weekend against Penrith. Meanwhile, Brewers host Greater Hunter Coast in a 9am T20 at Manly Oval, followed straight after by W2s hosting North Sydney at 1pm. W1s take on Sydney Uni in an away T20, while W3s are on the road against St George-Sutherland in a one-day fixture on Saturday.
