Men’s 1st Grade:
Back in one-day mode on Saturday for M1s, hosting a grand-final rematch against St George at Manly Oval. After a delayed start due to rain, the match was reduced to 43 overs per side, the Tahs losing the toss & sent into bat. An early wicket not helping the cause before the experienced pairing of Ahillen Beadle (32) & skipper Jay Lenton (47) steadied the ship with a counter-attacking partnership worth 86 as both looked to put the pressure back on the Saints. Joel Davies (23) looked to continued the momentum, however the Tahs unfortunately lost their way through the middle stages, a few regular wickets tumbling to slow proceedings. Jacob O’Sullivan (27) & Ned Hole (19) combined for 42 runs to get things back on track, before a late innings stumble saw the Tahs bowled out for 198 in the final over. The Saints were off to a strong start in reply as they took on the new ball, before Andrew Boulton struck the opening breakthrough with a ripping one-handed catch from Lenton. Another aggressive partnership was this time more short lived as Josh Seward broke through to dismiss the opposition overseas, before the Tahs got right back into the game with a wicket apiece to Ryan Hadley & Bertie Foremanin in relatively quick succession. Unfortunately, Saints’ danger man Nikitaris was still there & the rub of the green didn’t quite fall the Tahs’ way from that point on. A significant partnership moving the Saints’ score to 4/160 off 32, before the bowlers’ footmarks were deemed unsafe & play consequently abandoned, Saints winning by 6 wickets on DLS.
Men’s 2nd Grade:
M2s made the trip to Hurstville Oval, arriving to wet run ups & consequently a delayed start. Play finally commenced at 12:55pm with 37 overs per side, the Tahs sent into bat first after losing the toss on what looked to be, and proved to be, a tricky batting wicket. Some consistent bowling saw the Tahs’ top order struggle against the seaming ball, as a number of batters were caught behind the wicket off outside edges. The Saints didn’t let up through the early to middle overs. Zach Trewartha (17) did his best to knuckle down while Roop Dhillon (23) played a counter attacking innings, but ultimately the Tahs were on the ropes at 9/89 with plenty of overs remaining. Until a match-defining partnership of 48 between No.10 & No.11, Lachie Trewartha & Michael Counsell, both who finished with 24no. Batting with great intent & eking out some very handy runs to push the total up to a more competitive 9/137 from 37 overs. In reply, the Saints were off to a flyer before one wicket apiece in quick succession to Matt Sunshine & Henry Rogers gave the Tahs a sniff. But the home side consolidated & looked in cruise control at 2/76, but that’s where the Tahs really were up for the fight. Sunshine with two quick wickets, before Isaiah Vumbaca reverted to his cagey medium pacers with great success yielding three wickets including a couple of jaffers. Saints 7/100. Another couple of moderate partnerships, separated by a Lachie Trewartha wicket, had the game slipping out of the Tahs’ reach. Saints needing 3 to win with 2 wickets in hand. Enter big Michael Counsell, who produced two of the great clutch deliveries, first hitting the top of off & then a perfect yorker to knock over middle stump & secure a thrilling 1 run victory for the Tahs. 1 solitary run!
Men’s 5th Grade:
Despite the overnight deluge, Mike Pawley Oval was in fine condition as Simon Waddington & his M5s side hosted St George. The toss didn’t fall in the Tahs favour, Waddington’s men asked to bat first in overcast, drizzly conditions after only a slightly delay. Jack Donnan (19) began positively & looked to anchor the top order, but unfortunately the Tahs couldn’t gain any real ascendancy throughout the early stages, as regular wickets tumbled on the back of some tight probing bowling from the Saints. With the Tahs in a spot of bother at 5/44 & later slumping to 9/98, someone needed to step up. And as he’s done on a number of occasions this season, our overseas man Adam Searle (53) was up for the task, mixing some smart batting with his usual destructive hitting in a match-defining half century. Supported in crucial partnerships late with Nathan Pryke & Zac Buchanan, who with Searle pushed the total to 132 when the final wicket fell. Despite the late momentum, the bowling was going to need to be spot on, & Pryke started things perfectly with a wicket second ball of the bowling innings. Buchanan struck shortly after, and the Tahs from there took control of the game with regular wickets shared amongst Jordy Brewster, Bill Martin, & Searle, to have the Saints 6/54. The visitors however would fight back with a couple of threatening partnerships, the first broken by Searle for his 2nd wicket, before at 7/110, a break through was desperately required, & Pryke again delivered the goods. Striking twice in the space of three balls, with an LBW & caught behind, to turn the game back in the Tahs’ favour in an instant. Skipper Waddington & his class icing the game with the final wicket falling on 112, the Tahs victorious by 20 runs.
Women’s 2nd Grade:
Facing their sternest test of the last few weeks against a Parramatta side at the top end of the ladder, W2s were moved to Grahams last minute to give the best chance of defying the wet weather. After losing the toss, the Tahs were sent into bat first, but that didn’t stop Elizabeth Cambridge (88) & skipper Gabby Dunnage (19) from combining for a really positive opening partnership worth 45 as both showed great intent against the new ball. The partnership only broken due to an unfortunate mix up which resulted in a run out. Charlotte Croll (16) continued the early momentum with a positive knock, putting on a further 32 with Cambridge, who was anchoring the Tahs’ innings. But it was the 73 run partnership between Cambridge & Steph Hughes (31) that really set a solid foundation for the Tahs as both mixed regular rotation of the strike with the odd boundary to put pressure on the opposition. At 3/150, late contributions from Arabella Handley & Mia Nel helped push the Tahs’ total past 200, providing great support to Cambridge, who was the final wicket to fall after a superb, classy innings of 88. Before Brooke Frew (16*) & Lara Hughes propelled the Tahs to 6/235 from 50 overs. Only one over was possible before a big storm forced play to be delayed for a while. But upon returning to the field, the Tahs’ bowlers were simply clinical. Erica Sharma with the opening breakthrough, before the spin bowlers took control of the fixture. Lara Hughes & Sallie Molyneux taking one wicket apiece before Hughes took the next three in another highly effective spell, 4 for 16 from 8 overs. The bowling efforts were backed up by some strong fielding, as Kaya Punter & Mia Nel joined the wickets column in economical spells, before Molyneux took the final wicket, Parramatta all out 97, meaning another double bonus point victory for the Tahs.
Brewer Shield:
Looking to bounce back from last week’s defeat, Brewers were out at Birchgrove Oval to take on Sydney who always prove tough opposition. Tahs skipper Saoirse Ford won the toss & elected to bowl, with opening bowler Charlotte Allen justifying the decision immediately with an excellent new ball spell to pick up two crucial early wickets. The bowling group showed great consistency early on, limiting Sydney’s scoring rate considerably. Sonia Punter with a caught & bowled for the third wicket, before Sydney began to fight back with a steadying partnership. Wickets to Eve Burke & Matilda Brown in quick succession helping to regain the ascendancy before a couple of decent partnerships from Sydney’s middle order began to frustrate the Tahs. Moderate partnerships of 32 & 48 broken first by Allen for her third wicket, and then Brown for her second. The Tahs closing the reduced innings out strongly, two late wickets to Lily Crabbe helping restrict Sydney to 9/152 from 33 overs. In reply, Annabel Kyme & Keira Terrey (18) began steadily, before a substantial rain delay set a revised target of 117 from 33 overs. The Tahs stumbling after the delay with three wickets falling in a short space of time, 3/30 & in need of a partnership. However, Burke (53) was up for the task, continuing her solid form this season with what was ultimately a match-winning innings. Regular boundaries progressing the Tahs’ score as Burke compiled an excellent 53 from 45 balls. Brilliantly supported by Allen (25*) in a 74 run partnership which flipped the game back in the Tahs’ favour. Allen & Abigail Bland calmly navigating the final runs, Manly winning by 6 wickets in the 30th over.
Poidevin Gray Shield:
Sunday afternoon also saw Aidan Baker’s PGs team back in action, returning home to take on a strong Eastern Suburbs side at Manly Oval, in a T20 fixture. Skipper Joel Davies winning the toss & electing to bat first, with Henry Rogers sending the 5th ball of the match into orbit with a big six over long on (see Waratah TV). Bertie Foreman (42) & Davies combined for the most substantial partnership, both compiling aggressive innings. An afternoon storm halted play & reduced the game to 19 overs per side, before the two continued to take the attack to the Easts’ bowlers with some powerful hitting. Akshay Joseph (18) continued the momentum with some crafty batting, but the Tahs ultimately lost their way through the middle to late overs, with regular wickets falling. Josh Cooper & Julian Osbourne salvaging some respectability late to propel the Tahs to 9/141 off 19 overs. Against a talented Easts’ top order, the bowling & fielding effort would need to be clinical, and it was that and more. After a decent start from Easts, Andrew Boulton took the crucial opening breakthrough, before the visitors again consolidated to have the game in the balance at 1/35. But a big wicket to Davies to dismiss the set opener, was the catalyst for the Tahs to take control. Roop Dhillon dismissing Easts’ danger man, before taking another two in an excellent spell which yielded 3 for 15 from 4 overs. And the Tahs just didn’t let up, the final five wickets shared between Boulton, Osbourne & Josh Lawson as all bowlers contributed in an excellent display. Backed up superbly in the field by some excellent efforts from all, highlighted by two diving catches from the Tahs skipper. Easts bowled out for 83 in the 18th over to cap off an excellent victory for the Tahs.
No play:
Unfortunately M3s, M4s & W3s didn’t get to take the field due to the weekend’s wet weather, while W1s had the bye.
Upcoming:
Bumper weekend of cricket coming up as the Tahs Men take on Parramatta, who currently sit atop the club champs, in one-day fixtures. M1s, M3s & M5s on the road out west, while M2s & M4s are at home. W3s host a T20 at Balgowlah against Sydney University. Before a blockbuster Manly Oval T20 triple header on Sunday for our NBCF fundraiser, as Brewers, W2’s & W1s host Bankstown on what is set to be a fantastic event.
See you next week.
