Saturday was dominated by rain as the wet weather meant no play was possible in M1s, M2s, M3s, M4s, M5s, or W3s.
However, the weather cleared for a massive day at Manly Oval on Sunday, as the Women hosted a triple-header against Bankstown to headline our NBCF fundraising day.
Brewer Shield:
To kickstart the day, Brewers were in action with a morning T20, sent into bat first against Bankstown. After a slow start & an early wicket, the Tahs quickly found their groove as Keira Terrey (45) & Kaya Punter (67) began to build a phenomenal partnership. Both patient to begin their innings, before really accelerating after the foundation had been set. Keira playing a steady anchoring innings with some tremendous drives on her way to 45, while Kaya showed some brutal power with 10 fours & one big six in a destructive 67 off 47 balls. The two combining for a 110 run partnership to lead the Tahs to a great total. Skipper Saoirse Ford (11*) with a couple of late boundaries to propel the Tahs’ total to 3/144 from 20. With the job only half done, the Tahs’ bowlers were up for the challenge to defend the total, beginning economically before Lily Crabbe got a well deserved opening breakthrough. Bankstown batted positively throughout their innings with a couple of decent partnerships, however Matilda Brown turned the momentum back towards the Tahs with two wickets in an excellent spell. A run out & then late wicket to Abigail Bland helping restrict Bankstown to 5/115 from 20, rounding out a solid 29 run victory for the Tahs.
Women’s 2nd Grade:
The midday game saw W2s host Bankstown, who won the toss & asked the Tahs to field first. The Tahs’ bowlers were simply outstanding from the get go, and that discipline carried throughout the whole innings. Opening bowlers Arabella Handley & Erica Sharma with an early breakthrough each on the back of an economical partnership to start. But it was then over to the ever consistent Lara Hughes to steal the show. Taking four wickets in the space of her first two overs, including two caught & bowled, and two courtesy of lightning fast stumpings by sister Steph. Another wicket taker in Mia Nel for the Tahs’ 7th, before Lara picked up her 5th with the final ball of her spell, finishing with incredible figures of 5 for 8 from 4 overs. A brief Bankstown partnership was broken by Kaya Punter who dismissed the top scoring opener, before Nel got a 2nd wicket to close out Bankstown’s innings on 61. The chase started steadily with Elizabeth Cambridge & skipper Gabby Dunnage, but the Tahs were soon in strife as a flurry of wickets fell relatively quickly. Arabella Handley (15) provided some resistance but nerves were building as the Tahs slumped to 6/46. But Eve Burke (11*) & Steph (7*) calmly navigated the remaining runs, Manly winning by 4 wickets in the 18th over.
Women’s 1st Grade:
As the cool change came across in the afternoon, W1s were in the field first after losing the toss. Light drizzle persisted throughout most of the fixture however didn’t hinder play. After a positive start from Bankstown in the first few overs, Chelsea McLerie struck the opening breakthrough, which was the catalyst for the Tahs’ bowlers to really take control of the innings. Sam Bates showing her class with a superb four over spell that yielded 2 wickets for just 5 runs, backed up by two excellent run outs from Anika Learoyd. Any time Bankstown looked to consolidate, the Tahs’ bowling & fielding pressure wouldn’t allow it, Megan Sturge picking up the Tahs’ 6th of the innings, before skipper Lauren Kua joined the wickets column with two breakthroughs of her own. A run out to Kristie Crawford for the 9th, before Ebony Hoskin took the final wicket courtesy of a second catch to wicket-keeper Katie Letcher, Bankstown all out 61. As the drizzle continued, it was important the Tahs started the chase well to be on top if DLS was to come into play, and while it didn’t, the opening partnership from Ella McCaughan (15) & Lizzie Cambridge (21*) was instrumental to the eventual outcome of the match. The two steadily rotating the strike with the odd boundary in a 43 run partnership. With a double bonus point possible if the target was reached within 10 overs, skipper Kua (16*) came to the crease & hit some crucial boundaries. 9 needed from the 10th over & 7 from the final two balls for a double bonus point, but Kua was up for the task with two more boundaries to cap off an excellent victory. 9 wicket victory inside 10 overs to secure a double bonus point & put an exclamation mark on a superb day for the Tahs.
Upcoming:
Change of formats this week for the Tahs. Premier Cricket moves regional for the weekend, as M1s hit the road to Dubbo for one-day fixtures against Western Suburbs (day-night game) & Sydney University (day game) on Friday & Saturday. Meanwhile, M2s-M5s move into T20 mode with matches against Sydney University, M2s & M3s at University Oval, while M4s & M5s get the opportunity to host at Manly Oval.
On the Women’s side, it’s back to one-day mode for W1s hosting St George Sutherland at Manly Oval, W2s at Grahams against Sydney University & Brewers out to Raby Oval to face Campbelltown-Camden. W3s will look to escape the weather gods on Saturday with a T20 vs ladder-leaders St George-Sutherland.
Exciting times heading into Christmas, up the Tahs.
