Men’s 1st Grade (Friday):
Premier Cricket moved to the country once more as our M1s side headed west to Dubbo for the weekend. Friday’s match a day-nighter against Western Suburbs, with skipper Jay Lenton winning the toss & electing to bat first. Ahillen Beadle (27) & Lachlan Coyte (51) making a steady start with a 44 run opening partnership to set a decent foundation. Beadle passing the incredible milestone of 10,000 career runs in 1st Grade in the process, while Coyte anchored the Tahs’ top order with a measured half century. After a couple of quick wickets, Henry Rogers (33) & Coyte steadied the ship with a 65 run partnership, as the Tahs looked to lift the tempo. Jacob O’Sullivan (39) did just that with a flurry of boundaries, before Ned Hole (31*) & Tom Kaye (12*) closed out the batting innings to lead the Tahs to 7/213 from 50. Wests were off to a flyer in reply & left the Tahs needing a couple of breakthroughs, debutant Matt Sunshine delivering as he dismissed both openers in quick succession for his first wickets in the top grade. A steadying partnership had Wests back in control before Zach Trewartha’s cagey medium pacers struck twice, including a sharp caught & bowled, Wests 4/128. With the game in the balance, Wests’ skipper was proving tough to dislodge & another substantial partnership frustrated the Tahs. Bertie Foreman with back-to-back wickets on the last two balls of his spell, to go with one to Beadle, Wests 7 down with 6 to win. Unfortunately it was too little too late for the Tahs as Wests passed the total in the 47th over.
Men’s 1st Grade (Saturday):
Saturday morning saw M1s in action once again at Dubbo’s Victoria Park, this time against Sydney University, who won the toss & elected to bat. Tom Kaye & Josh Seward started with great discipline, both striking in their opening spells to have Uni 2 down early. However Uni consolidated with a considerable partnership between their No. 3 & 4, before Bertie Foreman took two big wickets in his spell to have the game back in the balance through the middle overs with support from a Jacob O’Sullivan run out to dismiss the Uni skipper. Unfortunately however the last 15 overs or so didn’t go quite to plan for the Tahs as Uni accelerated late with some strong hitting, despite three wickets to Matt Sunshine & another to Seward, as Uni posted a strong total of 9/262. Their late momentum with the bat flowed into their bowling innings as the Tahs’ top & middle order stumbled against some consistent new ball bowling. Foreman offering the only real resistance, as the Tahs slumped to 9/79. Seward (24) & Sunshine (12*) added a few consolation runs, but too little too late as the Tahs were bowled out for 110 in reply.
Men’s 2nd Grade:
After M3s strong win in the morning, M2s were in action in the afternoon T20 at University Oval, as Tahs skipper Jordan Daly won the toss & elected to bat first. The brutal opening partnership of Brynn Mendel (20) & Joel Davies (24) offering some early entertainment with a few boundaries, including a monstrous six from Mendel which prompted a slightly delay as they searched for the ball. After a positive start the Tahs were 2/60 & looking steady, but unfortunately a middle overs collapse halted momentum considerably. A couple of small starts from Isaiah Vumbaca & Lachlan Barnsley, before a few late boundaries between Michael Counsell & Lachlan Trewartha helped the Tahs scrape to a well below par 118. What followed was some simply ridiculous hitting as Sydney Uni’s opening pair took the attack straight to the Tahs’ bowlers to put on 92 runs inside the first 6 overs & take the game completely away from the Tahs. Late wickets to Davies & Vumbaca only consolation as Uni passed the total 2 down in the 11th over.
Men’s 3rd Grade:
University Oval was the venue for M3s T20 on Saturday morning as Tahs skipper Sam Webber won the toss & elected to bat against Sydney University. The home side started exceptionally with the ball causing trouble for the Tahs’ top order who fell to 3 for 19 early on. However the young Kapoor brothers, Reuben (28) & Myles (19) steadied the ship with a run-a-ball partnership of 35 to give the Tahs a decent foundation. Another flurry of wickets in quick succession though put the Tahs under more pressure & in need of a lower order cameo. And didn’t Josh Cooper (42) deliver when it was needed most. In a 29 ball innings, he batted with great authority to post a crucial 42, with two fours & two sixes. Well supported late by Josh Wigney (18*) as they helped propel the Tahs to a competitive 8/136. Uni started positively in reply but the Tahs fought back superbly as Julian Osbourne & George Cumming both struck twice each to have Uni 4/29. Special mention to the one-handed effort running back at mid off by Josh Cooper. However, a substantial partnership worth 72 followed, to have the game right in the balance with Uni requiring 46 from the final 5 overs. The Tahs’ bowlers really stepped up from there, Osbourne breaking the dangerous partnership for his 3rd wicket, before a steady flow of wickets late, two to Wigney & one to M.Kapoor, backed up by some brilliant efforts in the field. The Tahs restricting Uni to 9/124, to secure a great team win by 12 runs.
Men’s 4th Grade:
As the afternoon sea breeze rolled in at Manly Oval, M4s hosted Sydney Uni, as Tahs skipper Adam Parkinson won the toss & elected to bat first. The experience of Parkinson (22) & Dom Wheeler (24) getting the Tahs off to a great start with the bat as the pair put the Uni bowlers under pressure early with some impressive boundary hitting. A couple of wickets in relatively quick succession halted momentum momentarily, but Liam Dinan (21) lifted the tempo again with a couple of big sixes. The middle order continued with a few moderate partnerships as Luke Watts (47*) anchored the middle to late overs. Lukas Overhoff (11*) with a couple of last over boundaries, but it was Watts that really impressed with an unbeaten 47 at a run-a-ball to lead the Tahs to a strong total of 5/154. After a brief flying start from Uni in reply, Adam Searle struck the opening breakthrough in bizarre circumstances as the ball went to the boundary but the batter stepped on his stumps, out hit wicket. Will Skinner with the 2nd wicket in the next over, before Uni steadied with a decent partnership. Another couple of wickets in quick succession to Skinner & Nathan Pryke, to have the Tahs in control with Uni 4/57. However, the visitors fought back strongly with a big partnership that gave them the ascendancy needing 31 from the final 5 overs. Searle broke the dangerous partnership, followed by a maiden from Ryan Bishop Perrett & a second wicket to Pryke, leaving 17 required for Uni from the last 2 overs. Unfortunately for the Tahs, a couple of boundaries at crucial times meant Uni took victory by 4 wickets with three balls to spare.
Men’s 5th Grade:
With the seldom opportunity to play at Manly Oval, M5s were pumped for the occasion, hosting Sydney University in Saturday morning’s T20 fixture. After losing the toss, the Tahs were asked to field first. Uni began positively batting with strong intent despite a couple of early breakthroughs to Chris Halloran in an excellent opening spell. The visitors’ No.4 with a particularly impressive knock taking the attack directly to the Tahs’ bowlers. A threatening partnership broken in the middle overs by Jordan Brewster, before Uni really put the foot down in the latter part of the innings. Two late wickets to Matt Melville as the visitors piled on boundaries late to post a very competitive 5/144. An early wicket in the chase wasn’t going to stop the Tahs from putting their best foot forward, as Jack Donnan (46) & Keelan Mendel (65) combined for what was ultimately a match-defining 101 run partnership. Both batting with great smarts & regular boundaries to give the Tahs a genuine chance late. The game went right down to the wire as the Tahs needed 31 from the final 4 overs. Mendel passing a classy half century and hitting a couple of crucial late boundaries before it all came down to the final over, Tahs needing 6 to win. A wide, a couple of dots & the dismissal of Mendel for 65 off 56 balls left 2 to win off the final 2 deliveries, & then 1 off 1 with Bill Martin (12*) on strike & the field in tight. A streaky single to mid wicket & a close run out appeal but Martin made his ground to secure the winning run on the final ball, Tahs victorious by 7 wickets in an excellent run chase.
Women’s 3rd Grade:
A rematch of last season’s grand finalists took place at Balgowlah Oval on Saturday, as W3s hosted ladder-leaders St George-Sutherland in a T20. Thankfully after a stop-start season thus far with weather, the sun was out for a great day’s cricket. Returning Tahs skipper Sallie Molyneux started the day well, winning the toss & electing to bat first. Sienna James (22) began with great intent striking two fours & two sixes in an entertaining innings, with strong support from Emily Hatfield (18) who rotated the strike well & helped get the Tahs’ innings off to a positive start. Renee Hough (30*) continuing the momentum from the strong platform that had been set, retiring not out after a strong innings of 30no. Contributions down the order from Daisy Addison, Hannah McPhail & Sophie Beukers, helping the Tahs post a competitive 4/96 from 20 overs. A dangerous St George-Sutherland top order awaited however, and their run chase was off to an impressive start with a 40 run opening partnership to have them well in control after 5 overs. But the Tahs didn’t back down from the fight, responding superbly with James taking two big wickets in consecutive balls to shift the momentum. From there, the Tahs’ bowlers remained disciplined & restricted the run rate, leading to a regular flow of wickets. James with another two to make her figures 4 for 7 off 4 overs in a match-winning all-round effort. Three wickets to Charlie Woods, one to Sophia Randall & run outs to Hatfield & Nat Jonkers, and some great catching, all contributing to the Tahs incredible fight back. St George-Sutherland bowled out for 67 in the 17th over as the Tahs secured an excellent 29 run victory.
Women’s 1st Grade:
W1s hosted an always tough St George-Sutherland side at Manly Oval in a one-day fixture on Sunday. Tahs skipper Lauren Kua won the toss & elected to bat first. After an early setback with the opening wicket, Ella McCaughan (69) & Kua (43) took advantage of a nice batting wicket as they began to build an excellent partnership. McCaughan batting with great composure to anchor the Tahs’ top order with a classy half-century, while Kua was patient as the two kept the scoreboard ticking over at a regular rate in a 108 run partnership. When the 2nd wicket fell, Eliza Henry (32) lifted the tempo showing great intent throughout her innings alongside McCaughan to set a strong foundation for the Tahs to accelerate in the latter overs. And they did just that, as Megan Sturge (53*) launched some late boundaries in an entertaining 53no from 47 balls, well supported by Lizzie Cambridge (16*) as the two combined for a 56 run partnership to propel the Tahs to a strong total of 4/240 from 50 overs. After a positive start in reply from St George-Sutherland, Sturge struck the opening breakthrough before the visitors fought back with a substantial partnership, broken for the 2nd wicket by Kua, to make it 2/91. However, the visitors’ batting line-up was proving stubborn, a 104 run 3rd wicket partnership putting them well in control of the run chase. Two wickets in quick succession between Henry & Kristie Crawford made it 4/195 in the 42nd over & gave the Tahs a chance. But again, St George Sutherland’s batters stepped up with another crucial partnership, a late wicket to Chelsea McLerie unfortunately not enough as the visitors took the chocolates by five wickets with three balls to spare.
Women’s 2nd Grade:
At Grahams Reserve on Sunday were W2s who welcomed Sydney University for a one-day clash. Tahs skipper Gabby Dunnage winning her second toss of the season & electing to bowl first after the consistency the Tahs’ bowlers have shown in recent weeks. And that discipline continued early on, with an economical opening spell between Arabella Handley & Erica Sharma leading to the opening breakthrough to Sharma. Sydney University however consolidated with a steady partnership worth 91, yet the bowling remained consistent & restricted the rate of scoring considerably throughout the middle overs. This build up of scoreboard pressure was the catalyst for a flurry of wickets in the latter overs, as a run out to Annabelle Croll broke the big partnership, followed not long after by a wicket to Kaya Punter. From there, wickets were shared in an excellent all-round bowling & fielding effort, the remaining wickets split amongst Brooke Frew, Sharma, Lara Hughes, & Mia Nel. Sydney University bowled out for 139 in the final over of the innings after a great fight back from the Tahs. In reply, the chase simply could not have gone much better. Skipper Dunnage (74*) & Charlotte Croll (50*) combining for a remarkable unbeaten partnership as both batted positively, finding the boundary with great regularity & rotating the strike well in between. Dunnage leading the way with 74no from 59 balls in a captain’s knock, while Croll also brought up an excellent half century from 62 balls, with the winning runs. The Tahs victorious by 10 wickets in the 20th over, securing a double bonus point & making it 7 wins on the bounce.
Brewer Shield:
On Sunday, Brewers were looking to continue their winning form, making the trek away out to Raby Oval to take on Campbelltown-Camden in a one-dayer. Tahs skipper Saoirse Ford winning the toss & electing to bowl first, but the Tahs would be made to wait for immediate breakthroughs as the home side began their batting innings strongly. The opening wicket coming courtesy of a run out from Sonia Punter, before a breakthrough shortly after to Annabel Kyme made it 2/43. Campbelltown-Camden fought back positively with a 50+ run partnership, but when Charlotte Allen took the 3rd wicket breaking the threatening partnership, things started to happen quickly for the Tahs. Lily Crabbe with her 1st wicket of the day, and then a 2nd to Allen for the Tahs 5th. But it was then Crabbe that led the way, taking the final four wickets of the innings in an excellent spell, to finish with 5 for 11 from 8 overs, with Campbelltown-Camden bowled out for 105. The run chase began steadily as Kyme (13) & Keira Terrey (21) calmly navigated the new-ball spell with a patient 29 run opening partnership, the latter striking a few nice boundaries along the way. Willa Pearson (11) briefly continuing the momentum with a couple of boundaries, but it was Eve Burke (30*) that again stepped up to anchor the remainder of the run chase with a clever innings. A couple of late wickets fell but Burke calmly saw the Tahs to victory, finishing 30no with Ford the other not out batter, as the Tahs won by five wickets in the 31st over.
Upcoming fixtures:
While M1s have the extra week off into Christmas, T20 mode continues for the Men’s lower grades this week, as M2s-M5s take on Western Suburbs. M2s & M3s hosting at Manly Oval, with M4s & M5s away at Pratten Park. Meanwhile, W1s, W2s & Brewers hit the road for a triple-header away against Penrith at Howell Oval. W3s also have the extended Christmas break.
Until then, up the Tahs.
