Men’s 2nd Grade:
Jordan Daly & his M2s side were in the field first after losing the toss in the afternoon fixture at Manly Oval. Josh Lawson started superbly with a tight opening spell leading to the opening breakthrough, before Wests fought back with a steady partnership through the middle overs. A crucial run out broke the threatening partnership, followed shortly after by an important wicket to Sam Hole. Wests continued with a couple of moderate partnerships as they lifted the tempo late in the innings, a debut 2nd Grade wicket for Julian Osbourne & the Tahs’ 5th to Michael Counsell, helping keep the Wests total in check. A couple of late boundaries leaving the Tahs 151 to win. Brynn Mendel (36 off 17) & Sam Hole began positively in the chase with a flurry of early boundaries, as Mendel in particular looked to put the foot down. Andrew Boulton (18 off 8) showed great intent in a brief cameo before momentum shifted as the run rate slowed & a few wickets fell. Ryan Farrell (64* off 41) proved the hero, starting patiently before accelerating after an injury hampered his movements & meant a runner was required. But that didn’t stop him from turning the game back in the Tahs’ favour with some superb ball striking in a match-winning unbeaten half century, well supported by Evan Dunnachie (19) in a 56 run partnership, before a 16 run over from Farrell iced the chase in the 18th over, Tahs winning by 5 wickets.
Men’s 3rd Grade:
Josh Coyte’s day, that’s the best way to describe M3s morning T20 at Manly Oval on Saturday. The Tahs lost the toss & were in the field first against Wests, as Adam Searle started strongly with a couple of economical overs early the catalyst for him to pick up the opening wicket. But on a nice batting wicket, Wests shifted the momentum considerably with a 112 run 2nd wicket partnership, taking advantage of a particularly short boundary to one side. Just as that partnership looked looked set to propel Wests to a hefty total, Josh Cooper dismissed the opposition skipper as the Tahs began to fight back. The spinners shifting the momentum in the latter overs as Searle & Myles Kapoor struck important breakthroughs to keep things tight at the death, with the Tahs only conceding 12 runs from the final 3 overs as Wests posted 5/152. That’s where the Josh Coyte (121* off 57) show began. An opening partnership worth 50 where Coyte contributed 43 of them. His 5th six bringing up his half century off a ridiculous 19 balls, before he just continued to power the ball to all parts with some belligerent batting. A six onto the bowling green bringing up one of the more insane hundreds in Manly history, off 47 balls & sending the boys on the balcony into a frenzy. Brilliantly supported by Reuben Kapoor (21* off 18) in an unbeaten 105 run stand, but it was Coyte’s day. His 10th six securing the winning runs in the 16th over, as Coyte finished 121no off 57 balls, Tahs victorious by 9 wickets.
Men’s 4th Grade:
After M5s win in the morning, M4s took centre stage in the afternoon fixture at Pratten Park. The Tahs were in the field first after losing the toss, with Wests making a steady start as their openers compiled a 30 run partnership. The bowling however remained tight & built some dot ball pressure, Kai Croft & James Waddington striking once each in quick succession to have Wests 2/37 before the home side consolidated with a 51 run partnership. Despite the break between the 2nd & 3rd wickets, Wests never really got away from the Tahs as the bowling continued to be disciplined through the middle to latter overs. A run out to Croft breaking the big partnership, followed shortly after by a run out to Nathan Pryke. Wickets fell in a hurry late as Wests looked to lift the scoring rate, Croft taking two more to finish with 3 for 18, before a wicket to Ryan Bishop-Perrett & another run out helped restrict Wests to 8/113. In reply, early boundaries to skipper Adam Parkinson & Lukas Overhoff had the Tahs in a positive position with Axel Karlsson-Lacy playing the anchor role. However, the run rate slowed through the middle & led to a few regular wickets to have pressure building. Axel lifted the tempo of his innings to bring up a patient half-century that proved match-defining, but it all came down to the final two overs with the Tahs still requiring 17. Croft proving decisive with a big six from his 2nd ball, leaving 8 to win from the final over, which he calmly navigated within the first three balls. His 15no off 6 balls leading the Tahs to a four wicket win with three balls to spare.
Men’s 5th Grade:
The morning fixture at Pratten Park saw M5s in action against Wests, who won the toss & sent the Tahs into bat first. Opening pair Jack Donnan & Toby Seward made a patient start in not the easiest of batting conditions, as the top order all made starts but struggled to score with any real freedom. Partnerships began to build but would be broken just as they looked to threaten. That was until Bill Martin (39* off 30) took it upon himself to lead the way for the Tahs, compiling an excellent innings in the stifling heat out west. Some great running between the wickets early in his innings and a few late boundaries as he reached 39no off 30 balls, before being forced to retire not out due to heat exhaustion. Important contributions in the middle order from Jordy Brewster & debutant Alfie Gatehouse propelling the Tahs to a competitive 4/117. Wests’ openers began patiently in the run chase & made the Tahs work until the 6th over for the first breakthrough. However, some consistent pressure saw Zac Buchanan take the opening wicket & was the catalyst for a steady flow of wickets from that point onwards. A run out from wicket-keeper Reiley Dunlop followed not long after by a Robbie Tipton wicket, but one of Wests’ openers was proving tough to dislodge. Bill Martin entering the attack & taking the all important wicket, as the Tahs’ bowlers continued to not give away many easy scoring opportunities. Matt Melville with a wicket of his own before skipper Simon Waddington picked up the Tahs’ 6th & 7th breakthroughs. A great all round bowling & fielding effort seeing Wests restricted to 7/100, meaning a 17 run victory for the Tahs.
Poidevin Gray Shield:
After a couple of weeks off, PGs were back in action, hosting a strong North Sydney side at Manly Oval. Skipper Bertie Foreman won the toss & elected to bat on a used wicket, with the Tahs in an early spot of bother as both openers were dismissed inside the first 7 overs. Akshay Joseph (66) & Foreman (38) however would consolidate the Tahs’ innings with a strong partnership worth 73, as both combined great running with regular boundaries to put pressure back on the North Sydney attack. Unfortunately, regular wickets throughout the middle to late overs halted the Tahs’ momentum despite starts to PGs debutant Myles Kapoor (14) & Josh Cooper (16*). Akshay remained the anchor for much of the innings with a patient knock of 66, but the late flurry of wickets meant the Tahs were bowled out for 180 in the 46th over. Needing early wickets to put North Sydney’s strong top order under pressure, Josh Lawson delivered with two big wickets in an excellent opening spell, backed up superbly by Julian Osbourne who dismissed Norths’ danger man cheaply. It was a regular flow of wickets from there as Foreman took two in relatively quick succession, before Osbourne took a screamer running back with the flight for Roop Dhillon’s first wicket of the day. Not long before Foreman had another followed soon after by a debut PGs wicket to Kapoor. North Sydney’s lower order provided some resistance late to prevent the bonus point, but a 4th wicket to skipper Foreman & 2nd to Dhillon saw the visitors bowled out for 116, securing a 64 run victory for the Tahs.
Women’s 1st Grade:
The final game of the triple-header at Howell Oval saw W1s take on Penrith, with Tahs skipper Lauren Kua winning the toss & electing to bat first. A couple of early wickets meant a slow start for the Tahs’ batters, but opener Lizzie Cambridge (29) was determined to steady the ship with a patient innings. At 3/46 though, the Tahs were in need of a partnership & in quick time too, with Eliza Henry (34) & Alana Horsfall (18) proving decisive with a 41 run partnership in 6 overs together. Both showing great intent with some aggressive running & regular boundaries to put some pressure back on the Penrith bowling attack. Eliza’s innings particularly crucial in pushing the Tahs’ total to 6/103 despite a few late wickets. The bowling would need to be right on the money for the total to prove competitive, and despite a disciplined start from Chelsea McLerie & Darcey Whiteley, Penrith started steadily in reply with a 36 run opening partnership. Breakthroughs in quick succession to 1st Grade debutant Arabella Handley, and Henry, but Penrith again fought back & looked well in control of the run chase at 2/68 off 11 overs. But that’s where the Tahs really turned the screws, with numerous dot balls from Lara Hughes, Henry & McLerie seeing scoreboard pressure build. Henry with the important breakthrough in a match-defining 14th over wicket-maiden, before wickets fell in a hurry. Two in the 17th over to Darcey Whiteley, a run out late in the 19th over, leaving 11 required from the final over & 6 from the last 3 balls. But McLerie held her nerve under pressure, with two wickets & a run out seeing a team hat-trick secure a thrilling Tahs victory by 4 runs.
Women’s 2nd Grade:
After Brewers comprehensive win, W2s were in action as Penrith won the toss & sent the Tahs into the field first. Arabella Handley & Erica Sharma continued their excellent new ball partnership bowling with great discipline early, but Penrith’s openers were patient and made the Tahs wait until the 9th over for the opening breakthrough, which was taken by Lara Hughes. Wickets then began to tumble in quick succession as Hughes took her 2nd either side of three wickets in two overs to Brooke Frew, the Tahs building consistent pressure on the back of some excellent bowling & fielding efforts. Two run outs late in the innings helping restrict Penrith to 7/59, Frew & Hughes the pick of the bowlers with 3/10 & 2/9 respectively. Sometimes the smallest chases can prove the most nerve-wracking, and a consistent bowling effort up front from Penrith saw the Tahs struggle to gain any momentum early in the innings. At 3/23 after 10 overs, the game was far from over, but opener Charlotte Camburn (28*) was holding things together at the top of the order with a composed innings. And just at the right time, Handley (18*) came to the crease & lifted the scoring rate, as the two combined for an unbeaten 37 run partnership with a few crucial boundaries. Manly victorious by 7 wickets in the 17th over.
Brewer Shield:
Looking to make it 4 wins on the bounce, Brewers made the trip west to Howell Oval for the first match of a T20 triple-header. Penrith won the toss & sent the Tahs into bat first, but that certainly didn’t bother Willa Pearson (24) & Eve Burke (57) as they got the innings off to the perfect start with boundaries aplenty. Both continuing their strong individual form as they combined for a 47 run opening partnership inside 8 overs. The opening dismissal didn’t halt Burke’s charge in an excellent innings of 57 off 48 balls which included 8 boundaries to lead the Tahs towards a competitive total. Combining for a further 35 runs with Keira Terrey, before a few small contributions from the middle order helped the Tahs post 5/111. With the ball, the Tahs were once again on song in the early overs, as Lily Crabbe & Charlotte Allen both struck once each in their opening spells, before two wickets in an over to Matilda Brown had Penrith 4 for 17. The home side fought back momentarily with a moderate partnership, but the Tahs kept the scoring rate in check with consistent disciplined bowling. Leading to wickets to Annabel Kyme & Burke, a run out to Kyme, and two wickets in two balls to skipper Saoirse Ford, all in quick succession. A late flurry of runs from Penrith’s lower order not enough as they finished 9/74, with the Tahs winning by 37 runs.
Upcoming:
We now move into the Christmas break for a couple of weeks. The Tahs Men back in action on the 11th of January with Day 1 of two-day fixtures against rivals Northern District, with M2s & M4s playing host, while M1s, M3s & M5s hit the road. PGs follow suit with their final round game on the 12th of January, a one-dayer away against UNSW, where a win would secure a finals spot.
On the Women’s side, the Tahs will wait until the following weekend (18th & 19th) for the season to resume for W1s, W2s & W3s.
In the meantime, we wish everyone a safe & happy Christmas & New Years with family & friends. We’ll see you next year!
Until then, up the Tahs.
