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An M1s reverse outright win headlined an otherwise frustrating weekend for the Tahs, with rain playing a role too.
Saturday fixtures
Men’s 1st Grade:
The Tahs lost the toss & were sent into bat on a green seamer at Manly Oval under cloudy skies. A tough batting innings ensued, as a number of the top order made steady starts but failed to capitalise in tricky conditions. N.Hole (36) providing a counter-attacking middle order role but regular wickets saw the Tahs bowled out for 122 in the 46th over. Needing a serious fight with the ball, that’s exactly what the Tahs delivered, three wickets to Evans, one each to Kaye & Davies, and a brilliant Evans run out, having NDs 6/50 in reply. The visitors fought back, before further wickets to Foster & Evans, and a Brewster run out, had the game on a knife’s edge with NDs 9/118. They scratched their way to a first innings lead late on Day 1, leaving work to do for the Tahs.
Day 2 rolled around with Kaye taking the final wicket quickly to see NDs all out for 169. The Tahs quickly wilted away the 47 run first innings deficit as Beadle (62 off 50) continued his marvellous form. Joseph (23) & Boulton (48) continued this momentum in solid partnerships with Beadle as the Tahs built a lead. Middle order contributions from Foster (19) & N.Hole (25) kept the scoreboard ticking, but it was the lower order hitting from debutant M.Kapoor (45 off 33), Kaye (27) & Dhillon (15*) that propelled the Tahs to 9d/294 inside 52 overs, a lead worth 247. NDs took the game on from the outset & looked to be in control, first at 0/58 and then 1/93, but skipper Foster stepped up in a time of need with 3fa. Wickets to Boulton & Evans kept the Tahs in the game, but the task looked insurmountable heading into the final hour with 4 wickets still required. ND’s kept attacking, but the Tahs took every chance that came their way, further wickets to Foster, Dhillon, & a Brewster run out, before Dhillon landed the knock out blow with the final wicket falling at 202, caught in close by sub fielder O’Sullivan, as the Tahs secured a remarkable reverse outright win with just a few overs remaining.
Men’s 2nd Grade:
Shades of last year’s M2s Grand Final as rain wreaked havoc on Mark Taylor Oval, forcing a lengthy delay to start & restricting the match to 40 overs per side. Skipper Trewartha won the toss & elected to bowl, but NDs made a strong start to be 45 without loss. Osbourne struck twice in quick succession to shift the momentum, before another strong partnership from the home side. Spinners Vumbaca & M.Kapoor broke the game open once more with a wicket each, but NDs opener was still causing trouble. A couple more decent partnerships pushing them to 9/204, the pick of the bowlers being Dunnachie with 3fa with pressure on. Rain again settled in, setting a revised target of 122 from 17 overs. The Tahs had a real crack, Trewartha (21) off to a flyer, before the returning O’Sullivan (33) provided the anchor for the innings to give the Tahs a chance. Vumbaca, Daly & Dunnachie fighting hard late, but fell just short, 7 runs shy of the total.
Men’s 3rd Grade:
A disappointing day at Grahams after M3s won the toss & elected to bat on a good cricket wicket. Wickets tumbling early as NDs openers were disciplined to start & the Tahs struggled to soak up the pressure. At 5/24, a partnership was desperately needed, with Cooper (32) & McDowell (35) combining for a crucial 65 run partnership to steady the ship & rebuild the platform. Unfortunately, after innings of great patience, both fell & the lower order wickets followed quickly, the Tahs all out for 110 in the 38th over. The bowlers never back down from a fight though, as Pryke went on a roll early with 3fa courtesy of some terrific catching. The game in the balance at 3/30, but ultimately, NDs soaked up the initial burst & took back control. Wickets late to Searle & Pryke not enough as NDs passed the total 5 down in the 23rd over.
Men’s 4th Grade:
M4s rocked up to a damp Asquith Oval with concerning wet patches across the length of the pitch. Obviously a lengthy delay ensued until the playing surface was okay for play, creating a 29 overs per side game. Skipper Parkinson winning the toss & electing to bowl, as Dubbo boy Jenkins continued his strong form with 2fa in his opening spell. Kerr also chiming in with a wicket, to have NDs 3/68 in the 14th over. Unfortunately, rain set in again & no further play was possible, leaving both teams to split the points.
Men’s 5th Grade:
Back home at Mike Pawley Oval, M5s skipper Nasser won the toss & elected to bowl, as NDs made a positive start against the new ball. That was until Buchanan & Graham struck once each, before H.Matheson picked up two wickets in his spell to have NDs 4/87. A strong middle order partnership threatened to push the visitors to a big score, but the skipper stepped in to break the partnership, which led to a steady flow of wickets. Nasser with 3fa in a game-changing spell, while Graham & W.Matheson picked up further wickets to restrict NDs to all out 165 in the 49th over. The run chase began steadily as the great man Wheeler (55) dropped anchor & built a solid platform for the Tahs. Contributions from the rest of the top order had the Tahs in a good position at 2/106, but a middle order collapse left work to do. J.Brewster (22) with an important cameo, but it was the last wicket partnership of Graham (18*) & Buchanan (5*) that saw the Tahs to a thrilling one wicket win in the 46th over.
Women’s 3rd Grade:
Returning to T20 mode at Balgowlah Oval, W3s were batting first after losing the toss. Skipper S.James (30*) & Wilson (28) combining for a superb start to the Tahs innings in a strong opening partnership. Both taking the attack to Sydney’s bowlers in the early overs to build an excellent platform. This momentum was continued by Wright (19*) in a clever innings as the middle order helped push the Tahs total to 3/101 from 20 overs. Sydney commenced the run chase aggressively putting the pressure back on the Tahs’ bowlers, until wickets to Searles & Wright, and run outs to Wilson & Champion, shifted the momentum to have Sydney 4/50. To their credit though, Sydney fought back with a strong 6th wicket partnership that ultimately defined the game, as the visitors ran out victors by 6 wickets in the 17th over.
Sunday fixtures
Women’s 2nd Grade:
W2s made the long trip to Penrith on a hot Sunday, skipper Cambridge winning the toss & electing to bat first. The skipper (61) herself compiling an outstanding innings at the top of the order, setting a steady platform for the Tahs in a strong opening partnership with Guyot. E.James (17) continued the momentum with a positive innings, while Kyme (24no) compiled a clever innings in the later overs to help propel the Tahs to 8/182 from 50. Sharma started well with the ball with an early breakthrough, but the home side consolidated strongly with a couple of key partnerships. Wickets to James, Cambridge & a run out to S.Hughes keeping the door ajar, but Penrith ultimately too good passing the total in the 42nd over, winning by six wickets.
Brewer Shield:
Out west at Parramatta, Tahs skipper Addison won the toss & elected to bowl, as the Tahs began economically with Brown striking early. Parramatta returned serve with a strong partnership to be in control at 1/86, but that’s where the Tahs really kicked into gear with some great partnership bowling. Brown taking her 2nd to break the dangerous partnership, before wickets fell at regular intervals. Two each to Jayakody & Gillett in match-changing spells, while Terrey, Bland & Pallister also picked up important wickets to restrict Parramatta to all out 155 in the 45th. The chase began steadily between Brown & Terrey (51), as the latter in particular set a solid foundation for the Tahs compiling a classy half century. Couple of decent partnerships in the top order but a middle order stutter halted momentum, until S.Punter (18) got the Tahs back in the game with a positive innings. Unfortunately, it was too little too late as the Tahs fell agonisingly five runs short when the final wicket fell in the last over.
Upcoming fixtures
Another busy weekend of cricket coming up as the Men take on Sutherland in one-day fixtures, with M1s, M3s & M5s at home. W1s commence their one-day campaign hosting Sydney Uni at Manly Oval. W2s & W3s host Greater Hunter & Parramatta in T20s, while Brewers are also in T20 mode, away to Campbelltown.
Until then, up the Tahs!
