Welcome to another edition of the Weekend Wrap, proudly brought to you by our friends at New Balance | Belgravia Apparel. Visit them at www.belgraviaapparel.com for all your community club and business apparel needs.
Quarter Final weekend for the Men & Grand Final weekend for W3s had all the ebbs & flows that you come to expect in finals cricket. Ridiculous nail-biting finishes, big moments, some terrific wins & a few disappointing losses. But that’s all why we love this great game.
Men’s 1st Grade:
Same opposition as last week. Same venue. A chance for redemption. The Tahs were asked to bowl first at Hurstville after losing the toss, the Saints starting steadily against the new ball before Kaye dismissed last week’s stubborn opener. The home side again consolidated to be in control just prior to lunch, until Evans broke through to have the Saints 2/94 at lunch. After the break, the Tahs were sensational, all bowlers executing with great discipline on a favourable batting wicket, toiling away & taking regular breakthroughs. Evans with the big wicket of Nikitaris, before another shortly after. From there, wickets continued to tumble regularly as Dhillon struck, before Osbourne took three in quick succession in a superb spell. Dhillon with the final two wickets, St George all out 176 right on tea. The chase began positively as Brewster (48) took the game on with his usual intent, while Dhillon (15) & Boulton (16) both looked solid early. The Tahs in a decent position at 3/80, before a late flurry of wickets had the game on a knife’s edge, N.Hole & M.Kapoor navigating the final overs to be 6/120 at stumps.
With the game at a pulsating stage, Hole (52no) & Kapoor (40) were absolutely sensational on Sunday morning, seeing off a threatening opening spell before steadily narrowing the deficit with great patience, the two combining for a match-winning 87 run partnership that saw the Tahs to first innings points. Kaye (40) then counter-attacked after the Tahs had taken the lead, with a crucial little innings in a further 49 run stand with Hole. With the lead at 61, skippers shook hands as the Tahs booked a home semi final.
Men’s 2nd Grade:
Earning the right to host a Quarter Final at Manly Oval, the Tahs were sent into bat first. An early wicket consolidated by Croft (29) & Melchiore (23) who both began patiently in a composed 52 run partnership. However, a little wobble heading into lunch had the Tahs 4/68 just before the interval, in need of a partnership. Post lunch, it was a gutsy 66 run partnership between O’Sullivan (46) & Vumbaca (33) that got the innings back on track, as both dug in against disciplined Sydney Uni bowling & on a very slow outfield. That resilience continued late in the day after a couple of wickets fell, as R.Kapoor & Cooper consolidated from 6/156, steadily ticking the scoreboard along to have the Tahs 6/200 at stumps.
Day 2 was the Reuben Kapoor masterclass, as he compiled one of the gutsiest finals innings in Tahs recent history. Kapoor (105no) & Cooper (26) beginning the day steadily before another big partnership, worth 63 with Dunnachie (18) who too knuckled down to take time out of the game. But it was Kapoor’s day, bringing up a phenomenal hundred amidst a barrage of bumpers & verbals from Sydney Uni. Ultimately facing a mammoth 266 balls before running out of partners, the Tahs bowled out for 321, leaving Sydney Uni 57 overs to chase. They came out flying, but a breakthrough to Lawson was followed by a defining moment from O’Sullivan, who produced a brilliant direct hit run out to dismiss Uni’s danger man. Kerr picked up two big wickets to dismiss set batters at crucial times, and one to skipper Trewartha had Uni on the back foot 5/96. But the visitors fought back with a big partnership of 85, as their skipper threatened with an impressive hundred. But the Tahs kept taking wickets right when the game seemed in the balance, Trewartha breaking the main partnership, Lawson with another & a run out, before another threatening partnership was broken by a third run out. Vumbaca with the final wicket, Uni all out 262 as the Tahs booked a home semi final.
Men’s 3rd Grade:
A home Quarter Final at Fortress Grahams as Tahs skipper Webber won the toss & elected to bat first on a flatttttt Grahams deck. After the loss of an early wicket, Hole (18) started strongly to consolidate momentarily, but despite a few mini starts, the game was well in the balance at lunch, 3/74. Post lunch, a couple more untimely wickets had the game teetering at 5/90, the Tahs in desperate need of a big partnership. Mendel (63) & Coyte (50) delivered, batting with the perfect combination of patience & intent to put on 81 for the 6th wicket. Mendel compiling a superb 2nd consecutive half century, as Coyte patiently brought up his own gutsy 50. Another couple of wickets at frustrating times had the game again in the balance at 7/197. Enter Nathan Pryke (65). The man who thrives in the big moments counter-attacking in the final session to be 40no at stumps, first combining with skipper Webber (21) who provided the perfect foil in a 54 run partnership, before Pryke & Walker saw out the day to be 8/265 at stumps on an even day.
Day 2 saw an early wicket fall, but Pryke continued with his positive intent to bring up his maiden 50 for the club, as the Great Wall of Wigney (21no) settled into his work, the two combining for a further 47 crucial runs & taking valuable time out of the game. Manly all out 312 from 115 overs, leaving the Saints 76 overs to chase. To their credit, they made an almighty fist of it. Their openers started very well on a favourable batting wicket to be 0/83, before the introduction of Searle & Webber into the attack shifted the momentum. Searle with two big wickets, one courtesy of the catch of the season from the skipper. Before that man, Webber, knocked over his opposing skipper LBW, Saints 3/109. Needing 190 odd from the final 36 over session, it was a big ask of the Saints, but they came out after tea with guns blazing to make the Tahs nervous. Wigney a crucial breakthrough before the Saints took control once more to be 4/229. But the Tahs just kept chipping away taking wickets just when the game seemed to be getting away. A brilliant run out from Karlsson-Lacy, further wickets to Searle (on his way to a superb 5fa, including the big wicket of the set bat), but the Saints only needed 12 from the final 2 overs, 7 down. Searle with a clutch penultimate over, before the iceman Wigney closed out well defending 9 in the final over, a wicket off the last ball seeing the Saints 9/310 from their 76 overs. Match drawn with the Tahs keeping the Saints 2 runs short, and in home finals, a draw is as good as a win, the Tahs progressing to this week’s crunch semi final.
Men’s 4th Grade:
Away to St George at Harold Fraser Oval, Tahs skipper Parkinson won the toss & elected to bowl, as the experience of Bishop-Perrett was on show with the new ball to pick up two early breakthroughs, both snaffled smartly by Merchant at 2nd slip. St George consolidated strongly with a patient partnership, before the big man Skinner struck twice in quick succession to have the Tahs on top, 4/77. But again, the Saints fought back with another frustrating partnership, and this pattern continued for the remainder of the day, as the Tahs would toil away on a flat wicket, break through at an important time, but just couldn’t string back to back wickets together to break the St George innings open. Seward settled into an excellent spell, continuing his good form with the ball to pick up three wickets on Day 1, before Kershler finally dismissed the centurion late in the day. St George 8/289 at stumps.
The Tahs rallied well the morning of Day 2, as Seward took his 4th, finishing with an impressive 4/40 from 22 overs. Bishop Perrett taking the final wicket after he had toiled across 29 overs. Saints all out 295, setting up a chase. Unfortunately, the mini session before lunch went completely awry, as the Tahs slumped to 5/40 & in desperate need of resurrection. Following the break, Merchant (92) & Seward (27) momentarily steadied the ship with a 41 run stand, but wickets continued to fall at untimely moments. Merchant anchored & dug in during his 174 ball knock, prolonging the innings & giving the Tahs some respectability, a 44 run partnership with Kershler (19) the last real resistance shown, with the Tahs ultimately bowled out for 179.
Men’s 5th Grade:
Taking on Parramatta at The Green, Tahs skipper Waddington won the toss & elected to bowl, as Counsell started superbly in a terrific opening spell, breaking through for three early wickets to have Parra 3/15. They fought back momentarily, until Jenkins & Graham struck in quick succession, 5/64, before another consolidating partnership. But the Tahs bowling remained disciplined as every bowler executed their role. Graham breaking through for the Tahs 6th, before Cumming picked up 3fa across a tidy 16 over spell. J.Brewster with the final wicket to round out an excellent all round bowling performance, Parramatta all out 150. With a gettable target, unfortunately the chase went far from plan, as the top order stumbled in the final session of Day 1. Parramatta’s opening quick proving a challenge as he took the first five wickets of the innings with full & straight bowling. At 5/37, a partnership was desperately needed, opener Gatehouse (45) was holding strong amidst the collapse, as he & Cumming tried to get to the close of play. A wicket on the penultimate ball of the day’s play seeing the Tahs in strife, 6/71 at stumps.
Unfortunately the morning of Day 2 was no better than the evening of Day 1, as the Tahs were unable to string together any partnerships to keep the game alive. Parramatta’s bowlers executing well to see the Tahs all out for 89, training by 61 on first innings. Plenty of time remained, and when Buchanan struck early, there was the smallest glimmer of hope, but Parramatta quickly closed the door on that with a 140 run partnership. But Buchanan to his credit continued to toil away, breaking the big partnership, before taking another two in quick succession. Cumming chipped in with a wicket, but Parramatta continued to build on their unassailable lead. Buchanan breaking through for a well deserved 5fa as Parramatta batted to the conclusion of the day, 7/240, spelling an end to the Tahs season in M5s.
Women’s 3rd Grade:
Grand final day! The crowd descended on Fortress Balgowlah for the big dance, as the Tahs were sent into bat first after losing the toss. Hatfield (21) began patiently as the Tahs looked to build a solid platform for their innings, Pike (10) also started well, but it was slow going on another slow Balgowlah outfield. But it was the partnership between Hatfield & Hough (31no) that had the Tahs in a decent position at 2/54 with wickets in hand for the second half of the innings. Hough compiling an important innings to be the anchor for the Tahs, while Wright (12) found the boundary a couple of times. But as the Tahs looked to lift the tempo, a middle & lower order collapse ensued, leaving the Tahs with 95 to defend for the title. Sydney began well in their chase despite the Tahs best efforts with the new ball, before Searles broke through to open the door, 1/25. A frustrating 2nd wicket partnership followed as a few chances went begging, but the Tahs kept fighting. Skipper S.James breaking through for the 2nd wicket before Bursill struck shortly after to have Sydney 3/50 & give the game some life. But another couple of little partnerships from Sydney proved defining, Bursill with a wicket to make it 4/66, but from there, Sydney took control & never looked back. A late consolation breakthrough to Wright, as the Tahs fought valiantly with some disciplined bowling to take the game right down to the wire. Ultimately though, it wasn’t to be, as Sydney passed our total 5 down late in the 36th over with just a few overs remaining. While it wasn’t Grand Final glory for the Tahs, it was still a season to be proud of for skipper Sienna James & her team.
Upcoming fixtures:
So after all that, we’ve got our top three Men’s grades progressing to a massive semi final week. M1s & M2s earning the right to host, while M3s will be away. Grand final spots to play for, so the Tahs will be up & about, ready for battle. Fixtures as follows:
Men’s 1st Grade vs Parramatta @ Manly Oval – Saturday/Sunday
Men’s 2nd Grade vs Parramatta @ Graham Reserve – Saturday/Sunday
Men’s 3rd Grade vs Northern District @ Mark Taylor Oval – Saturday/Sunday
Grand final spots on the line. Up the Tahs!
