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Men’s 1st Grade:
Blacktown continued batting on the morning of Day 2, as the Tahs bounced back superbly after a long day in the dirt last week. The final five wickets were taken with only 23 runs added, as Dhillon finished with 4fa while Vumbaca chimed in with 3 of his own. 365 would be a mammoth chase, but the Tahs were up for the challenge early as Brewster (49) & Trewartha (38) took the attack back to Blacktown against the new ball, combining for an entertaining 81 run opening stand. Things looked positive, but a series of wickets fell at crucial intervals, halting the Tahs’ momentum. Kapoor (19), Boulton (17) & Lenton (24) all making positive starts, but the Tahs couldn’t really maintain the ascendancy to be 5/163. That’s where the decision was made to look for the draw, as Searle (60no) showed tremendous determination in an unbeaten 173 ball stay, well supported by Vumbaca (28), and later Dhillon (24no), as the Tahs finished the day 6/275, the match ending in a draw.
Men’s 2nd Grade:
With the game well in the balance, Blacktown resumed 4/105 in reply to the Tahs’ 217. The morning of Day 2 saw a tremendous bowling effort from the Tahs, as Toohey set the tone immediately with 2fa early in the day, before all bowlers chipped in. Kaye with 2 of his own in quick succession, before Lawson & Pryke picked up another one each to see the Tahs take first innings points, with Blacktown all out for 135. The Tahs would bat again, as an early wicket was immediately countered by a strong partnership between Karlsson-Lacy (48) & Croft (48), both of whom batted with great intent before falling just short of half centuries. A late little flurry of wickets, but the Tahs made it to tea where the captains shook hands. Manly first innings victors.
Men’s 3rd Grade:
With 292 on the board, the Tahs started well with the new ball as pressure built early from both ends resulting in a flurry of early wickets. Brewster with 2fa, while Skinner & Sunshine broke through once each to have Blacktown 4/23. A decent fightback from the visitors though as the wicket really flattened out, before the returning Raymond broke the set partnership. Skinner with another shortly after as the Tahs resorted to a short-ball plan, before Raymond struck again for his 2nd. Blacktown seemingly shut up shop early, until their No.10 came out swinging after Hole took the Tahs’ 8th. Blacktown’s #10 riding his luck in an aggressive innings as the Tahs were left to try all possible tactics to get a result. Cumming dismissed the danger man, but Blacktown managed to block out the remaining overs as the Tahs’ best efforts fell short of victory, Blacktown 9/253 & the match ending in a stalemate draw.
Men’s 4th Grade:
Day 2 washed out. Match drawn.
Men’s 5th Grade:
A new look 5th Grade side were back at home to host Blacktown, as the Tahs were asked to bowl first on what looked & proved to be a beautiful wicket for batting. But the Tahs started in disciplined fashion as L.Cruickshank & M.Moran combined for an excellent opening spell, limiting scoring opportunities & picking up a wicket each. Blacktown steadied momentarily before the experienced operator P.Lacy broke the partnership. The Tahs continued to take wickets at regular intervals, as H.Cruickshank broke through on the back of some tight bowling, before Gustafson dismissed another set batter with a return catch. Blacktown again rebuilt & regained some ascendancy, but a great middle overs spell from Moran was crucial in turning the tide. He finished with 3fa & Gustafson 2, as the Tahs did well to restrict Blacktown to all out for 213 on the penultimate ball of the innings. The run chase began superbly as McCombe (49) & Cole (91no) combined for an exceptional 105 run opening stand to break the back of the chase. Both batting with great intent & scoring beautifully down the ground. A few wickets tumbled, while B.Moran (20) made a positive start to his innings. But it was Cole’s day, with a match-winning unbeaten 91 at better than a run-a-ball, before Rulli (33no) finished the job with a flurry of boundaries. The Tahs 7 wicket victors in just the 33rd over.
Women’s 3rd Grade:
Saturday saw a change of home ground for the Tahs as our W3s side took on Sydney University at the picturesque Griffith Park in Long Reef. Tahs skipper S.James winning the toss & electing to bat first, as the skipper herself (53no) set the tone for the innings with a superb half century. An unbeaten 53 before the mandatory retirement, and well supported in handy partnerships with Hatfield, Pike & T.Ford. Meanwhile, Beukers (25) continued her strong form of late with another important contribution, before Sharma (19no) & Cameron (15no) closed out the innings well with clever batting to see the Tahs post a strong total of 4/178 from 40. Sydney Uni began steadily in reply, and while they never really got away, they weren’t making opportunities come easy. The Tahs bowlers forced to fight hard for wickets, as Pallister picked up the first at 37, before Ellis entered the attack & bowled a sensational spell picking up three wickets with a great exhibition of full & straight fast bowling. The skipper chimed in with a wicket of her own, as the Tahs really took control through the middle overs. Champion another who excelled with the ball, taking 3fa in a terrific spell late, before wickets to Sharma & a run out closed out the game. Sydney Uni all out for 122 & the Tahs victorious by 56 runs.
Women’s 1st Grade:
Plenty of big inclusions for the Tahs this week as W1s took on Sydney Uni away, as they won the toss & asked the Tahs to bat first. Irish international Hunter (40 off 28) again off to a flying start with some entertaining batting early on. The long awaited return of Darlington (43) from injury also provided a crucial contribution as the pair combined for a match defining 60 run partnership to put the Students under pressure. But to their credit, the home side fought back well towards the back end of the innings, as some late wickets saw the Tahs claw their way to 8/126 from 20. Sydney Uni began sprightly in reply before the returning Adams picked up the enormous wicket of Litchfield to get the ball rolling. The Students again seemed well in control of the chase with a threatening partnership to be 1/81, but the Tahs were keeping the run rate in check. That’s where the game shifted, as Darlington broke the dangerous partnership, before big breakthroughs to Brown & Hughes, and a couple of run outs, saw the game going right down to the wire. The Tahs executing superbly under pressure at the death, as L.Hughes & Adams bowled tidily picking up another wicket each to ultimately secure a 9 run victory for the Tahs.
Women’s 2nd Grade:
The afternoon fixture on the Hunter Coast at Thornton Oval saw Tahs skipper E.James win the toss & elect to field first. The home side made a strong start to their innings as the opening pair combined for 33, before Terrey broke through to open the door. But another threatening partnership from Greater Hunter saw them well in control at 1/78, but the Tahs wouldn’t back down from the fight. Nel breaking the big partnership, before the experience of Crawford came to the fore in a superb 4 over spell that yielded 4/14 to completely shift the momentum. The Tahs clawing their way back in the contest at the death, as wickets to Bhoir & a run out helped restrict Greater Hunter to a gettable 8/127. Guyot (17) & Terrey (14) made a positive start to the chase, before the Tahs hit a road block as Greater Hunter clamped on the scoreboard pressure with some tight overs. Crawford (24) & Burke (18) swung the momentum again with a couple of big overs, but the Tahs continued to lose wickets at crucial times & weren’t quite able to go on with it. Despite the best efforts late of the skipper & the lower order, the Tahs fell 22 runs short.
Brewer Shield:
Making the long trip up the highway to take on Greater Hunter at Thornton Oval, the Tahs won the toss & elected to bat, but were quickly met with a pretty clinical opposition performance. A wicket first ball of the innings, three in the powerplay & regular wickets at important intervals meant the Tahs could never real take much control of the fixture. Reardon & Martin provided some late resistance but ultimately Greater Hunter were too classy with the ball, as the Tahs were bowled out for 63. In reply, Greater Hunter took on the small chase with real aggression, passing the total for no loss inside 10 overs. Good opportunity for the Tahs to bounce back next week.
Upcoming fixtures:
Back to limited overs cricket this weekend for M2s-M5s as the Tahs take on Randwick-Petersham in one-day fixtures, M2s & M4s at home. M1s have a Sat/Sun fixture at Coogee. Meanwhile, W1s travel west for a T20 double header, W2s & Brewers host Sydney at Manly & Grahams respectively, and W3s are away against North Sydney.
Until next time, up the Tahs!
