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.
Saturday fixtures
Men’s 1st Grade:
At Shore’s grounds in Northbridge, skipper Foster won the toss & elected to bat, however, a couple of early wickets had the Tahs under pressure. Beadle (60) & Stobo (40) rebuilt with a strong partnership worth 79 as both looked set for big scores. A middle order wobble was steadied by Boulton (25) & Joseph (30), but the Tahs ultimately struggled to regather momentum in the back half of the innings, scraping to 9/201. Evans started superbly with the ball picking up a bit early wicket, as Stobo settled into an economical spell culminating in the 2nd breakthrough. The Tahs on top as wickets fell at regular intervals, 2 to Dhillon & 1 to Hole having Gordon 5/93. As the sun baked down, the wicket flattened out & Gordon capitalised with some strong middle order partnerships, further wickets late to Dhillon & Hole not enough as the home side clawed to a 3 wicket win in the 45th over.
Men’s 2nd Grade:
Tahs skipper Trewartha won the toss & elected to bat at Manly Oval, as Croft (38) made a positive start to the innings. But it was Daly (40) & O’Sullivan (59) that formed the backbone of the innings with a 90 run stand that propelled the Tahs into a strong position at 2/151. However, a middle order wobble halted the momentum considerably as wickets fell regularly through the latter overs, Vumbaca (37) playing a crucial knock to stem the flow momentarily. A late cameo too from Cooper (12no) pushing the Tahs total to 231 when the 10th wicket fell in the final over. With the ball, Dunnachie was on fire early with a superb new ball spell that yielded 3fa, before Gordon fought back strongly to move from 3/14 to 3/99. Further wickets to M.Kapoor, Trewartha & Dunnachie breaking the game open again, before Gordon’s lower order fought hard late to take the game deep. Kapoor & Dunnachie with 4fa each as the Tahs recorded a 14 run win.
Men’s 3rd Grade:
On the back of 3 wins on the bounce, M3s skipper Webber won the toss & chose to bat first at Beauchamp Oval. Karlsson-Lacy (31) building a solid platform for the Tahs with a patient opening partnership, but a few wickets had the game in the balance at 3/50. S.Hole (32) & McDowell (31) wrestled back momentum with a 50+ run stand to have the Tahs in a decent position at 3/106, as the former anchored while the latter counter-attacked. Unfortunately, despite small starts then from Dinan, Webber & Kerr, the middle & lower order lost their way in the back half of the innings to be all out for 153. Needing to bowl well, Wigney started superbly in a brilliant opening spell of 10 overs straight bringing about 3 important wickets. The Tahs just kept nagging away as Kerr, Webber, Dinan & Cumming struck just at the right times to have the run chase on a knife’s edge at 7/124. Gordon’s lower order however responded well with a match winning 8th wicket partnership, clinching the game by three wickets.
Men’s 4th Grade:
The Tahs were sent into bat first at Grahams after losing the toss, and were off to the worst possible start as a wicket fell on the opening ball of the innings. But Donnan (55) & Mendel (34) consolidated strongly with an excellent partnership to seize control as the former continued his good form & the latter made a positive start. As was a trend across the weekend, the middle order stumbled as Gordon’s bowlers built some scoreboard pressure. Until crucial contributions from skipper Parkinson (32), & then Dunlop (32no) late in the innings propelled the Tahs to a competitive 9/200. Gordon began the run chase positively with a decent opening partnership, but Jenkins turned the game with a run out from the boundary, before he & Kershler took control with the ball, taking 2fa & 3fa respectively. Wickets also to Seward & Bishop Perrett, but Gordon’s tail wagged with a defiant 8th wicket partnership seeing them to victory by two wickets in the final over.
Men’s 5th Grade:
M5s were at Killara Park, as skipper Waddington won the toss & batted. A couple of early wickets had the Tahs on the back foot but that was quickly rectified as Nasser (31) & Overhoff (55) put the pressure back on Gordon as the two counter attacked their way out of trouble. The latter compiling an excellent half century at better than a run a ball. A few wickets through the middle slowed momentum, but contributions from W.Matheson (20) & Waddington (23) helped keep Gordon at bay, before J.Brewster (45) played a superb role late in the innings to propel the Tahs to 250 all out. Gordon again began the run chase strongly to be 38 without loss, before a run out to Martin & wicket to Counsell made it 2/47. The 3rd wicket partnership then threatened to take the game away as Gordon put on 77 before the next breakthrough to Kelley. That’s where the momentum shifted, as Nasser turned the game on its head with his crafty medium pacers to take 5fa, run outs in between to Pike & Brewster. Nasser with the final wicket for his 5th, and a 53 run Tahs win.
Sunday fixtures
Brewer Shield:
The first of the Manly Oval double header fixtures saw Brewers skipper Addison win the toss & elect to bowl. Brown’s pace & accuracy too much for Penrith’s opener for the first breakthrough, before a mini partnership. The Tahs kept things in check through the middle overs as S.Punter & Pallister picked up important wickets in economical spells, but it was the death bowling from Brown & T.Ford that really gave the Tahs the momentum. Both ending with 2fa & restricting Penrith to 6/88 from 20. An aggressive start to the chase had the Tahs on the front foot as Brown (45) continued her sensational form to be the anchor of the run chase. Nerves crept in as middle order wickets tumbled, but Brown remained composed, finding a valuable ally in Davies (17) who hit a few crucial boundaries. Punter & Bland ultimately seeing the Tahs to a 4 wicket victory in the final over.
Women’s 2nd Grade:
On a very worn Manly Oval wicket, Tahs skipper Cambridge won the toss & elected to bat. The top order of Cambridge, Burke & K.Punter all made positive mini starts against the newer ball, but as the innings progressed, it became increasingly difficult to score on the deteriorating wicket that offered very unpredictable spin & bounce. S.Hughes (17no) playing the anchor role in tricky circumstances, while seemingly small but valuable middle to lower order contributions from Addison & Allen did their best to lift the Tahs total. Selfless lower order batting seeing the Tahs post 8/78. With the ball, the Tahs started well with a wicket to Allen in the first over, but Penrith fought back with a couple of strong partnerships. Wickets to L.Hughes & Punter as the Tahs fought hard, but ultimately it wasn’t enough as Penrith passed the total 3 down in 13 overs.
Poidevin Gray Shield:
It was all to play for at Allan Border Oval with a win needed to secure a finals spot. Tahs skipper Boulton winning the toss & electing to bat. After an early wicket, Karlsson Lacy (20) & Joseph (55) built a nice partnership worth 56 to set a solid platform for the Tahs. R.Kapoor (30) also made a strong start to his innings rotating the strike with ease, but the Tahs unfortunately lost their way through the middle as a result of some poor batting & disciplined bowling. All out for 147 in the 40th. Job to do with the ball, but Mosman were off to a flyer in the chase & all looked out of reach. Until debutant Walker struck twice in an over & once more not long after, while Dhillon also broke through, to give the Tahs a sniff. But we just didn’t have enough runs, a late wicket to Cooper only a consolation as Mosman won by five wickets. Other results going against the Tahs seeing them miss out on finals.
Upcoming fixtures
That brings to an end the first half of the season as we head into the Christmas break. Merry Christmas everyone, take care, and we’ll be back in the New Year as the Tahs look to build on a decent start to the season in many grades. Up the Tahs!
