M1s: Mosman resumed 7/257 on Day 2 at Manly Oval, & the Tahs’ hopes of wrapping up the visitors’ innings quickly seemed on track with Ryan Hadley striking twice early in the day. Dismissing the centurion Moran before collecting another to make the score 9/277. Unfortunately, Mosman’s 10 & 11 provided frustrating resistance with an aggressive partnership to move beyond 350 as the Tahs’ bowlers toiled for the final wicket. Mosman declaring 9/361. An early wicket in reply was consolidated by Lachlan Coyte & skipper Jay Lenton (115), the latter building into a nice rhythm on his way to a record-breaking 16th hundred for the club. Combining with Joel Davies (58) in a 112 run partnership as the Tahs took the attack to the Mosman bowlers after tea to make it clear that the win was still the main intention. Just as momentum built, both set batters were dismissed & the ascendancy shifted, followed by a few regular wickets to shift the Tahs’ plans to survival. 9/265 with Tom Kaye (17*) & Josh Seward (7*) tasked with seeing off the last 8 overs for a draw. And they did so with great composure under pressure to prevent defeat.
M2s: Declaring on our overnight score of 5/401, the Tahs’ attack knew they’d have to be on song on a flat Allan Border Oval wicket. The new ball was going to be key, Michael Counsell & Matt Sunshine stepping up with a classy spell up top. Counsell dismissing the opener in the first over, before Sunshine took two in two balls courtesy of a good catch from Zach Trewartha at 2nd slip, followed by a caught & bowled. Mosman consolidated briefly with some attacking batting, but two more to Counsell just prior to drinks halted their counter-attack. Sharp catch to Lachie Trewartha at gully before Counsell dismissed the Mosman skipper three balls later, caught behind by Brynn Mendel. Post drinks Mosman provided some resistance as their #5 led the way, but this was the cue for Roop Dhillon to enter the game & turn things around. His first two wickets breaking threatening partnerships of 61 & 70, including dismissing Mosman’s #5 on 99. Roop then cleaned up the final three wickets to finish with 5/56 from 15 overs, with skipper Jordan Daly taking three catches at short cover in the last five wickets. Mosman bowled out for 237 as the Tahs secured an excellent first innings victory.
M3s: After a solid team batting effort last week, skipper Sam Webber declared on the team’s overnight score of 9/304, leaving the full 80 overs to take 10 wickets. Mosman began positively before a classic Julian Osbourne slower ball brought about the opening breakthrough with a smart diving catch from Ollie Melville at short cover. This was a theme throughout the day with the Tahs’ bowlers toiled superbly and took wickets just as partnerships began to threaten. Will Skinner dismissing two of Mosman’s top five, but the game was well in the balance with Mosman 4/131 at tea & the Tahs needing 6 wickets in the final session on a flattening wicket. Enter Josh Cooper, who bowled with his typical craftiness across 17.2 overs of classy off-spin, to take a match-winning 6/64, including multiple important wickets of set batters. Josh Coyte also with a handy wicket late, before Coops took the last to secure victory, Mosman all out for 216 in the 68th over of the day.
M4s returned to Rawson Oval with 244 the target for the Tahs & the full 80 overs to bat, so hopes were high on a good deck for batting. Far from ideal start with a wicket falling in the first over of the day, followed shortly after by another to have the Tahs in some early strife at 2/13. This brought Liam Dinan (93) to the crease to combine with Axel Karlsson-Lacy (92) for what was ultimately a match-defining 171 run partnership, as the two initially went about patiently rebuilding after the shaky start before each building their own formidable innings’ to set the foundation for the run chase. The new kid on the block Lacy continuing his red hot start to the season with a classy 92 while Dinan was patient & composed in his knock of 93. Both falling agonising short of centuries, followed by a middle order wobble as the remaining overs lessened & slight pressure built. Luke Watts (29*) remaining calm under pressure as wickets fell around him, compiling an unbeaten 29 to guide the team home with an over left on Day 2, with late support from skipper Adam Parkinson (8*) as the Tahs won by three wickets.
M5s: Jack Donnan & Bill Martin resumed for the Tahs at 2/59 in reply to Mosman’s 96, with the intent of efficiently cutting the deficit & building a substantial lead. Both started positively, Donnan moving to 38 before being dismissed while Martin compiled a counter-attacking knock of 43 to lead the Tahs past Mosman’s first innings total for the loss of three wickets. In search of a solid lead in quick time, Jordan Brewster (54*) led the charge for the Tahs’ middle order, constructing an unbeaten half century with a combination of smart batting & brutal boundary hitting. A few small cameos late propelling the Tahs to 8/194 when skipper Simon Waddington declared, the lead 98. The quest for an outright started superbly as Will Matheson tore through Mosman’s top order with three early wickets, followed not long after by two to last week’s hat-trick hero Zac Buchanan, Mosman 5/32. However, as the Mike Pawley Oval wicket flattened out in the afternoon sun, Mosman’s middle order proved tough to dislodge with a stubborn 79 run partnership. An LBW late to Donnan not enough as time was running out, Mosman 6/122 in their second innings, and the Tahs settling for first innings points.
W1s hosted a T20 double header on Sunday at Manly Oval with the morning fixture against Gordon, who won the toss & elected to bat. The visitors began their innings strongly, however, tight bowling from the Tahs meant the score never really got out of hand. A build up of pressure lead to a run out from Alana Horsfall, while Chelsea McLerie later picked up the second wicket after a disciplined spell. Economical bowling throughout the whole innings was key, supported by some good efforts in the field, to restrict Gordon to 2/107 from their 20 overs. Ella McCaughan & Saskia Horley (67*) started positively in reply with a 40 run opening partnership, the latter in particular taking the attack to the opposition bowlers. Skipper Lauren Kua (18*) continued the support for Horley, who compiled a superb 67* off 41 balls in a top class innings, to lead the Tahs to a 9 wicket victory from 14 overs.
The afternoon fixture at Manly Oval saw W1s host Northern District, with the Tahs again in the field first after losing the toss. Mia Waddington struck in the opening over to give the Tahs the perfect start, before NDs consolidated with a couple of moderate 20-30 run partnerships, separated by a Horley caught & bowled. The third wicket was the real turning point, another sharp caught & bowled, this time to 1st Grade debutant Lara Hughes, sparking the Tahs into action & the catalyst for a collapse of 7/22. Another wicket each to Horley & Hughes, two to McLerie, a couple of run outs & some excellent work behind the stumps from Katie Letcher, all in the last 10 overs. Superb disciplined, economical bowling from all, not just the wicket-takers, restricting NDs to 9/73 from 20 overs. Unfortunately though, the efforts from the bowling innings couldn’t be replicated with the batting, on a deteriorating wicket & against some quality NDs bowling. The Tahs struggled to gain any momentum in the batting innings, small glimpses of resistance from Horley, McLerie & Crawford not enough to see the Tahs over the line. Bowled out for 64 after a disappointing afternoon with the bat.
Tunks Park was the venue for W2s facing off with North Sydney, the home side winning the toss & sending the Tahs into bat first. A far from ideal start followed, with both openers dismissed early on, before skipper Gabby Dunnage (16) and wicket-keeper Annabelle Croll (38) steadied the ship momentarily. Croll anchored the Tahs innings for the most part with a gutsy 38, supported in small partnerships with Steph Hughes & Arabella Handley. Another stumble mid innings halted any momentum, but the Tahs were able to restore some respectability to the total with late runs to Brooke Frew (17*), Kaya Punter (13) & Laura Judson (13*) which pushed the total just beyond 150 when the final wicket fell, Tahs all out 151. Despite an economical start with the ball from Handley & Erica Sharma, North Sydney looked in control of the run chase at 1/67, the only wicket so far courtesy of a run out. But Sallie Molyneux turned the game on its head with an excellent 10 over spell of 3/33, followed shortly after by two key wickets to Sienna James, including that of the dangerous opener for 48, Norths 6/108. The home side however steadied with a match-defining partnership, a late wicket to Kaya Punter unfortunately not enough to get the Tahs over the line, Norths passing the total 7 down in the 44th over.
Brewers made the trip away to Grahame Thomas Oval to face Bankstown, with stand-in Tahs skipper Saoirse Ford winning the toss & electing to bowl. And her decision was justified by an early breakthrough from Charlotte Allen & some superb swing bowling from Lily Crabbe, the latter of whom took 3/6 from 4 overs in an excellent opening spell. A wicket to Annabel Kyme saw Bankstown 5/39, before a couple of small partnerships slightly halted the Tahs’ momentum. However, the effort & discipline with the ball & in the field didn’t waver, highlighted by some outstanding catches in the field from Ford, Keira Terrey & Sonia Punter. The final five wickets shared between Punter, Abigail Bland & Eve Burke, to go with two run outs, including a brilliant direct hit from Allen. Bankstown all out 100. Task was only half done though, and Bankstown’s bowlers were fired up with two early wickets, but Willa Pearson (61*) on Brewers debut stepped up with a match-winning 61no from 104 balls under pressure. Combining with Eve Burke (12) in a crucial 63 run partnership to settle the nerves & have the Tahs well in control of the chase. A few wickets in quick succession weren’t enough for the home side as a handy contribution late from Grace Pike provided good support for Pearson to guide the Tahs to a four wicket victory in the 33rd over.
W3s unfortunately didn’t get the opportunity to play, however, got maximum points for the opposition forfeit.
This week sees M1s remain in two-day mode with a Saturday/Sunday fixture away against Eastern Suburbs. Grades 2-5 also face Easts, however in one-day fixtures, with M2s, M4s & M5s hosting.
All Women’s grades have one-day matches, W1s & W3s away to Bankstown & Gordon respectively, while W2s & Brewers host Penrith & Northern District respectively.
Go Manly.
