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.
A contrasting weekend of weather as Saturday saw the Men jump ahead in the club champs race on a scorching day, while Sunday was full of rain affected results for the Women.
Saturday fixtures
Men’s 1st Grade:
Winning the toss at Bankstown Oval, the Tahs elected to bowl first after a few successful chases of late. Skipper Foster broke through early, while Boulton struck shortly after to have Bankstown 2 down, before the home side fought back with a dominant partnership ultimately worth 186. At 2/227, Bankstown were well on top as the Tahs toiled on a flattening wicket, but that’s where things shifted. A breakthrough to Evans the catalyst for a big collapse, Evans himself with 3fa, Dhillon, Boulton & Foster 2fa, and a run out. The Tahs taking 8/67 to have Bankstown all out for 294. With 5 overs remaining, Brewster took the attack back to the home side, hitting the first ball for six as he & Beadle saw the Tahs to stumps at 0/31. Unfortunately, no play was possible on Day 2 due to rain, the match ending in a draw.
Men’s 2nd Grade:
Back home at Manly Oval, Tahs skipper Trewartha won the toss & elected to bat in the final limited overs fixture of the season. The skipper (32) & Croft (47) making a superb start to the innings with a positive 58 run stand inside the powerplay. A few regular wickets halted momentum, but M.Kapoor (36) & Vumbaca (23) steadied the ship with a 54 run stand to get the Tahs back on track. Unfortunately, a lower order collapse saw the Tahs slump to all out 189, leaving work to do with the ball. Wigney struck relatively early but Bankstown looked in full control at 1/61, until Kerr broke through twice in quick succession to swing the game. The visitors fought back strongly though, and despite a second wicket to Wigney, it wasn’t enough Bankstown won by 6 wickets in the 42nd over.
Men’s 3rd Grade:
Making the trip west to Kelso Park, the Tahs were sent into bat first on a good cricket wicket. Melchiore (45) & Karlsson-Lacy (34) making a steady start to the innings on a very slow outfield as both helped build a terrific platform in a 77 run opening stand. The tempo lifted immediately when Coyte (52) arrived at the crease, going at a run a ball early including a few big sixes. The Tahs in a great position to launch at 3/157 off 40. A terrific contribution late from McDowell (36) & some great team batting helping the Tahs to a strong total of 8/221. With the ball, it was pretty much a clinic, spearheaded by big quick Walker who was just exceptional with 4/12 off 10 threatening overs. Dinan, Skinner & Cumming all chipping in with important wickets in an excellent all-round display, before Cooper picked up the last wicket to round out a bonus point Tahs win by 130 runs.
Men’s 4th Grade:
At Grahams, the Tahs were asked to field first after losing the toss, and were made to toil early at Bankstown’s openers began steadily. Mendel broke through for the first, but at 1/72, Bankstown looked set for a big total. But a barely believable run out was the catalyst for a big collapse, as Kershler picked up the 3rd, before skipper Parkinson went on the charge with 4fa in a superb spell. 2fa late to Seward & the final wicket to Sunshine seeing Bankstown all out for 144. The chase began strongly as Donnan (36) continued his excellent form with another positive start, alongside Akhurst (36) who played with his usual freedom in a 69 run opening partnership. A few wickets in quick succession had nerves building at 3/78, but the experience of Merchant (25no) & the youthful exuberance of Overhoff (33no) saw the Tahs over the line by 7 wickets with an unbeaten 68 run stand, securing a vital bonus point in the process.
Men’s 5th Grade:
M5s were also out west at Grahame Thomas, as Tahs skipper Waddington won the toss & elected to bowl. An early wicket to Graham was a positive start, and regular breakthroughs between Buchanan, Counsell, Kelley & Nasser had the Tahs in control of the game with Bankstown 5/103. However, a substantial 6th wicket partnership shifted the momentum back towards Bankstown, until wickets to Graham & H.Matheson had them 8/193. Handy lower order runs from the home side propelling them to 8/226. Gatehouse (18) & Martin (24) began positively in the run chase combining for 43 for the opening wicket. But the Tahs lost their way through the middle as wickets fell steadily. Nasser (75) was proving the key to the Tahs’ chances as he counter-attacked in a brutal 59 ball innings. Contributions from Kelley & Waddington but ultimately the game looked out of reach at 8/181. But big Counsell (19no) would see the Tahs home, with help from Graham & Buchanan, in a thrilling one wicket win with a couple of overs to spare.
Women’s 3rd Grade:
Out Drummoyne away, W3s took on Sydney with the home side winning the toss & asking the Tahs to field first. Sydney made an ultra positive start to their batting innings as one opener in particular proved threatening in a run-a-ball fifty. Two breakthroughs quickly to Ellis halted their momentum, but another substantial partnership consolidated their innings once more until a run out broke the dangerous partnership. From there, wickets were shared between Wright, Bursill, Ellis & Champion, while some stubborn lower order resistance from Sydney helped them to a strong 8/166 from 40. The Tahs were under pressure early in reply at 2/12, before Hatfield (24) & Hough (50no) steadied the ship with an important partnership, the latter compiling a very good half century to set the platform. A middle order wobble halted momentum, until Beukers (36) fought hard to give the Tahs a chance, but ultimately, scoreboard pressure built, the Tahs all out for 147 late in the chase.
Sunday fixtures
Women’s 1st Grade:
After a morning of persistent rain, W1s fixture at Manly Oval was reduced to 27 overs per side. The Tahs sent into bat first after losing the toss, and it’s fair to say it was pretty tough going for the batters as NDs bowlers gave very little scoring opportunities in a disciplined display, with only two batters reaching double figures as the Tahs scraped to 9/75. NDs top order making light work of the run chase despite a late run out, passing the total for the loss of one wicket.
Women’s 2nd Grade:
Mark Taylor Oval was the venue for W2s, the Tahs also forced to wait as the rain settled in throughout the morning. But when that cleared, cricket was possible as Tahs skipper Cambridge won the toss & elected to bowl in 21 over fixture. Allen started well with a wicket in the first over, before NDs counter attacked to be off to a flyer. An economical spell from Pallister shifted the momentum, contributing to important late wickets to Thornton, Searles, Cambridge & Allen. NDs posting a competitive 5/121, with the Tahs needing to bat well, and that they did. Led by S.Hughes (68no), who compiled a superb unbeaten innings off just 54 balls, batting with great intent yet minimal risk to lead the Tahs to victory. Valuable support from Wilson (16) & then team batting at the end resulting in a 6 wicket Tahs win with two overs to spare.
Brewer Shield:
Another rain affected morning down the road at Asquith as Brewers were reduced to 23 overs per side, the Tahs winning the toss & electing to bowl. After a decent start from NDs, the Tahs really turned the game on its head with a superb bowling effort in drizzly conditions. Jayakody with the first breakthrough, before Gillett dismissed the set bat at an important stage of the game. Wickets were then shared between S.Punter, Terrey & Jayakody as spin in particular proved effective, the Tahs restricting NDs to 7/69. After an early wicket in the chase, the form of Brown (25no) shone through again, alongside Jayakody (12no) as the two combined in an aggressive partnership amidst a few more short delays. At 1/48 off 8, the Tahs were in cruise control but unfortunately another rain delay meant time subsequently ran out, the match ultimately abandoned in a frustrating outcome.
Upcoming fixtures
The business end of the season nears as the Men take on Randwick-Petersham in two-day fixtures across the next two Saturdays, M1s, M3s & M5s at home. Meanwhile, W1s & W2s are up against Sydney in one-dayers away & home respectively. Brewers host Campbelltown-Camden, while W3s match up with Parramatta.
Until next week, up the Tahs!
