It was an even weekend for the Tahs with the Men commencing two-day fixtures against Parramatta, while the Women went 3 from 4 to maintain their club championship lead. M1s also took on Mosman on Sunday in the quarter finals of the limited overs competition.
Saturday 10th February:
3 vs 4 in the Belvidere Cup as M1s faced Parramatta in Day 1 at Manly Oval. Sent into bat first, the loss of two early wickets was resurrected by a 61 run partnership between Ahillen Beadle (60) and skipper Jay Lenton (38), as both patiently rebuilt the Tahs’ innings. Beadle brought up a gritty half century, combining with Ned Hole (37) for a further 67 runs, before an entertaining cameo from Brynn Mendel (29) had the Tahs with the ascendancy. Unfortunately, a late flurry of wickets resulted in 199 all out, before two big breakthroughs to Tom Kaye early to keep the Tahs in the game, Parramatta 2/30 at stumps.
M2s made the trip to Old Kings Oval, Ben Bryant taking the reins as skipper in place of the injured Andrew Jamieson, with the Tahs asked to bowl first. What a show it was to follow, with the great Matt Sunshine ripping the heart out of the Parramatta top order with 7/26 from 14.5 high class overs, challenging both edges of the bat with relentless pace and accuracy. Jacob O’Sullivan, alongside 2nd Grade debutants Josh Lawson and Josh Coyte, chipping in with a wicket apiece, Parramatta all out 111. With 36 overs remaining, Roop Dhillon (24*) and Ben Bryant (25*) consolidated after an early wicket, to have the Tahs in a dominant position, 1/59 at stumps.
Lachlan Charles stepped up to lead M3s this week, winning the toss and electing to bat at Grahams. Strong starts from the skipper himself (33), Ollie Melville (21) and Josh Cooper (31) building a solid platform for the Tahs in the opening session up until tea, as they navigated some disciplined bowling and a slow outfield. Two wickets in quick succession post the interval halted momentum, but the in-form Ellis Raymond (39) and Evan Dunnachie (34) fought back with a counter-attacking 57 run partnership, before a lower-order collapse saw the Tahs all out for 188, leaving the game in the balance heading into Day 2 next week.
Merrylands Oval hosted M4s as retired greats Matt Cranney and Andrew Rochford joined the XI alongside 4th Grade debutant Julian Osbourne. Parramatta won the toss and batted, and were off to a flying start against the new ball, before Osbourne struck with three big wickets in quick succession to shift the momentum. A further three wickets and a run out to the returning Rochford had Parramatta 7/99, but the home side battled away to make the Tahs work for the final few wickets. Keelan Mendel and George Cumming wrapping up the innings, Parramatta all out 174. With 9 overs to bat, an early wicket left Nick Rigg and night-watchman Cumming to get to stumps, Tahs 1/11.
M5s fielded a new look line-up this week due to player unavailability, with Parramatta off to a strong start batting first at Mike Pawley Oval, before Jordan Brewster picked up the first. This led to a steady flurry of wickets, two apiece to Jack Donnan and Chris Halloran, Parramatta 5/94. After tea, Shivani Mehta picked up two quick wickets, before debutant Noah Vumbaca collected the 8th courtesy of a catch from fellow volunteer Will Gustafson. Brewster with his second soon after, but the visitors put up a fight with a 70 run last wicket-stand until the final wicket from Simon Waddington, Parramatta all out 202. Skipper Waddington and Donnan safely navigated the remaining four overs, Tahs 0/13 in reply.
The high-flying W3s were at Fortress Balgowlah once again, skipper Sallie Molyneux winning the toss and batting, justified by superb efforts across the board. Club captain Emily Hatfield with an excellent maiden 50* for Manly, backed up by entertaining innings from Natalie Jonkers (49) and Mia Waddington (43), before Sienna James (51*) continued the momentum alongside Didi Prins (16), as the Tahs posted an incredible 4/247 from 40. With the ball, it was a great team effort with wickets shared, two apiece to Waddington and James, and one each to Molyneux, Hatfield and Cam Pryor, to go with economical spells from Sophia Chick, Olivia Champion and Sophia Randall. Sydney University restricted to 9/44, a massive bonus point win for the Tahs.
Sunday 11th February:
The quarter-final stage of the limited-overs cup saw M1s face Mosman on Sunday at Manly Oval. Bowling first after losing the toss, two early breakthroughs to Ryan Hadley had the Tahs on the front foot, before Tom Kaye picked up the big wicket of Forrest. Tight bowling through the middle overs from all bowlers, backed up by further wickets to Bertie Foreman, Joel Davies and Hadley, continued the momentum, before the Mosman pair of Eales and Nisbet fought back with some incredible ball striking, as the visitors posted 7/200. The Tahs were in strife early at 2/7, before the Davies brothers Ollie (38) and Joel (53) consolidated. Joel held the innings together through the middle with a classy half century, before Matt Brewster (52*) saw the Tahs home with a match-winning innings under pressure, supported by contributions from Foreman (18) and Kaye (11*), Tahs winning by three wickets with four overs to spare.
W1s moved into 2nd spot on the ladder with a bonus point victory over Gordon at Killara Park. Sent into bat first, skipper Saskia Horley set the foundation for the Tahs’ innings with a captain’s knock of 81 from 117 balls, superbly supported in partnerships of 100 with Lauren Kua (40) and 65 with Georgia Adams (27) respectively. Late cameos from Eliza Henry (28*) and Hannah Moss (10*) pushing the Tahs’ total to 6/232 from 50. Chelsea McLerie struck early along with a run out from Henry, before a sharp caught and bowled from Moss and a wicket to Horley had the Tahs right on top. Gordon rebuilt, but the Tahs didn’t let up, regular wickets between Moss, Adams, McLerie and Ebony Hoskin seeing Gordon all out for 113 in the 45th over.
W2s were at Grahams, the Tahs asked to bowl first, Molly Kidd and Annabel Hutt getting the innings rolling with a wicket apiece early, but the visitors fought back with a couple of strong partnerships despite a second wicket to Kidd in between. Elizabeth Cambridge dismissed the set batter at 4/129, followed by a steady flow of wickets amongst Erica Sharma (2) and Mia Nel (1), Gordon restricted to 7/177. After the loss of an early wicket, Cambridge (90) and Isabella Zovi (27) steadied the ship, the former particularly counter-attacking and leading the Tahs into the ascendancy at 1/120. Unfortunately, a rapid collapse flipped the game on its head, late efforts from Emily Horstead and Kidd not enough as the Tahs were bowled out 6 runs shy of victory.
Brewers bounced back into form with a strong win over Campbelltown at Mike Pawley Oval. Batting first after losing the toss, the Tahs were in trouble early at 4/50 despite a fighting innings from Daisy Addison (18). A gutsy half century from Annabelle Croll (54) was well supported by Darcey Whiteley (36) who continued her strong form with the bat, as the two combined for a match-winning 112 run partnership to lead the Tahs to a competitive 9/189. Campbelltown were off to a positive start in the run chase at 0/63, however, economical bowling from the Tahs was the catalyst for a big collapse to follow. Kaya Punter with the first breakthrough, before wickets were spread evenly amongst two apiece to Punter, Whiteley, Brooke Frew and Annabel Kyme, and one to Eve Burke, as the visitors were bowled out for 119.
Huge weekend coming up as the Men resume fixtures with Parramatta on Day 2, with most grades in the balance. M1s are also in action on Sunday, hosting the one-day semi final against Northern District. W1s host the National Breast Cancer Foundation Fundraiser, taking on St George-Sutherland. Meanwhile, W2s, Brewers and W3s face off with Bankstown (away), Sydney University (home) and Gordon (away) respectively. What is sure to be a crucial series of fixtures in the race to finals, bring it on!
Up the Tahs!
