Men’s 1st Grade:
M1s remained in two day mode with a Saturday/Sunday fixture, hosting Gordon at Manly Oval. The Stags won the toss & chose to bat on a wicket which turned out to be a highway. Tom Kaye did what he does best, striking in the first over, before Gordon counter-attacked with a substantial partnership. Andrew Boulton broke the partnership, followed shortly after by Josh Seward with the big wicket of Crawford, Gordon 3/71. Another decent partnership was halted by a breakthrough to Bertie Foreman & run out to Ned Hole, to have the Stags 5/192. From that point on, it was a real grind for the bowlers as a flattening wicket & aggressive partnerships made it tough work for the Tahs. Irregular breakthroughs for the remainder of the day, as the Tahs’ bowlers fought valiantly. The remaining wickets shared amongst Foreman, Boulton & Ahillen Beadle. Gordon ending the day 9/449, which they would declare on overnight, setting up a mammoth task for the batting group.
Day 2 didn’t start as planned with an early wicket falling. 1/6 chasing 450 looked a big ask, but this Tahs’ side were up for the fight. The experience of Ahillen Beadle (158) & skipper Jay Lenton (58) taking the attack to the Gordon bowlers with a 133 run partnership in very quick time. Both batting with their usual class & beautiful timing. The dismissal of the skipper just prior to lunch didn’t stop the Tahs. Beadle & Joel Davies (123*) consolidating after lunch before building into their 148 run partnership. The former showing he has not lost any of his talent & endless class with a majestic 158 to set the platform, while Davies combined patience with power on his way to what was ultimately a match-winning unbeaten 123. When Beadle departed just before tea, the Tahs were 3/287 & needing another big partnership at a quick rate. Our resident Pom, Bertie Foreman, was again up for the task, posting 68 off 51 balls with a mix of craftiness & power. Combining with Davies for a 109 run partnership to bring the Tahs to within touching distance. Jacob O’Sullivan continued the momentum with a quickfire 28, as Davies brought up a phenomenal hundred at the other end. Before Davies (123*) & Ned Hole (6*) hot the finishing touches on arguably the most phenomenal run chase in Manly history, one which is sure to have shattered records. 5 wicket victory for the Tahs with a minimum 6 overs still remaining. Remarkable.
Men’s 2nd Grade:
Chatswood Oval hosted M2s as the Stags won the toss & elected to bat. A fast start from Gordon was halted by three wickets in quick succession to Michael Counsell to make it 3/34. The home side fought back strongly taking advantage of a good batting wicket with a 136 run partnership. With Gordon flying, Matt Sunshine bowled an economical spell, but it was Isaiah Vumbaca that really turned the momentum with 3 for 31 from 10 overs. Counsell taking his 4th & 5th at the death, Gordon posting a strong total of 8/265 from 50 overs. In reply, the Tahs struggled for ascendancy up top, with a couple of wickets falling relatively early. Lachie Coyte (106) was holding things together & combined with skipper Jordan Daly (23) to momentarily steady proceedings until the latter was dismissed at 3/87. Requiring an acceleration of the run rate, a few big sixes from Lachlan Barnsley (32) lifted the tempo as Coyte continued to anchor the chase, the pair combining for 71 runs. Coyte brought up a classy hundred after a wonderful innings, putting on a further 52 with Zach Trewartha, who was then the hero after Coyte’s dismissal. Trewartha with a match-winning 65* from 47 balls, the Tahs at one stage needing 60 off the last 8 overs. Some serious ball striking late from Trewartha & Vumbaca (15*) seeing the Tahs to a memorable 5 wicket win with 8 balls to spare.
Men’s 3rd Grade:
Sam Webber’s men were back home at Grahams on Saturday, the skipper winning the toss & electing to bat first. Despite an early wicket, Webber (16) & Jayden Kennedy (31) fought back positively with a 50 run partnership, the latter particularly taking the attack to the opposition. However, back-to-back-to-back wickets in quick succession had the Tahs 4/53 & in desperate need of someone to step up. Enter Evan Dunnachie. The great man combining his belligerent ball striking with patience & timing to dig the Tahs out of trouble, alongside club captain Ollie Melville (30) in a steadying 98 run partnership. Dunnachie later brought up a brilliant hundred, his first for the Tahs, which set the foundation for some lower order firepower. Josh Cooper (50*) showing his talent at the death with an unbeaten 45 ball half century, and some late hitting from Josh Lawson (11*) to propel the Tahs to 7/253 from 50 overs. In the field, a Melville run out & wicket to Will Skinner made for a strong start, before Gordon fought back with a considerable partnership. The Tahs however turned the screws again, two big wickets each to Josh Coyte & Julian Osbourne regaining the ascendancy. A couple more wickets, one apiece to Lawson & Kennedy had victory in sight, but the Stags would fight to the wire with a partnership that threatened to take the game away. Kennedy & Reuben Kapoor combining for a crucial run out, before Coyte claimed the final wicket to secure a 33 run Tahs win.
Men’s 4th Grade:
M4s made the trip to Killara Park to face Gordon, who won the toss & elected to bat first. After a steady start that made the Tahs’ bowlers toil early, James Waddington got things started with two quick wickets to shift the momentum, which the Tahs maintained from that point onwards with a clinical bowling effort across the board. Any glimpse of a fight back from the home side was immediately shut down by disciplined spells from all bowlers, backed up by some terrific fielding. Wickets from then on shared between George Cumming, Ryan Bishop-Perrett, Kai Croft, & skipper Adam Parkinson, before the ‘golden arm’ Jake Hutchings entered the attack & claimed 3 of the final 4 wickets with his usual consistency. Gordon all out for 86 in the 34th over, a brilliant effort from Parkinson’s bowling group. With knowledge that the small chases can sometimes prove the most difficult, Dom Wheeler (26*) & Axel Karlsson-Lacy (55*) calmly went about navigating the chase. The former showing his experience with a patient knock while the latter demonstrated his exuberance & talent with a run-a-ball half century, as both led the Tahs to a bonus point 10 wicket victory inside 18 overs.
Men’s 5th Grade:
Back at Mike Pawley Oval were M5s, as Tahs’ skipper Simon Waddington won the toss & elected to bowl first. As has been the case so far this season, the Tahs’ bowlers were up for the task with a well-rounded bowling effort across the board. Despite a positive start from Gordon, Zac Buchanan picked up the opening breakthrough, before last week’s centurion Bill Martin again showed his all-round skills with two wickets in quick succession, Gordon 3/28 after being 0/20. The Tahs continued the charge with a run out to Keelan Mendel & two jaffers from Jordy Brewster, before Gordon momentarily halted the momentum with a steadying partnership. But that’s when the craft & guile of spinners Adam Searle & skipper Waddington came to the fore, the latter picking up 3 for 6 from his 4 overs, as the pair combined for the final 4 wickets between them. Manly chasing 123 to win. Toby Seward began positively in the chase with some nice boundaries, before Jack Donnan (28) & Mendel (51) continued the momentum with a free-flowing 50 run partnership. Mendel particularly dominant compiling an excellent half century at better than a run-a-ball. With the bonus point in sight, Lukas Overhoff (26*) closed out the game, including a big six for the winning runs, the Tahs winning by 7 wickets in the 20th over (+BP).
Women’s 1st Grade:
At the recently renovated Waitara Oval, W1s took on Northern District. The home side won the toss & sent the Tahs out to field first. But Chelsea McLerie was on song early, taking three big wickets up front bowling great lines & lengths. Darcey Whiteley chimed in with another breakthrough to have the NDs 4/29, before they fought back with a couple of moderate partnerships. But the Tahs’ bowlers remained disciplined (aside from a few too many extras) with Megan Sturge & Kristie Crawford taking important wickets before McLerie picked up her fourth scalp of the day, NDs 7/99. Spinners Saskia Horley & Eliza Henry closing the innings out strongly, the former taking two quick wickets before the latter dismissed NDs set batter for the final wicket, home side all out for 121. In reply, Horley (63*) & Ella McCaughan (50*) were determined to settle any nerves & get the chase off to a positive start. And they did just that, and more. The pair showed great intent against a formidable NDs opening attack, before continuing the momentum combining regular boundaries with smart running between the wickets to compile a match-winning unbeaten 124 run partnership. Both posting classy half centuries as the Tahs secured a brilliant 10 wicket win, with a double bonus point.
Women’s 2nd Grade:
Looking to continue their winning momentum, W2s hosted St George-Sutherland at Grahams Reserve. Skipper Gabby Dunnage finally won the toss on her 7th attempt this season, electing to bat first. The two Charlotte’s, Croll & Camburn (25) started patiently with a 30 run partnership to get the innings off to a steady start, before the Tahs stumbled as regular wickets fell to make it 4/53. In need of a partnership to steady the ship, Annabelle Croll (47) & Arabella Handley (56*) proved the perfect support for one another, both batting with great composure to see the Tahs out of trouble & build what was a match-defining 94 run partnership. Handley anchoring the Tahs’ innings & showing her talent with an unbeaten half century, well supported in late partnerships with Mia Nel, Brooke Frew & Lara Hughes. Leading the Tahs to a strong total of 7/205 from 50 overs. An early run out from Kaya Punter kickstarted the bowling innings, before the opposition consolidated momentarily. But the Tahs’ bowlers were disciplined & didn’t give anything away easily. Hughes with the second breakthrough, before combining with fellow spinner Sallie Molyneux in an excellent bowling partnership. The former with 2 for 18 from 10, while the latter was the star with 4 for 29 from 10, as the two led the way superbly for the Tahs. A run out to Erica Sharma & two late wickets to Nel securing a double bonus point victory for Manly, with St George-Sutherland bowled out for 78.
Women’s 3rd Grade:
After a tough start to the season, W3s were determined to get bounce back & build some winning momentum. Back at Fortress Balgowlah Oval on Saturday, skipper Sienna James won the toss & elected to bat in a T20 against Parramatta. The decision was justified early on, as James (30*) & club captain Emily Hatfield combined for a positive 33 run opening partnership to set a strong foundation for the Tahs’ innings. James particularly dominant with an excellent unbeaten 30 before the mandatory retirement. Renee Hough (28) continued the Tahs’ early momentum with some consistent boundary hitting to post 28 off 17 balls in a great cameo. Late contributions from Hannah McPhail, Sophie Beukers & the middle order seeing the Tahs post a competitive 5/98 from 20 overs. Against a strong Parramatta side, the bowling would need to be spot on, and the Tahs were up for the task. After an early breakthrough to Daisy Addison, Parramatta fought back with a few top order contributions & a 45 run 2nd wicket partnership. But the Tahs’ bowlers held their nerve with some excellent partnership bowling & regular wickets. McPhail breaking the dangerous partnership before taking another soon after. Addison picking up her second wicket, before Sophia Randall really turned the game in the Tahs’ favour with a match-winning spell. Taking 3 for 1 from 2 excellent overs of leg spin. An important wicket as well in amongst to Cam Pryor, as the Tahs took control & ultimately secured a 19 run victory to kick-start the season.
Brewer Shield:
On the road to Beauchamp Oval to face Gordon, Brewers were looking to continue their great form of late. After losing the toss, the Tahs were asked to field first, but as has become custom this season, the bowling unit were on song from the get go. Lily Crabbe with an early breakthrough, before Gordon consolidated with a couple of moderate partnerships, broken first by Matilda Brown & then Eve Burke. From there, the Tahs’ bowlers were pretty clinical & backed up by some excellent fielding. The remaining wickets shared amongst Sonia Punter, Holly Searles, Crabbe & Annabel Kyme. Not to mention Abigail Bland’s 2 overs which yielded 2 for 1 & a brilliant direct hit run out to Kyme. Gordon bowled out for 107. The chase started cautiously yet positively as Kyme & Keira Terrey (16) navigated the new ball spell with a 26 run opening partnership. Willa Pearson (22) continued to show her potential with a counter-attacking innings, to go with a couple of contributions from the middle order. But unfortunately when Pearson was dismissed courtesy of an unbelievable boundary catch, the Tahs lost momentum quickly as wickets tumbled & struggled to recover. Ultimately bowled out for 81 in reply. A disappointing result but the Brewers girls will bounce back.
Upcoming:
Onwards to this weekend, where all Men’s grades play one-day fixtures against St George, always tough contests. M1s, M3s & M5s at home. PGs return to Manly Oval on Sunday afternoon, hosting Easts in a T20. Meanwhile, W1s have a bye, while W2s & Brewers are both away in one-day fixtures against Parramatta & Sydney respectively. W3s continue in T20 mode on Saturday, away to Sydney.
Until then, up the Tahs.
