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:
Returning to red ball cricket back home at Manly Oval, skipper Foster won the toss & chose to bowl. Parramatta off to a strong start despite a probing opening spell from Hadley & Stobo. The first breakthrough came courtesy of Evans, before Dhillon struck thrice at regular intervals to give the Tahs the ascendancy at 4/100. However, as the wicket flattened & Parramatta’s middle order fought strongly, making the Tahs toil with a couple of big partnerships. Further wickets to Hadley, Dhillon & O.Davies falling but a long afternoon in the dirt for the Tahs as Parramatta reached 8/347 at close of play.
Men’s 2nd Grade:
Out west at Old Kings, Tahs skipper Trewartha won the toss & elected to bowl on a thatchy wicket, as Kaye struck first ball to mark the beginning of an almighty new ball masterclass in swing bowling. TK on the charge with 4 of the first 5 wickets, the other to Osbourne having Parramatta 5/18. A brief partnership broken right on lunch by Searle, before Kaye returned after lunch to pick up his 5th & 6th. Wickets late to Lawson & Osbourne seeing Parra all out for 83 to cap off a Tahs bowling clinic. In reply, Croft (62) & the skipper (44) took the attack straight to Parramatta’s bowling on a seaming wicket, combining for 107 to see the Tahs to first innings points in good time. Contributions from Daly, O’Sullivan & the Kapoor brothers pushing the Tahs’ lead to 125 at stumps.
Men’s 3rd Grade:
On an old-fashioned flat Grahams wicket, the Tahs were asked to field first after losing the toss. A disciplined start without much reward before Kerr made the first breakthrough just prior to drinks. Spin then worked a treat as Cooper struck twice in quick succession to have Parra 3/51 before a counter attacking partnership into the tea break shifted the momentum back their way. Wickets from there proved increasingly hard to come by on a very docile wicket, Kerr, Cumming & Cooper each with further breakthroughs but at irregular intervals. Parramatta’s skipper compiling a strong unbeaten hundred but the Tahs toiled superbly all day to see the visitors 6/242 from 80 when stumps were called.
Men’s 4th Grade:
The Tahs trekked west to Merrylands and were in the field first after losing the toss. Jenkins off to a superb start with 2fa early, before Parramatta fought back momentarily with a decent partnership until Kershler broke through with his 1st. Two wickets to Mendel had Parra 5/110 prior to tea, but the home side would steady with a couple of strong 50+ run partnerships. The first broken by Jenkins for the 6th, and then next by Kersh, for the latter picked up his 3rd shortly after. Jenkins ultimately the pick of the attack with 4fa, before Skinner closed out the innings with the final wicket on 247. With three overs to navigate, Coyte & Donnan safely got through to stumps at 0/17.
Men’s 5th Grade:
Home at Mike Pawley Oval, skipper Waddington won the toss & elected to bat first, but a couple of early wickets had the Tahs under pressure almost immediately. Martin & H.Matheson (45) steadied the ship momentarily as the latter in particular played an important anchor role. Another wobble through the middle order left the Tahs in need of a partnership, the skipper delivering at a time of need with a composed 40. Important contributions from W.Matheson (18), Kelley (17) & Graham (16) pushing the Tahs to a competitive 192 when the final wicket fell just prior to stumps.
Women’s 3rd Grade:
After a wash out last week, W3s travelled to Tempe to take on Sydney Uni. The home side winning the toss & electing to bat first, making a strong start with a threatening 2nd wicket partnership after the initial breakthrough to Ellis. Just as Uni looked in control, a run out broke the dangerous partnership & the Tahs were able to slow the momentum in the back half of the 20 overs. A late wicket to skipper S.James helping restrict Uni to 3/87. An early wicket in the chase wasn’t the ideal start, however, the Tahs fought back strongly courtesy of a super innings from Hatfield (30no). Well supported in a match-winning partnership with Hough (22no), before Pike completed the chase with a couple of boundaries, for a 9 wicket Tahs win inside 14 overs.
Sunday fixtures
Women’s 1st Grade:
On a stinking hot day out west at Merrylands, Tahs skipper McLerie won the toss & elected to bat. Learoyd & Horsfall (43) made a steady start before the first wicket fell, paving the way for a sensational innings from Kua (105). Combining for a mammoth 145 run partnership, Horsfall & Kua set a superb platform for the Tahs, the former playing the perfect support role to the latter, who compiled a classy run a ball 100. A slight middle order wobble halted momentum, but important contributions from Burke (15no), Handley (15) & Terrey (15no – including a last ball six) propelled the Tahs to 6/233 from 50. After a strong start from Parramatta to be 47 without loss, wickets to Henry, Crawford & Hughes at regular intervals shifted the momentum. Parramatta consolidated with a decent 4th wicket partnership, broken by two quick wickets to Learoyd to have the game right in the balance at 5/155. Unfortunately, Parramatta proved too good from there, taking the game deep with a match-defining 6th wicket partnership to win with 2 balls to spare.
Women’s 2nd Grade:
Back home at Manly Oval, Tahs skipper Cambridge won the toss & elected to bat first, making a strong start to the innings alongside Guyot before a couple of quick wickets halted momentum at 2/30. That was where Kyme (29) & Croll (36) combined to steady the ship with a patient 70 run partnership to set a strong foundation for the Tahs reaching 2/100. North Sydney’s spinners however began to build some scoreboard pressure resulting in a middle order wobble, before an important counter attack from Wilson (20) helped consolidate the innings. Selfless team batting in the final few overs pushing the Tahs to a defendable 7/172. With the ball, a first over wicket to debutant T.Ford was a great start, but the visitors fought back with an aggressive partnership to be well in control at 1/62. However, that’s where the Tahs turned the screws, fellow debutant Pallister breaking the dangerous partnership, followed by a wicket the next over to Frew. Both set bats dismissed & from there the Tahs didn’t let go of the momentum. Pallister the pick of the bowlers with 3fa, Frew 2, before skipper Cambridge closed out the game with 3fa herself. North Sydney all out 113 for a Tahs bonus point win.
Upcoming fixtures
Saturday sees the Men resume on day two of their fixtures with Parramatta, with a few big run chases on the cards. M1s also have their one-day cup semi final on Sunday, taking on Easts at Waverley.
W3s host North Sydney at Balgowlah on Saturday, while W1s & Brewers are both at home on Sunday, hosting St George-Sutherland & Greater Hunter Coast respectively. Meanwhile, W2s have the trip out to Raby to take on Campbelltown-Camden.
Until next time, up the Tahs!
