Men Back Underway as Lower Grades Stumble and Top Grades Keep on Rolling – Weekend Wrap 9/10 Jan 2021

Well what a way to start 2021.

The boys were fired up and ready to be outside after what has certainly been a different Christmas break for all. Thankfully we were able to get on the park and play some cricket on Saturday.

A beautiful day with a beautiful warm up story set the tone for the day. I won the toss on what looked a typical green, hard belter after Christmas at Manly Oval. I must admit I mis read that slightly the wicket as always had plenty of life early with the new ball, we lost Joel early and Benny Bryant and I steadied the ship somewhat. Benny went on to score another 50 in his first season for the tahs however was out soon after. A wicket that was a little slow and two paced saw us not really get going with the bat.

Handy contributions from Izzy and AB saw us fall over the line with 8/189.

Probably 30/40 short we knew it would take a fighting effort to win the first fixture of 2021. What happened first ball purely summed up the day to be. Elliot Herd taking one of the better catches I have seen at backward point a one handed screamer to his right to see the back of the destructive Tim Armstrong.

A beautiful opening spell from both Ryan Hadley who took 2 early wickets and an 8 over straight spell of 26 from Tommy Kaye had us in a good position mid way through the innings.

Not through a lack of effort from our bowling attack the Easts batters started to steady the ship and seemed to cruise to 3/143 needing 47 for victory.

It was there the mayhem began. Easts lost a staggering 7/28 to fall short of the mark. Elliot Herd was brave and continued to take wickets with 4/60 (10), Jake Carden provided wonderful control 1/19 (8), Izzy Vumbaca took a massive wicket in his first over to go 1/15 (4) and Ryan Hadley proved to be the match winner taking 2 in his last over of his spell for figures of 4/29 (9.3).

A victory for the ages in 1st grade and one I was extremely proud to captain. This quite well could be a season defining win and regardless of future results a win that proves we have turned this group around a long way in 12 months.

Jay Lenton

3 points- Elliot Herd
2 points- Ryan Hadley
1 point- Ben Bryant

The 2s boys rocked about to beautiful Waverly Oval on Saturday morning. With a great first half to the season we really wanted to continue that form. Skipper Jamieson losing the toss, we were sent in for a bat.

The pitch looked like there would be a little bit in it for the bowlers early which was negotiated by our top 3. Matt Brewster and Ned Hole looked good before being dismissed for 10 and 21. Joel Davies at 3 and Farrell at 4 helped push the boys towards 100, Joel then fell for a well worked 45. Sam Gainsford was in and out. At 4-100 Ryan was joined at the crease by Zach Trewartha, with 20 overs left we knew we had to kick on to upwards of 200. Ryan and Zach did exactly that. With a mixture of working the field around and big hitting combined to put on 100, before Zach was dismissed for 51. From there it was free hitting, with Ryan hitting the East’s bowlers all around the park. The boys managed to finished the innings 6-266 and Ryan finishing unbeaten on 116! Well batted Faz!

After the innings break we knew that if we could take a few early wickets or at least starve the batsmen of runs, we’d be in the box seat. Andrew Jamieson and Neal Prowse opened to bowling and looked good. Sam Gainsford was introduced to “spin a web”. He paired with Josh Seward at the other end and came into affect quickly. Sam picking up both openers in the same over and Josh picking up a wicket with the next over. At this stage East’s were 3-59 off 18, a bit behind the run rate. There middle order would have to go at 7s and 8s to make a game of it. With more tight bowling and fielding we managed to strangle to East’s batsmen and the game seemed to fizzle out as East’s finished 8-220.

Another 6 points to the lads as we continue to lead the competition by 10 points.

3 points – Ryan Farrell

2 point – Zach Trewartha

1 point – Sam Gainsford

Zach Trewartha

CONTENTS

1. See You At Breakfast…
2. Anyone seen the WD-40?
3. Seems Like a Toss to Lose
4. Bat Repairs & Running Nightmares
5. One After Drinks
6. Geez He’s Tall
7. The Collapse
8. What Can’t Boults Do?
9. Hello Waltz
10. The Great Kerr Kameo
11. Is this really Grahams?
12. One before Drinks
13. Catch It, Don’t Watch It
14. The Bain Train
15. We Can Catch
16. Fingers Up
17. Classic Mark
18. Looking to Improve
19. Fines

1. See You At Breakfast…
The mighty main grade were back from their self-confined Christmas break and looking to start the back half of the season where they’d left off. Preparation for the day ahead would be key and that meant the first calling point was the ever-wonderful Butchers Café, “7:50am, see you all then” the was the message. As always Butchers was a treat, made even more so by the faces of the once retired Mickey Visser and the returning Mickey Edwards to the team. After a few opulent meal choices, a flustered Willy G searching for a QR code and a bean-less Mexican breakfast from Maxy, the boys headed down the hill to atmosphere park.

2. Anyone seen the WD-40?
With a fair downfall of rain throughout the week, LM Grahams Reserve was looking in top nic. Not a cloud in the sky and a luscious looking outfield meant ideal conditions for the weekly warm up game of touch, Floppy’s Vs Caps. After a good 10 minutes, it was fair to say the boys were looking a bit rusty… actually very rusty. I don’t think either team completed a set of 6, ball went to ground far to often and even Big Ol Edwards was looking dangerous in the middle. Never the less, the Caps got it done in the last play, good win.

3. Seems Like a Toss to Lose
After a solid warm up, skipper Sammy Hole strode to the middle, took a look at the deck and decided the toss wouldn’t decide much… to which we lost it. Sent in to have a bat, not a bad outcome considering the pitch looked decent, a light grass covering but not too much else doing. We gathered as a unit, a few words from the skip about discipline with the bat and most importantly, batting the full 50 overs, CRUCIAL in ODI* cricket. With preparation complete, it was back to the sheds as the Webber’s (Max and Sam) prepared to get the Tah’s underway.

4. Bat Repairs & Running Nightmares
The boys were looking good and were on their way to making a good start when things took a turn for the worst. Sam Webber quickly found out that “Selleys No More Gaps” is not a suitable adhesive for bat repairs. His outside toe of the stick exploding, narrowly avoiding and obliterating his stumps, only for it the toe to fly to the square leg. Must’ve been bizarre watching for the dog walkers.

Things didn’t go well from there, Maxy run-out just as the boys were getting going, something to improve on at training there**. This brought Dom Wheeler to the crease, who started to find some rhythm with Webber. The two ticked the score along nicely with Wheeler showing great intent and taking on the Easts attack.

5. One After Drinks
A quick drink and the boys were poised well at 1/71. Dom (31), unfortunately another grade cricketing victim of the fatal 1st ball after drinks, I’ve always said the waist high fully is a wicket taking delivery. This brought the skipper Sam Hole to the middle. The Sam’s looked to consolidate until a contentious decision down the leg side brought the skipper undone for 2, something we were all reminded about 6 times later that evening.

6. Geez He’s Tall
A tall giant of a human, helmet filled with long Blonde hair ambled to the crease (Mickey Edwards), and swiftly got off the mark with an exquisite back foot punch for 4. Webber and Edwards getting the boys back on track, and starting to attack the Easts spinners. With a flurry of classy and rusty shots, Mickey(21) unfortunately went after one too many, Tahs 4/113 after 30odd.

7. The Collapse
Jakey Osborne succumbed to the East attack shortly after and the Tah’s found themselves in a bit of trouble as Webber(41) departed soon after, through a debateable leg before (was missing leg and it wasn’t hitting off). 6/118 and hopes of 200+ were starting to look grim.

8. What Can’t Boults Do?
3rd grade extraordinaire “Andrew Boulton” along with Project (Alex) Bain started to steer the ship in the right direction. Young Boult’s running at the Easts spinners, dispatching them as if it were just another U15s match for him. Bain supported well, throwing some willow and pushing Boults hard between the wickets which was great to see. Boults eventually putting one to hand for 16, Manly 7/142 with about 10 to go.

9. Hello Waltz
A welcome back to 1st Grade Batsman (so he told us, apparently he bowls a bit to) Mickey Visser, reliving the early days and in at 9 for the Main Grade. Him and Bainy kept the scoreboard moving, with the ever booming voice of full-time cricket spectator Jarrod Walter echoing “SHOOTTT VISSSSSSAAAAA” from the boundary on a regular occurrence.

10. The Great Kerr Kameo
Bain(8) departed after another poor bit of running in the middle, cooked more than a sausage on a summers day apparently. 8/148, in came Lachie Kerr (The Hydration King) who produced an exemplary innings. Shoulders back nothing to lose, Kerry gave it to the Easts attack with a masterclass of power hitting and hard running between the wickets. Visser(14) couldn’t see it to the end, and Lachie Trewartha tried to stick around with Kerry, but couldn’t suffice. Kerr(24*) finishing the innings as best he could, giving the boys a sniff. Manly all out for 188 in the 49.2.

11. Is this really Grahams?
So a subpar total to defend, but the boys have defended a lot less than 180 at Grahams, so everyone was up for the fight. Visser and Bain opened up the attack for the Tah’s with a bit of zip, nibble and carry that Atmosphere Park hasn’t seen for years. Both bowled with great patience and were unfortunate not to have an early breakthrough with a thousand play’n misses, s few half chances not go our way and the easts openers throwing their hands at anything wide. 0/40odd after 10.

12. One before Drinks
With no luck from the opening pair, Kerry and Boults came into the attack. Both, like Viss and Bain, bowled well without much luck. Some absolute Jaffas from Kerry left us all scratching our head as to how we hadn’t found the breakthrough yet. Another changeup, L Trewartha on and we got the wicket that was needed, feather through to the keeper, 1/57 and a bit of work to do for Manly. Drinks.

13. Catch It, Don’t Watch It
Resuming drinks, Boults continued his spell from the top end. Half chances and no luck persisted for Manly, highlighted by the keeper and 2nd slip watching one sail between them, sorry Boults. The Tah’s needed a wicket. Enter Jake Osborne, tweaking his offies he found the edge and taken nicely by Maxy Webber (don’t think it could of come slower), Easts 2/70.

14. The Bain Train
Bain brought back into the attack after the in batsmen took a liking to Jakey, needed to produce some magic. Another half chance put down in the cordon could have seen the Pod blow a gasket, but credit to Baino, steaming in and skittling the stumps for his deserved wicket, 3/109.

15. We Can Catch
Visser joined back into the attack with Bain, as Manly needed wickets desperately if there was to be a game of it. Bowling in a great partnership the boys applied pressure in the field matched with the tight bowling partnership that had formed in the middle. Bain struck first, a healthy edge to first gripper, feeling a little thankful that it stuck in his mits. Viss joined in as well, finally seeing one of his 37 jaffas find the edge to be taken neatly behind the stumps with a clean one handed grab. 5/123, game on.

16. Fingers Up
Visser had found his groove, but Easts were still looking on top, scoring at a good rate. Another half chance went aerial, this time a full stretch Sammy Hole at mid-on produce the goods, taking a full stretch 2 handed diving catch(fingers up of course) for the 6th wicket. 6/148, drinks about 16 overs to go.

17. Classic Mark
After drinks the situation turned quickly for the Tahs, as experienced Easts skipper Mark Morley came to the crease and looked to punish anything in a bad area. Young Boults, Kerry and Lachie T all toiled well, but the easts batsmen slowly took the game away, with some strong hitting from their skipper closing in on that 189 mark quickly. Finishing 40* the Easts skipper got them home, 6/189 after 40 overs, a poor result upon reflection for the Mighty Main Grade.

18. Looking to Improve
As the lads dissected the game in the sheds, we were left bitterly disappointed knowing that with an extra 30/40 runs or if a few half chances had gone our way earlier, it could have been a much different game. Losing wickets consistently in the middle overs continues to hurt us and not batting the full 50 is just not good enough, especially for a team that should be pushing finals and a top 3 finish. The batting group and team as a whole realised we needed to be clear with our plans and be accountable for when we don’t stick to them, something everyone will be working on throughout the week.

19. Fines
Finally, after a few stern and productive words had been said, it was time for a laugh as a group and fines to be dished out. It was a good afternoon for the team kitty, highlights including Oldman Osborne, wildcarded for his disco dancing injury, Mickey Visser going senile and not remembering who was at breakfast and the word opulent thrown around like it was going out of fashion.

A fun finish to the day, but a disappointing result.
Lets get to training, work on our batting plans, train hard in the field to turn those half chances next week and be ruthless against the bears come Saturday.
As always a massive THANK YOU to Wily G, whose always there to lend a hand. Really appreciate your time beg fella!

Up the Tahs,
Your 3’s Fines Captain
Schwebbs

* Just confirming 3rd Grade cricket does not count as a One Day International fixture, please don’t go updating my cricinfo stats.
** Max was never a chance of getting back, runout at the non-strikers after I blazed one down the ground, touched off the bowlers hand onto the stumps, Sorry Mate.

4^th grade turned up to Trumper Park and were greeted to a green wicket where the flip of the coin would be vital. Unfortunately, the loss of the toss saw us batting first and with the pitch doing plenty for the bowlers. Easts took full advantage having us 4 for 20 odd early, but a much needed vital partnership of 147 from Cohen (91) and Duly (64) saw us to a total of 7 for 189 giving us a competitive total to bowl at.

As the day went on the pitch dried out and batting conditions got easier which was going to require good, tight bowling if we were going to have a chance to win the game. Unfortunately, inconsistent bowling on both sides of the wicket made it hard for the skipper to set fields and did not allow us to create any pressure on the opposition and our total was passed into the 40^th over with the pick of the bowlers being Liam Dinan (1-28 off 10 overs).

3 points – Nick Cohen

2 points – Alec Duly

1 point – Liam Dinan

Jack Melchiore

Manly 5^th grade turned up to MPO keen to get resume after the Christmas break. Again we had a good mix of quite old and quite young and a couple in between. Shaping up as a strong match with Easts on the same points on the ladder. Rochy tossed correctly and chose to bowl on a wicket that didn’t have the ideal preparation due to the previous wet week. There was definitely some assistance to the bowlers but credit to Green Options as it played very well considering. With Skid’s assistance we had a great warm up and were ready to go.

There are a number of ways to sum up our fielding but most of those words are not fit for young ears. We took 8 wickets but missed a further 9 opportunities most of which you would expect our side to take every day of the week. The bowlers generally bowled good areas to create that many chances but Easts rode their luck to post a competitive 215 from their 50. Pick of the bowlers were Raj Ganaeshraj (1/35 off 10) and debutant Ethan Buchanan (2/20 off 5) with notable mentions from Keelan Mendel (0/15 off 4), skipper (1/43 off 10), Darcy Fleming (0/39 off 9), Hayden Williams (0/24 off 5) and some old grey beard (3/37 off 7) burgled a couple at the end.

Our run chase started well with Billy O’Brien and Keelen Mendel ticking the scoreboard over but wickets fell constantly. We still harboured hopes of an amazing victory with Will Akhurst (58) showing amazing restraint to hold our innings together. He and Rochy (41) took us from 6 for 68 to 7 for 152. Similarly debutant Hayden Williams and Raj Ganeshraj also kept the score ticking over at the required run rate for a 20 run 10^th wicket partnership showing us that if we had wickets in hand and batted out the 50 then a score of 215 could have been easily achievable instead of being bowled out for 186 in the 45^th over.

In the end it was a very disappointing day. We beat ourselves in this match. They had a solid bowling attack but we should have been chasing much less. Slipping now to 8^th on the ladder only one win out of the 6.

Our loss was not due to lack of effort and we should bounce back mentally stronger next week.

Points

3 – Will Akhurst

2 – Simon Waddington

1 – Raj Ganeshraj

Simon Waddington