
Another busy weekend of cricket with the Tahs performing strongly in most matches as we head towards the business end of the regular season.
Men’s 1st Grade:
Chasing 337 for victory, the Tahs’ chase didn’t start particularly well with a couple of early wickets lost, but skipper Jay Lenton (79) & Joel Davies (72) were determined to steady the ship, patient to begin their innings’ before counter-attacking heading into the lunch break. The two combining for a 126 run partnership as both passed classy half centuries in the process to have the Tahs in a decent position at 2/146. However, a few quick wickets shifted the momentum significantly, the Tahs now 5 down & in need of a big partnership to get back into the game. Davies held strong amongst the mini collapse, before finding great support from Ned Hole (51) who took the attack to Sydney’s bowlers with a positive half century. The game once again in the balance at 5/232 on the back of Davies & Hole’s 73 run partnership, but unfortunately that’s where things quickly changed. Both set batters dismissed in quick succession & that led to a lower order tumble, as the Tahs were bowled out for 257 to fall short of the target.
Men’s 2nd Grade:
Another flat (very flat) Drummoyne Oval wicket greeted the Tahs on Day 2, Sydney resuming 0/41 in reply to the Tahs’ 7d/418. After a steady start to the day from Sydney, Zach Trewartha got the ball rolling with a couple of wickets in relatively quick succession, but the home side consolidated to head into lunch just 2 down. Henry Rogers broke a threatening partnership for the Tahs’ 3rd, before Roop Dhillon took his first of the day before the tea break. Despite the Tahs’ patience, Sydney were 4/200 at tea & looked steady. Post tea, spinners Roop & Isaiah Vumbaca delivered two pearler wickets in a short space of time to lift spirits, but Sydney again fought back with resistance. Sydney 6/251 and only 15 or so overs remaining had the game headed for a likely draw, but the Tahs wouldn’t back down. Trewartha taking his 3rd to open the door for the Tahs, before a superb catch at first slip from Roop gave Rogers his 2nd wicket. The lower order of Sydney making the Tahs work to the very conclusion, ultimately needing 2 more wickets in the final 3 overs of the match. Roop delivering again when it mattered most, with an LBW, before it came down to 8 balls remaining & 1 wicket to get. An important consultation between bowler & captain, a slight field change saw skipper Jordan Daly move from 2nd slip to gully, and the match-winning moment very next well. Josh Coyte standing up under pressure, as Daly held onto a sharp chance at gully to cap off one of the more gutsy, memorable victories. Sydney all out for 273 as the Tahs celebrated a phenomenal win late on Day 2.
Men’s 3rd Grade:
With 293 on the board to defend at Grahams, the Tahs’ bowlers challenged Sydney’s top order early, but the visitors ultimately made a steady start inside the opening 8 overs. Will Skinner broke the partnership with the opening breakthrough, and what followed was a really consistent well-rounded bowling & fielding effort from the Tahs. Michael Counsell & Evan Dunnachie striking once each before two superb slower balls from Julian Osbourne led to another two wickets in quick succession. Dunnachie & Counsell with their 2nd each shortly after to have Sydney 7/74. The visitors’ lower order proved tough to dislodge for a little while post tea, but the relentless pressure from the Tahs’ bowlers was ultimately too much, Skinner taking two more wickets shortly after one another, before Counsell took his 3rd to wrap up the Sydney first innings on 103. With 33 overs remaining, the Tahs enforced the follow on with hopes of a few early breakthroughs to give a chance of an outright victory. Sydney’s top order however dug in, an excellent three-wicket spell from Dunnachie not enough in the quest for 10 points, the Tahs settling for a strong first innings win.
Men’s 4th Grade:
156 was the target at Birchgrove, the Tahs resuming 0/12 and arriving to a freshly top soiled outfield which would make boundaries increasingly few & far between throughout the day. The Tahs in some strife early as three wickets fell in the first hour of play, 3/24 & a partnership of huge importance needed to get back on track. Brodie McDowell (20) & Jayden Kennedy (50) steadied the ship patiently with a 45 run partnership to restore some order to the Tahs’ innings. Kennedy compiling a particularly crucial half century that proved to be a defining innings in the chase. Another mid innings wobble though put pressure right back on the Tahs at 7/113, leaving it to the reliable lower order to get the job done. Adam Searle (28) & George Cumming (12*) putting on 31 to bring the Tahs to within sight of victory, before George & James Waddington (6*) calmly finished off the run chase to secure an important win by two wickets.
Men’s 5th Grade:
Sydney resumed 0/21 on Day 2 after the Tahs posted 7d/302 last week at a traditionally flat Mike Pawley Oval. Bill Martin kick started proceedings with a run out for the opening wicket, before Sydney fought back with a patient partnership to keep the Tahs at bay. But that’s where Jordan Brewster’s memorable, match-winning day began. Breaking the building partnership for his first wicket of the day, before Tom Walker knocked over the set opener after a defiant innings. From there, the Tahs really took full control of the fixture as Brewster took two wickets in an over, Sydney at lunch were 5/90. Post lunch, the Tahs’ bowlers continued to be disciplined & build consistent pressure. Wickets to Martin & Jack Donnan had Sydney 7 down but still work to do for the Tahs. But that wasn’t going to be an issue for Brewster, who continued to challenge the batters bowling consistent lines & lengths. Resulting in him taking the final 3 wickets of the innings, supported by some great catching throughout, to finish with excellent figures of 6/30 from the best part of 16 overs. Sydney all out for 130 to round out an excellent Tahs victory.
Women’s 3rd Grade:
Looking to continue their winning form of late, W3s made the trip west to take on Bankstown at O’Neill Park. Skipper Sallie Molyneux winning the toss & having no hesitation in choosing to bat first on a warm Saturday afternoon. And the Tahs would put up a strong team performance, kick started by an entertaining innings from Nat Jonkers who carried on with her recent form. Hitting 3 fours & 2 sixes to reach 33* from 24 balls before the mandatory retirement. Sophie Beukers was patient & rotated the strike consistently to compile an impressive innings of her own, 30* from 44. And the momentum was continued by Daisy Addison with an excellent 30* at a run-a-ball including 3 boundaries, before a late contribution from Emily Hatfield helped propel the Tahs to 2/116 from the allotted 20 overs. In reply, one of Bankstown’s openers played a positive innings, but the Tahs’ bowlers remained calm & built pressure on the other batters. Molyneux with the opening breakthrough, before Olivia Champion broke a partnership that was slowly building. From there, wickets to Cam Pryor & Sophia Randall, and disciplined spells from all bowlers meant Bankstown never really threatened the run chase, ultimately finishing their 20 overs on 4/55, seeing the Tahs victorious by 61 runs.
Women’s 1st Grade:
Chatswood Oval hosted W1s on Sunday against an always tough Gordon side. Tahs skipper Lauren Kua won the toss & elected to bat first, Ella McCaughan & Anika Learoyd (35) making a steady start to the Tahs’ innings navigating the initial opening new ball spell. Learoyd & Kua (25) then lifted the tempo showing great positive intent in a 47 run partnership inside 9 overs to have the Tahs in a strong position at 1/70. Eliza Henry (24) also made a strong start to her innings, but the Tahs unfortunately began to lose their way through the middle overs as Gordon’s spinners & medium pacers built some dot ball pressure. Small starts from Lizzie Cambridge & Sam Bates not enough to stem the regular flow of wickets throughout the latter half of the innings, as the Tahs were eventually bowled out for 145 in the 38th over. Needing to bowl very well to defend the total on a good batting wicket, wickets relatively early to Ebony Hoskin & Bates had the Tahs in the game at 2/30. But Gordon fought back strongly and despite further wickets to Kristie Crawford & Hoskin, the home side looked well in control of the chase at 4/118. The Tahs however never back down, and what followed was a really gutsy comeback on the back of some excellent bowling. Crawford breaking the dangerous partnership, Henry dismissing the opposition’s key batter, before the Tahs just kept finding a way. Crawford leading the way taking 4/23, well supported by Hoskin with 3/32, before Henry took the final wicket to see Gordon all out for 129, as the Tahs won by 16 runs to cap off an excellent fightback.
Women’s 2nd Grade:
Back home at Manly Oval & looking to make it 11 wins on the bounce, W2s skipper Gabby Dunnage won the toss & elected for the Tahs to bat first. The skipper (22) playing some positive shots early with a couple of boundaries, while Charley Camburn (22) began patiently to see off the new ball. But it was the innings of Steph Hughes (59) that really provided the backbone to the Tahs’ innings, some great boundaries combined with regularly rotating the strike to post an important half century. Arabella Handley (40) also continued her excellent form with another strong innings, to help the Tahs push beyond 200 in the latter overs. Valuable contributions late from Kaya Punter, Eve Burke & Brooke Frew seeing the Tahs post a strong total of 7/213 from 50 overs. With the ball, Handley made the opening breakthrough as Darcey Whiteley bowled consistently without luck in the opening overs. A run out to Frew, and a wicket apiece to Punter & Lara Hughes having the Tahs in a strong position, Gordon 4/65. The visitors however didn’t crumble and got themselves back in the game with a strong partnership that began to threaten the Tahs at 4/121. But that’s where Eve Burke’s spell really changed the game. 10 excellent overs taking four important wickets to turn the momentum back in the Tahs’ favour. Run outs to Dunnage & Punter, the latter a brilliant direct hit from backward point, securing a strong 37 run win for the Tahs, with Gordon all out for 176.
Brewer Shield:
After an extended break due to the U15 Pedan representative competition (where Manly were grand-finalists), Brewers were back for their first game post Christmas, hosting Sydney University at Grahams. Losing the toss, the Tahs were asked to bowl first, and made a solid start as new ball bowlers Charlotte Allen & Lily Crabbe kept things economical early on. That was followed by Matilda Brown, who took the first two wickets in quick succession, Sydney Uni 2/21. The Tahs continued to bowl consistently, however a few mistakes in the field prolonged Uni’s partnerships. Keira Terrey breaking a 57 run partnership with a run out, before Brown took her 3rd wicket shortly after. Sydney Uni however continued to build some frustrating partnerships in between wickets to Sophie Lowry & skipper Saoirse Ford, as their total moved beyond 150. Despite the partnerships, Brown was exceptional taking two of the final three wickets to finish with 5/21 from 9 overs, as Sydney Uni posted 9/164 from 50 overs. After the loss of a wicket relatively early in the chase, Terrey (22) & Ford (21) consolidated the innings with patient efforts to have the game in the balance at 1/43, but the Tahs unfortunately lost their way from here despite a couple of boundaries from debutant Ebony Davies. Wickets fell at regular intervals to shift the early momentum away from the Tahs, Allen (31*) adding consolation runs in a strong not-out innings, but unfortunately ran out of support. The Tahs bowled out for 119 to fall 45 runs short of the target.
Upcoming fixtures:
Busy weekend of cricket coming up, as the Men take on North Sydney. M1s away in a Saturday/Sunday two-dayer, while M2s-M5s have their final one-day fixtures of the season. M2s & M4s at home.
Meanwhile, the Women all have one-day fixtures. W3s return to Balgowlah to host 2nd placed Parramatta. W1s are at Manly Oval against Sydney, W2s travel two hours north to face Greater Hunter Coast in Mereweather, while Brewers take on Blacktown away.
As always, up the Tahs.