The tables turned across the weekend with a very different series of results compared to last round, as the men went 4 from 5 to return to winning ways while the women had a frustrating weekend despite a phenomenal run chase victory in W3s.
M1’s bounced back superbly from last week’s nail-biting defeat, with a bonus point victory against UNSW. Winning the toss and bowling, Josh Seward (2/34) struck early, before it was the spin duo of Bertie Foreman (4/28) and Joel Davies (2/22) who bowled brilliantly in tandem to turn the game in the Tahs’ favour. UNSW all out for 172 inside 42 overs. The Tahs’ run chase was off to the perfect start courtesy of some clean hitting early from Matt Brewster (53) and Joel Foster (34). With the bonus point in sight, the Davies brothers then combined to seal a bonus point victory for the Tahs, Ollie finishing 52no and Joel 17no.
M2’s also returned to the winning circle in emphatic fashion on Saturday. Skipper Jamieson won the toss and chose to bat, Lachie Coyte in fine form to start the innings with a classy 65. The experience of Ben Bryant (53) and Ahillen Beadle (48) then stamped their authority on the game, before 24 from Isaiah Vumbaca and handy contributions from the middle/lower order helped the Tahs post 8/266 off 50 overs. Jamo got the early breakthrough, but it was Michael Counsell who spearheaded the bowling innings with 4/37, supported by wickets to all the bowlers, as UNSW were bowled out for 153 in the 42nd over, a second bonus point win in the day for the Tahs.
M3’s suffered a disappointing defeat at Grahams despite some strong individual performances. Batting first, Keelan Mendel was back to his best, anchoring the entire innings with 83 as early wickets fell around him. Ellis Raymond chipped in with 29, before Josh Coyte provided some late fireworks with 49 off 32 balls to push the Tahs up to a competitive 223. Hopes were high as Matthew Sunshine struck twice early to have UNSW 2/11, but unfortunately the visitors consolidated and built a match-winning partnership from there on. Eventually passing our total in the 47th over for the loss of three wickets.
Mike Pawley Oval hosted the M4’s boys as they recorded another strong team win. Adam Parkinson skippered the side, winning the toss and choosing to bat. Luke Watts (78) and Jayden Kennedy (49 off 38) got the side off to a flying start. Josh Cooper played positively for 32, before the man in form Brodie McDowell went berserk with 51 off 39 balls including 6 big sixes, all while Luke continued to anchor the team’s innings with composed batting. A late cameo from Ollie Melville (23* off 14) saw the Tahs post 7/276. UNSW were off to a phenomenal start with some unbelievable ball-striking, and at 4/175 after 23 overs, they were in control. Josh Cooper changed the game with 2/16, before the quicks returned in their second spell and executed exceptionally with the game on the line, James Waddington and Lawson picking up 2fas, while Will Skinner collected 3fa to close out the game, UNSW all out for 206.
With ground unavailability, M5’s were shifted to Sunday at Grahams Reserve, as a handful of players made their debuts. In the field first, the Tahs did well to have UNSW 6/95 on the back of wickets to Flynn Pavely (1/16), Will Matheson (2/50) and Jordan Brewster (1/18). But things got slightly away from us in the back half of the innings as UNSW progressed the score quickly, ending their 50 overs with 7/207. No need to fear though, as the run chase was calmly managed by Jack Melchiore (107no) and Reiley Dunlop (71) who combined for a match-winning 177 run partnership to take the game away from UNSW with positive yet measured batting. Matt Evans (12no) joined Jack for the remaining runs, as the Tahs won by 9 wickets in the 41st over.
W3’s made the trip out to Koola Park to take on an always strong Gordon team. Losing the toss and in the field first, the Tahs were put under pressure by 3 half centuries from Gordon’s top six batters, on a small ground with a very quick outfield. Sienna James was the pick of the bowlers with 2/19, while important wickets to Sophia Chick (1/33), Daisy Addison (1/32) and Sophia Randall (1/21) helped restrict Gordon to 6/184 off their 40 overs. The Tahs run chase was off to a shaky start with both openers dismissed early, before Elizabeth Cambridge (69* off 55 balls) and Daisy Addison (50* off 47 balls) changed the game with some excellent batting. After both retired upon reaching half centuries, the two Sophia’s, Randall and Chick combined in an important partnership, before Cambridge returned at the loss of the 8th wicket, to complete a phenomenal run chase for the Tahs.
The first match of Sunday’s triple header at Manly saw Brewers taking on Northern District. Batting first on a new deck, the Tahs suffered the worst possible start, slumping to 6/7 on the back of consistent full and straight bowling from ND’s. Annabelle Croll counter-attacked with four boundaries in a positive innings of 21, but it wasn’t enough as the Tahs were bowled out for 50 in the 18th over. Early wickets were needed to provide any hope, but ND’s started positively to reach 0/36, and despite consolation wickets to Kaya Punter (2/13), Sophie Lowry and Charlotte Allen, there were just not enough runs to work with, as ND’s passed the total four wickets down.
W2’s were the second game of the triple header, as skipper Renee Hough won the toss and chose to bat. Elizabeth Cambridge was the mainstay of the Tahs’ batting innings with a calculated knock of 35, but unfortunately that was the only highlight as only one other batter registered double figures, as the Tahs scraped to 9/84 off 20 overs. The bowling innings was a similar story to the Brewers match, ND’s starting strongly and taking the game away from the Tahs, Lara Hughes and Steph Hughes combining for the solitary wicket as the visitors passed the total in the 11th over.
Saskia Horley and her W1’s side rounded out the day with the final match of the triple header, as the Tahs were asked to field first. ND’s were off to a flying start with the bat as some missed chances in the field proved costly for the Tahs, before a strong fightback with the ball led by Ebony Hoskin (1/16), Sam Bates (2/21), Mia Phelps (2/18) and Eliza Henry (1/18) saw the visiting team finish with 7/119. The Tahs’ run chase began shakily, before Lara Graham stepped up with 30 to shift the momentum, supported by 16 from Eliza Henry and 26 from Katie Letcher. But ultimately it proved too little too late, as the girls fell 13 runs short at the end of the 20 overs.
Onwards to next weekend where the men play their first red-ball fixture of the season with Day 1 of a two-day round against Gordon. PGs return home to face Sydney at Manly Oval, while W1s and Brewers take on St George-Sutherland, W2’s have the bye, and W3s play Bankstown.
Up the Tahs.
