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.
The weekend just gone saw the Men kick off their two-day campaign on Day 1 against Sydney Uni, while all Women’s grades hit the road for away fixtures.
Saturday fixtures
Men’s 1st Grade:
Two day cricket kicked off for the Tahs as M1s lost the toss & bowled first at University Oval. Kaye & Evans off to a good start with a wicket to the former & two to the latter early. Uni consolidated with a couple of decent partnerships, broken first by Osbourne & later by Boulton. Wickets then fell at regular intervals as the Tahs bowlers toiled superbly on a flat wicket, Kaye with two more & Evans one, before Uni’s tail wagged. Boulton & Evans (4fa) with the final two wickets to see Uni all out for 252. With 21 overs to bat, work was still to do, but Brewster (32no) & Beadle (44no) did that with aplomb. Batting positively late in the day with an unbeaten partnership to have the Tahs 0/79 at stumps.
Men’s 2nd Grade:
On a fresh wicket at Manly Oval, that proved to be pretty flat, the Tahs were in the field first after losing the toss. Uni started steadily moving past 50 without loss, before 2s debutant Pryke struck the opening breakthrough. Toohey picked up the big wicket shortly after, followed by two crucial wickets to Lawson in quick time. Another soon after to Dunnachie having Uni 5/98 before the visitors began to knuckle down. Uni’s middle order proving tough to dislodge on a flattening deck, M.Kapoor breaking a frustrating partnership. The Tahs continued to toil well without much luck, until skipper Vumbaca broke through, followed by Lawson with his 3rd. Uni scraping to 8/216 from 96 overs at stumps.
Men’s 3rd Grade:
The Tahs rocked up to a green seamer at Marrickville, unsurprisingly sent into bat first after losing the toss. It proved to be very tough going for the top order as Uni’s bowlers made the most of favourable bowling conditions to dismiss 4 of the top 6 before lunch. Melchiore dropping anchor with an incredibly gutsy effort, ultimately compiling 82 in an innings which lasted late into Day 1 & formed the backbone for the Tahs. Some small contributions from the middle order, but nothing substantial until the great G.Cumming did what he does best in the lower order, counter-attacking on his way to 56 to propel the Tahs towards 200. Walker & Skinner seeing the Tahs 9/200 from 80 overs at stumps on a tricky day of batting.
Men’s 4th Grade:
Some familiar faces in club favourites Charles & Counsell returned as M4s were asked to bowl first at Grahams. Buchanan continuing his red hot form with an early pole, before Uni built into a strong partnership that threatened to go big. But the youngster from Wagga, Jenkins was up for the task in a scintillating spell of fast bowling. Asking regular questions of the batter’s defence as he tore through the Uni top & middle order taking the next 6 wickets as the Tahs turned the screws. T.Seward chipping in with two handy wickets, before a lower order revival propelled Uni to 186, J.Brewster with the final wicket. With 10 overs remaining, Donnan (21no) & the returning Charles (14no) batted with great intent to see the Tahs 0/36 in reply at stumps.
Men’s 5th Grade:
A new look M5s side lost the toss & were sent into bat first at Camperdown Park, as Gatehouse (37) & Horstead (21) made a positive start with a steady opening partnership. But it was the innings from No.3 Nasser (89 off 60) that really set the tone for a strong Tahs day, as he took the attack to the Uni bowlers in a blistering display. This momentum continued by well-compiled half centuries from youngster H.Matheson (53) & debutant Pike (67) as both batted with great composure. Cameos from W.Matheson, Carter, & skipper Waddington (20* off 7) propelling the Tahs to 335 late on Day 1. With 8 overs left, the Tahs bowlers started superbly as Graham struck early, before Women’s overseas recruit Carter, filling in for M5s, picked up an important wicket in the final over of the day. Uni 2/14 at stumps.
Women’s 3rd Grade:
The Tahs travelled south to Gannons Park, sent into bat first by St George-Sutherland. Skipper James (30 off 20) off to a flyer with a flurry of boundaries early on, supported by a couple of positive starts to Hough (15) & Pike (22 off 15) as the Tahs looked to have the ascendancy at 2/67. Unfortunately, the middle & lower order lost their way slightly as the home side built pressure with the ball, resulting in a substantial batting collapse late. Manly all out for 100. The Slayers starting well in the run chase with a couple of strong partnerships, broken first by Molyneux & then Martin, as the home side looked in complete control. A late fightback including wickets to Randall & two in two balls to Bursill, but not enough as the Tahs went down by 5 wickets in the 30th over.
Sunday fixtures
Women’s 1st Grade:
Drummoyne Oval hosted W1s as Tahs skipper McLerie won the toss & elected to bat first. And it was the class of Learoyd (63 off 55) that really shone through on what was ultimately a tricky batting innings for the Tahs against a disciplined Sydney bowling attack. The opener anchoring the innings superbly with a clever display of batting as wickets tumbled at the other end. A crucial 46 run partnership with Bates (13*) helping the Tahs post 7/109 from 20. Needing to bowl well, the Tahs were clinical with the ball, led upfront by skipper McLerie with 2fa early, before wickets continued to fall steadily. Bates with superb figures of 2/4 from 4, Henry too with 2fa, one apiece to Crawford & Whiteley, to go with run outs to McLerie & Whiteley as the Tahs restricted Sydney to all out 97 to secure a 12 run win.
Brewer Shield:
At Harold Fraser, Brewers were sent into bat first, and the start was far from ideal as the Tahs top order fell cheaply as a result of some consistent Slayers bowling. However, Tahs debutant Jayakody (35) set about resurrecting the innings alongside Davies (27), as the pair combined for a 46 run partnership to steady the ship. Their positive intent giving the Tahs something to defend, a handy contribution from S.Punter pushing the score to 8/86 from 20. The Slayers looked in control of the run chase for the most part, but the Tahs stuck to the task, a run out & wicket to Punter, two wickets to Jayakody in an economical spell taking the game right down to the wire. With only 5 to defend, Brown executed the perfect final over to see the Tahs victorious by a solitary run in a nail-biting finish.
Women’s 2nd Grade:
Shortly after the conclusion of Brewers, W2s were in action at Harold Fraser, as skipper Cambridge won the toss & elected to bat first. The skipper (64no) leading the way for the Tahs, beginning patiently before accelerating as the innings progressed with a well-compiled half century. Partnerships were hard to come by though, until Burke (13) combined with Cambridge for a 48 run stand to propel the Tahs towards a competitive total of 4/99 from 20. The bowling innings didn’t quite go to plan as the Slayers top order took the attack to the Tahs’ bowlers, forming a couple of strong partnerships to kick start the run chase. Wickets to Allen, Kyme & Burke keeping the game alive, but it was ultimately too little too late as the Slayers won by 7 wickets in the 17th over.
Men’s 1st Grade T20 Semi Final:
The beautiful Coogee Oval hosted the semi final of the Kingsgrove T20 Cup as skipper Foster won the toss & elected to bat against Randwick. Unfortunately, the top order struggled against a strong Randwick attack in the opening overs, 4 down early & in need of something special. Club legend A.Crosthwaite (37) & club favourite Z.Trewartha (51) steering the Tahs out of strife with a 67 run partnership as both counter-attacked, the latter proving particularly crucial with a classy half century. Boulton (15) started positively, but wickets tumbled again late to restrict the Tahs to 9/137. Joseph struck in the 2nd over to give the Tahs hope, but Randwick fought back aggressively to be well in control of the run chase. A breakthrough to Boulton only momentarily halting their momentum, as Randwick passed the Tahs’ total for the loss of two wickets in the 16th over.
Upcoming fixtures
The cricket doesn’t stop, this weekend seeing the Men resume with Day 2 of their fixtures against Sydney University on Saturday, as W3s are at home for the first time this season, against Bankstown in a one-dayer. Meanwhile, W1s host a T20 double header at Manly Oval on Sunday, W2s travel north to take on Greater Hunter Coast, and Brewers host Sydney University at Grahams, the latter two in one-day fixtures.
See you next week, go Manly!
