4 Pines Player of the Week – Jarrod Rawlings
Once again Jarrod “Ralphy/Thickies/Wiggum/Porky” Rawlings stole the show this week with a knock of 114 that almost single-handedly got 2nd grade over the line. Having survived the few overs the previous week, Jarrod was the only batsman to offer any real resistance against Easts as the Manly boys lost wickets at regular intervals. Looking at the scorecard only highlights the quality of Jarrod’s knock with the next highest scores Luke Grant’s 18 and Sam Webber’s 16. Despite this, Jarrod batted undeterred, displaying enormous patience and continuing to form partnerships literally all the way down the order. With only 8 runs to get, Jarrod was the last man out – caught at mid-off going for one of two boundaries that would have sealed an unlikely win. This year has been full of success already for Jarrod and it’s fantastic to see it continue in the grade above where it all started with an equally remarkable knock in Round 1. Whatever you’re doing Thickies, keep it up!!!
A special mention should also go to Josh Wigney, who was unlucky to miss out on the award after taking an impressive 5-25 (17) for his maiden 5fa in 4th grade.
1st Grade – Manly 4/261 (Cruickshank 79*, Crosthwaite 64, Lenton 49, Beadle 43) def Easts 258
On the first morning Easts won the toss on a beautiful Manly wicket and decided to bat on a perfect Manly day.
As we strangled them in the middle session and kept the scoring slow we built the pressure needed to break a long partnership with Beadle breaking thru. AB was the best of our bowlers picking up 4-57 off 26.4.
The final session was more dominance from the Manly bowlers and we were able to bowl Easts out 258. Edwards 3-51, Mclachlan 2-57 and Bills 1-61.
There was an uncomfortable 2 overs that we had to survive at the end of Day 1 which Aidan Baker and Nic Bills negotiated unharmed at 0/4.
The start of Day 2 chasing 258 to win we lost both openers with the score 2/21. Crosthwaite and Beadle were able to get to lunch untroubled and at lunch we were 2/87. After lunch the grind continued as Easts put the field out and bowled negatively to frustrate the Manly batsmen. Beadle was again in great touch and continued to show why he should be wearing NSW blue. AB was dismissed for 40 which puts him 4th on the competition runs list with 322 runs in 4 games with an average of 80.5. Crosthwaite and Lenton then came together and the two wicketkeepers put on 23 runs before Crosthwaite was out LBW sweeping the spinner for 65.
With the score at 4/140 half way thru the middle session still needing 120 to win the game was in the balance but out strides Manlys greatest ever run scorer at number 6. Cruickshank came to the crease and immediately put Easts to the sword. Together with Lenton (49), who carried on his great recent batting form to put the game beyond Easts with a stand of 98. Cruickshank was at his brutal best and finished unbeaten on 74 from 83 balls as Justin Cox was 5 not out. Manly wins by 5 wickets with 20 overs to spare.
This was a professional run chase and has sent a great message to the competition with Manly now sitting 4 points clear on top of the table after 4 rounds. Next week we play Hawkesbury at Manly Oval.
Go Manly
2nd Grade – Easts 9 dec/194 (N. McCallum-Toomey 2-32, L. Grant 2 – 36) def Manly 194 (J. Rawlings 114 [322], L. Grant 18)
Needing 195 for victory, 2’s were 0-10 overnight and looking for 6 points. Adam Gummer and Jarrod got us off to a solid start to the day at 0-25 before Gums fell for 15. The wicket sparked a top order collapse which saw us lose 4-8 with Pughy, Walter and Rowan dismissed in quick succession. After falling to 4-33, we were behind the 8-ball for the rest of the day. Meanwhile at the other end, Jarrod dug in and played one of the most patient innings I’ve ever seen. While everyone around him struggled, Ralphy built his innings perfectly. With the help of Ryan (11) and Sam (16) we managed to move the score to 6-97. After being joined by Luke Grant, Jarrod reached a much deserved 50 and showed no signs of slowing. The pair temporarily took momentum away from Easts and managed to put together a solid partnership. Jarrod started to really hit his straps during the middle session, finding the boundary on numerous occasions, including a bomb over mid wicket. Luke grinded away and supported Jarrod well. They survived over an hour and took us to tea with a sniff of victory. 6-140.
After the break, the boys continued to grind and edge us closer to Easts total. Just as we were getting on top, LG was dismissed for 18 ending the partnership worth 60. Unfortunately Viss was bowled soon after, putting the home side back in control. Jarrod continued to score defy the odds and found great support from Dylan. After batting for best part of the day, Jarrod flicked a four off his pads to bring up his second century of the season! It was a near faultless innings and a well deserved 100. However, soon after, Dylan (who did a great job facing 44 rocks) was adjudged LBW with 10 runs to win. Nick joined Ralphy in a last gasp effort to snatch victory however Jarrod was finally dismissed trying to find the boundary. We fell 8 runs short.
Congratulation to a Jarrod on a superb innings. He faced 322 balls for his 114 and showed the rest of the team how to do it. Other than that, it was an extremely disappointing day. To have only one partnership over 50 and one batsman score over 20 isn’t good enough.
Let’s bounce back next week.
3rd Grade – Manly 10/104 (J. Daly 31, W. Evans 27*) & 3/141 (S. Hole 51*, J. Daly 27) def by Easts 192 (B. Falconer 2/23, J. Badyari 2 for 31)
Unfortunately for all, Easts did not turn up with any notion of making the game an exciting one and instead opted for the safety first option of batting us out of the game. We then batted well to ensure no outright loss. What I didn’t get was why Easts were complaining at us for batting on past the time they were happy to leave. They took the position that they wanted to bowl us out….this never looked likely so all of a sudden we are meant to pack up because they had had enough? I don’t think so! We finished up just before 5pm on the stroke of Sam Hole getting to 50.
A disappointing day of grade cricket especially when a great game would have almost been guaranteed if Easts declared overnight. This was my loud and clear message to them at the beginning of the day anyway but my suggestion was rejected. We would love to chase say 160 from 42 overs to get 10 points! Anyway full credit to Easts as they outplayed us day one and deserved the 6 points.
Hoping to get the the last 4 wickets quickly so we could make the pace we failed to do so with Easts having a mixed game plan, some attacking shots often followed by cautious batting on a very flat deck. Ron picked up a wicket as did Sam Alexander. This along with Javed picking up a bowled with his quicks and a catch at point with his leggies to make it a solid 4/61 for him, Easts finish up all out for 192.
Matt Cole (19 from 11) started in an aggressive frame of mind before squeezing a yorker to 2nd slip, Jordan Daly (27) and Sam (51no) then went about their work in a solid manner ensuring no collapse. Once Jordan was dismissed, Tom Kaye (25) then batted well and upon his dismissal James Boyer (10no) supported Sam through to his 50 to make it 3/141 from 48 overs. Sam played some lovely drives throughout his innings and picked up his 50 with a great flick off his pads. Hopefully this will ignite his year.
We are now in the middle of the pack so next week’s game v Hawkesbury will be a good one to win to ensure we stay in touch with the leaders.
Warren Evans
4th Grade – Manly 245 (Z Trewartha 101*, W. Outred 42, B. D’Arcy 38) def Easts 186 (J. Wigney 5-25)
Captain Josh Peterson won the toss and elected to bat. The boys got off to a good start and got themselves to 1/61 just after drinks. Unfortunately, the boys then lost 4/20. The wickets continued and the Tahs found themselves in the difficult position of 7/101 on a flat wicket.
Enter Zach Trewartha. Zack and Will Outred launched a fightback, both being really busy at the crease and ticking the scoreboard over. Will eventually fell for a well compiled 42, caught at mid-off. Then Zach, armed with the genetics of a cricketing god, batted like a prince for the rest of the afternoon. The ball was lost many a time as Zach tapped into his DNA and bombed the eastern suburbs bowlers to all parts. He brought up his 50 just after Will was dismissed. Ryan Bishop-Perrett and Josh Wigney ably supported him as he went to town on the oppositions captain who refused to take himself off, despite Zach bombing him for more than 10 an over consistently.
Zach brought up his first ton ever with a single down the ground and helped lead the boys to a competitive 245. His hundred came off well under 100 balls, in an innings that some described as ‘Like watching a right handed Ross Trewartha, only with better hair’. The boys should be up for it next week as we look to secure another 6 points and continue our early season charge.
With 245 on the board we turned up to Trumper looking to make an immediate impact and that’s what Josh Wigney did. First of all he took a wicket in his first over followed by 2 in quick succession the next over leaving the tahs in a strong position having them 3-20. Easts then held themselves together by way of a strong partnership, with numbers 4 & 5 both notching up half centuries. After tea we came out with a goal to get through the remaining batsman and Wigney once again made the breakthrough and soon after got his 5fa. We still had a job to do to take the remaining 5 wickets and Jacob came on to take a vital 2 wickets in quick time. It was a hard fought victory but will outred picked up the last wicket In the 80th over to pick up another 6 points for the tahs.
Bill D’Arcy & Joe Grahame
5th Grade – Manly 8 for 254 (T. Kelly 96, A. Bariol 34) drew Easts 9/215 (A. Bain 3-23 [11], J. Wood 2-47)
5th Grade had an unfortunate draw on Saturday after an up and down match against a string Easts outfit.
Declaring overnight on 8 for 254, we wanted to start well to set the tone for the rest of the day and we did this with an early LBW from Alex Bain. Joel Wood bowled impressively from the other end without any luck, however the run rate was slow on a good wicket. We finally got their number 3 after a painstaking innings to make it 2 for 20 off 15, Tom Kelly taking the wicket.
From here on in the Easts batsmen dug in. Our bowling was fantastic, and though some of our ground fielding could have been better, the team was putting in a really good display of tough cricket. The 2 Easts batsmen, although slow, were building well and put on around a 110 before Bain got their opener for 55 after tea. The run rate was creeping up and after another wicket straight away, at 4 down and needing another 100 off 20, it was game on.
Easts to there credit were trying to win the game, and their number 5 played a very good innings until he was run out which really got us going. Wickets continued to tumble until Easts were 9 down with about 40 to get and 7 overs to go, at which time they shut up shop. Unfortunately we couldn’t get the wicket we needed in the last few overs, despite the entire team crowding around the bat. A bat-pad came oh so close in the last over.
Our bowling was very impressive. Our fielding was good in general but a couple of missed chances didn’t help. After wins in rounds 1 and 2, but no points in rounds 3 and 4, it is important we get back in the winners circle next round.
Joel Mason
Poidevin-Gray Round 2 (9/11): Manly 7 for 168 (J. Daly 64*, S. Gainsford 28) def St George 164 (M. Edwards 3 for 30, T. Beatty 2 for 41, D. Marshall 2 for 17)
Unfortunately, things didn’t go quite to plan with the bat to begin. Jarrod (8) knicked off early followed by Hole (6) who flashed at a wide one to make it 2/18 from the first 10 overs. Ryan then went in controversial fashion to make it 3/33 before Taylor and Jordan went about rebuilding the innings. Taylor was beginning to find some form before being run out leaving the Tahs realing at 4/50. The introduction of Sam Gainsford was once again a turning point with his attack and intent putting St. George on the back-foot. This was combined with Jordan’s composure who batted beautifully to guide Manly home. Gainsford departed with about 30 to win and after a few nervous moments with the wickets of Webber and Badyari, Will Outred hit the winning runs in the 45th over to seal a good win for the Manly Boys.
Once again, it was a complete performance with the ball and in the field, however it’s up to the top-order to step up in the next couple of rounds and lead the side.
Back to grade cricket for now!
Go Manly!
Sam H
Second Grade turned up to Waverley ready to take on Easts. After losing the toss, we were in the field and looking for early wickets among other things (Nick was searching for a park, while Dyl Marshall was on the look out for an RTA to renew his car rego). Mickey Visser (1-30) and Nick (2-32) opened up and set the trend for the day. Both of the boys built pressure and bowled consistent maidens. Before their first spells were done, each had a much deserved wicket. 2-40. The skipper then turned to Luke (2-36) and Pughy (1-15) who continued the good work. LG picked up the third wicket before Dylan (2-45) came on and bowled a terrific spell which saw him claim 2 crucial wickets. We had Easts up against the ropes at 5/75. Faz (1-26) and Gainsy (0-3) also bowled extremely well on either side of the tea break.
It didn’t seem to matter who was bowling, the pressure was always on. East battled all day and never really managed to get their run rate over 1.5. I think the stat that sums up the day best is that we managed to bowl 32 maidens in the innings! A phenomenal effort on a flat deck. Although the 9th wicket managed to add just over 50 and put us slightly under pressure, it was all Manly on day 1. Easts 9/194 before an early declaration. Hats off to the bowling group for bouncing back after a disappointing game last week.
Jarrod and Gums then managed to survive a tough 9 over period without being troubled. The good guys are 0-10 and on the hunt for 6 points.