Monday News – Rd 6 v Sutherland – One Dayer

Up against the top Sutherland outfit meant hard work for Manly as we struggle to get any momentum this year. We had a solid weekend with 2s, 3s and 4s all having convincing wins but 1s and 5s struggling. We climbed a bit up the CC ladder but with a good week against Randwick Petersham next weekend we will get in amongst the top 10.

4 Pines Brewery Player of the Week – Ben Smith   

Benjamin J has again smacked a century to follow his 143 last dig. 106 not out this time from 106 balls. He started cautiously adapting to the difficult conditions and he accelerated in the last 10 overs, in total hitting 10 fours and a six enabling 2nds to post a very competitive total. After missing the first few games with a busted hand  (piano lid fell on it apparently) he has enjoyed his cricket and it’s showing in his approach at training and the results in the games. When I write these little passages and struggle to find something to write about I invariably think to training sessions and it is no coincidence that guys like Ben and Matt Alexander have figured as 4 Pines POW lately as they have brought a great training ethic to their games. Special mention to Harry Rogers for 5/20 and Crossy for smashing 81 in well beaten sides and also to Max Burgess for guiding 3rds to a great win with a fast 89.

1st Grade – Manly 201  (A Crosthwaite 81) lost to Sutherland 4/343

Unfortunately we were convincingly beaten on Saturday by a strong Sutherland team. Winning the toss and bowling, Sutherland compiled a massive 4-343 to take a stranglehold on the match. For the majority of the innings it looked as though we would restrict them to a total of around 275, which would have been a good effort, however an amazing 86 not out from only 36 balls from the Sutherland no.6 pushed their total well beyond the 300 mark. Nick McLachlan was the only bowler to go under 6 runs an over with 0-55 off 10, while the four wickets were shared amongst Martin, Beadle, Cruickshank and Ritchie.

We needed to get away to a good start with the bat to give ourselves a chance, however unfortunately Ritchie and Cruickshank were back in the sheds for 6 a piece in the first few overs. A few small partnerships developed in the middle order, however the only batsman who really troubled the scorers was Adam Crosthwaite with an excellent 81 from 73. Crossy’s lone stand ensured we avoided absolute extreme embarrassment as we were bundled out for 201.

This was our most convincing loss of the season by far. We were genuinely outplayed in all facets. However, with three more 50 over games before Christmas coming up, obviously all contributing to the first grade 50-over comp, it is important we all get to training and put in the hard yards to turn things around.

Jack Ritchie

2nd Grade – Manly 4/248 (B Smith 106no, A Watkins 41) beat Sutherland 156 ( C Little 4/29, L Mannel 3/28, J Badyari 2/40)

It was a late start as the covers didn’t come off until after 9am, lost the toss and were sent into bat, which wasn’t a bad thing.

Watkins and Pugh got us off to a great start which set the foundation of the innings, Watkins was first to go after the openers put on 70odd in 13overs. After losing wickets in quick time, Smithy and Javed gave themselves time to settle into the wicket and slow outfield, they maintained the pressure with quick singles and running hard between wickets to keep the score ticking over. The loss of Javed brought our youngest player of the team Tom Kaye who batted very well for 28no and fed Ben Smith who brought up his 50 in the 40th over and went onto make 106no picking up the pace with 56runs in the last 10overs, with Tom 28no on top of that. We posted a score well above average on a slow wicket and outfield. Ben who now has back to back hundreds, batted very well for us. wWll done for that milestone. 4 for 248 against a team who has won every game so far this season is strong performance for the Manly boys, particular mention goes to Smith 106no Watkins 41 and Pugh 31.

 Chasing 248, Sutherland started very slowly in the run chase due to the bowlers maintaining the battle zone areas and waiting for an error. Sutherland began reducing the required run rate and achange of bowling had Dylan Marshall making the first breakthrough which was very much needed. Matt Alexander bowled 10over straight and set the foundation for the Manly bowlers and was very unlucky not to take a wicket to follow his 6 wicket haul from last game.  Javed was inroduced into the attack, and bowled very well and followed up with 2 wicket to his name and a wicket off a no ball, unlucky. Craig Little was brought into attack late in the innings and attacked the stumps every ball, his bowling was rewarded with 4 wicket. The fielding from the boys backed the bowlers  with all catches taken especially 2 driving catches from the skipper Greg Marks.

It was a great all day performance as everyone put their hand up and fulfilled their roles very well. It was the best win of the season so far and more to come if we continue to play like yesterday or better. Keep up the good work boys and more beers will flow.

 Andrew Watkins

  

3rd Grade – Manly 4/211 (29 overs…M Burgess 89, L Weston 61)) beat Sutherland 209 ( L Stewart 3/36, T Beatty 2/59)

 Turning up to Sutherland Oval the Manly boys were ready to step up in the absence of regular captain, Squid-Lips Little. Unfortunately we were met with a large wet patch on the pitch that held back the start of play to 1pm with each side facing 38 overs. This did not deter the boys who stayed focused with light fielding drills and a focus on the game before the start of play.

After losing the toss we were asked to be the first ones to bare the heat in the field as Sutherland looked to hit out from ball one in an attempt to set a large total for us to chase. Although we didn’t get off to the start we wanted the boys stuck to the plans and toiled hard, drying up the runs. Brad Wilson (2/39 off 7)bowled well finding some good zip off the pitch, Sam Gainsford applied his simple game of dots picking up 1/29 from his 8 overs. Having not bowled in some time Lance ‘Digits’ Stewart was asked by the skipper to roll over the arm, with great effect picking up 3/36 from 7.5 overs. Coupled with some good bowling was some brilliance in the field with spectacular catches from Taylor Beatty and Jarrod Rawlings and a direct hit run out from the boundary from Lance Stewart. The performance saw Sutherland bowled out in the 36^th over for 210.

Getting some much needed fluids into the systems the Manly boys went to catch down the total with the game plan of batting the overs and rotation of the strike. We got off to a good start with the first wicket of Jarrod Rawlings (29) coming in the seventh over with the score at 50. Logan Weston joined the stand-in skipper (Max Burgess) at the crease and the two continued the good start with good running between the wickets and positive stroke play, which saw a partnership of 124, before Burgess was dismissed for 89. Logan continued to bring up his fifty until he was dismissed for 61 from a sharp catch. We passed the total in the 30^th over with six wickets in hand, a great win and well done boys!!

A big thank you must go to Alan Wright who ensured that the boys had access to cold water and sugar hits all day. We were all privileged enough to see him wind back the clock in our touch footy game with some threatening one handed carries and deceptive flick passes.

 Max

 

4th Grade – Manly 6/165 (T Skye 69, L Tully 25, A Virdi 21no, W Evans 21) Sutherland 8/164 ( Sheedy 2/21, Virdi 2/19, S Alexander 2/16)

As the covers were rolled back we were greeted with a lovely green wicket that gives all captains a headache – do you bat or bowl. We won the toss and LG sent them in. Whether this would have changed if we had known the pitch was then about to be shaved I’m not sure, but nevertheless the pitch was a bottler – it actually played quite straight as evidenced by the lack of balls beating the bat. LG picked up a caught & bowled  – Gladstone Small would have trouble catching it but LG had it by the scruff of his neck. Sheeds finally got the edge that he has been threatening with over the past few weeks and picked up two early wickets and he bowled very well. Ash & Evans then tightened the screws with Ash being particularly effective. Sutherland slumped to about 7/80 but the pitch was never too difficult and their captain played some interesting shots to kick start their innings. He was ably supported by their #9 who struggled early on but ended up hitting the ball sweetly to finish with 60no. Again our inability to finish off the tail meant we had to chase more than what we should have been but we would agree 165 was a gettable target on the pitch.

Skye and Falconer opened up but it wasn’t long before the Falcon top edged an attempted pull. Boyer at #3 then found the edge (by the way James kept very well with 3 catches and a stumping) but Tully and Skye steadied things and batted well together. Tully received what could have been a no ball but he managed only to hit it to a diving mid wicket to bring undone another threatening innings from him. It won’t be lonng before he carves out a 70 or 80 I reckon. This puts us at about 3/75 and Poole striding to the crease. He and Skye put another good partnership on and Skye motored along nicely. Some tight bowling from their skipper and the leggie made us struggle a bit and we started to need about 4.5 runs an over. Skye was exhausted and he fell to a good catch to make it about 4/120, needing approx 45 from 10. Poole was then cleaned up by a slower ball and Sutho got a sniff. Evans and Verdi snuffed that out with a couple of well hit 20s before Evans hooked one to fine leg. MClintock calmy supported Verdi with the winning runs coming with 3 overs to spare.

Well, once again we have played pretty good cricket and pulled of a nice win. I keep on thinking we are about to start a run of good games. I hope we are all looking forward to RP this week, it could provide us with the little boost of momentum we need.

Wazza

5th Grade – Manly 75 lost to Sutherland 125 ( Hrogers 5/20, J Knight 2/38)

We rocked up at Tonkin Park to a very humid day and a pitch that was a bit soft and green, and a very rough outfield. Stand in captain Rowley Alexander won the toss and for the first time this season we bowled first. We had a great start with 2 early wickets from Jonkers and Trewartha, and an excellent call from the captain saw Harris Rodgers pick up a wicket just before drinks, and 2 more after to have them on the back foot at 5-60 odd. Knight, Trickey and Glassock all bowled tight lines, with Knighty and Sac being rewarded with 2 and 1 wickets respectively, before Harris returned to clean up the tail and pick up a well deserved 5/20 off 7.1 overs. Well bowled mate.

 We felt this was a very chaseable total as the pitch was flattening out due to the heat, and after gaining 6 off the first over it looked like we were going to be set for a cruisy innings, however that wasn’t the case, with some tight bowling from Sutherland putting Harris and Benny back in the sheds at 2-15. Rowley provided some fight for his 15 before he glided one straight to second slip, before the middle order of Garay, Trickey, Fraser and myself got cleaned out with the late swinging ball leading to 4 LBW’s in a row, and at 7-54 that 125 looked very far away. Sac, Jonkers and Zac provided some fight in the lower order however in the end we needed one partnership to really kick off to get the runs on what was not an easy day with the bat.

 Lets make it a good one next week against Rankwick Petersham

Cheers, Coley