An unbelievable PGs victory highlighted a mixed weekend for the Tahs, as the Men took on Gordon in Day 1 of the first two-day fixtures for the season, while the Women went 2/3 across the weekend.
M1’s were at Chatswood Oval, skipper Jay Lenton winning the toss and electing to bat on what looked to be (and was) a highway. Openers Joel Foster (74) and Ahillen Beadle (60) saw off the new ball confidently before showing their class with a 129 run opening stand. Their positive start built the foundation for Jay Lenton (52) and Joel Davies (89) to capitalise throughout the middle of the day, putting the team on course for a big total. Ryan Farrell (58*) finished the day strongly with Matt Brewster (21) and some late hitting from Jacob O’Sullivan (37 off 23) propelling the Tahs to 7/398 at the close of play.
Manly Oval hosted M2’s as skipper Andrew Jamieson chose to bowl first on a green looking wicket. Regular wickets early to Jamieson and Michael Counsell had Gordon on the back foot, however, it was a run out from Matt Sunshine to dismiss the set opening batter that put the Tahs in the box seat, as Gordon slumped to 6/98. To Gordon’s credit, they formed some strong partnerships from there as the pitch flattened out, their lower-order pushing the total up to 299. Jamieson, Counsell, Roop Dhillon and Ned Hole with 2 wickets each. With a tricky 10 over period to bat, Lachie Coyte and night-watchman Dhillon held strong after an early wicket, the Tahs to resume next week at 1/24 in reply.
M3’s welcomed back a wealth of experience to the line-up, Sam Hole winning the toss and batting first at Killara Park. After a nervy start resulted in the loss of a few early wickets, Hole (61) and Zach Trewartha (49) kept the innings together with some classy batting supported by partnerships with Keelan Mendel and Josh Coyte. When both set batters departed, it was up to Evan Dunnachie (35) and Fraser Noack (15*), both of whom batted positively, Dunnachie in particular moving the score along at a solid rate while Noack cleverly led the Tahs to the end of the day’s play 8/218.
Fortress Grahams Reserve saw M4’s for the first time this season, skipper Adam Parkinson winning the toss and batting, but the Tahs were in some early strife at 5/62 despite a strong start from Luke Watts (26) at the top of the order. Ellis Raymond (43) and Oscar Lucius (22) steadied the ship with a counter-attacking partnership, but when they were both dismissed after Tea, the Tahs’ batting innings concluded quickly, bowled out for 145. With a minimum 24 overs left in the day, early breakthroughs for James Waddington and Will Skinner kept hopes up, before a wicket to Josh Cooper in the last over of the day sees the game evenly poised with Gordon 3/40.
M5’s made the trip away to Beauchamp Oval, as the Tahs were asked to field first after losing the toss. Beau Kelley bowled superbly up front to take two important wickets early, before Gordon consolidated with a 100+ run partnership. Kieran Smith broke the dangerous partnership, but the home side continued to build towards a strong total with positive batting. Just as Gordon were gaining the ascendancy, Will Matheson struck twice in quick succession, while wickets to skipper Simon Waddington and Jack Donnan helped keep the run rate in check. Gordon concluding the day 8/278 from 80 overs.
After a three week hiatus, PGs returned home for a Round 2 clash with Sydney. PGs debuts for Bertie Foreman, Brodie McDowell, and Kai Croft, while we also welcomed back Andrew Boulton and skipper Joel Davies. Batting first after winning the toss, Davies went after the bowling early with 24 off 15 balls, but from there, the Tahs were unable to build any substantial partnerships, bowled out for 90 in the 24th over, despite the best efforts of Josh Seward with 31. What followed was unbelievable. The bowling was on the money from the get go, and the fielding backed it up. Three wickets apiece to Seward (3/25), Davies (3/16) and Foreman (3/12), and an important wicket to Roop Dhillon (1/13), to go with some brilliant catches in the field from Davies and Foreman. Sydney bowled out for 75 in the 36th over. Cricket’s a funny game isn’t it!
W1’s crossed the bridge to face St George-Sutherland at Glenn McGrath Oval. Lauren Kua took the reins as skipper, winning the toss and electing to bowl. Despite some economical bowling from the Tahs early, the home side were off to a solid start. Kristie Crawford broke the opening partnership, before Ebony Hoskin returned to the attack to dismiss the set batter for 71, as the Slayers posted 2/133. Kua (32) and Elizabeth Cambridge (22) began the run chase positively, but from there the consistent loss of wickets hurt the Tahs, bowled out for 89, with one of the opposition bowlers running through the middle order with incredible figures of 7/8.
With Manly Oval in use, Brewers took on St-George Sutherland in a T20 at Grahams. Sent into field first, the Tahs’ bowlers were superbly economical, restricting the opposition to be 0/23 from the first 10 overs. Lara Hughes (3/18) capitalised with three wickets on the back of consistent team pressure, while Erica Sharma (1/7) and Charlotte Allen (1/9) also picked up wickets to see St-George Sutherland finish with 5/82. A strong start to the run chase from Charlotte Croll (17) and Hannah Moss (14) was halted by the loss of some quick wickets, before Arabella Handley (19*) and Annabelle Croll (23*) calmly guided the team home in the 19th over.
W3’s won on forfeit, while W2’s had the bye.
Next week sees the Men continue battle with Gordon in Day 2 of this round. W1’s take on Campbelltown away, W2’s and Brewers face North Sydney away, and W3’s return home against Parramatta.
Bye for now.
