Weekend Wrap Round 4 (Day 2) vs Eastern Suburbs + Womens 3s & Men’s T20 Double Header

This week’s 4 Pines Player of the Week is Adam Gummer for his captain’s knock of 66* to steer his Fourth Grade troops to victory on Saturday. After surviving last weekends late overs and resuming on Saturday on 10*, ‘Gumms’ punished the Eastern Suburbs bowling all over Grahams Reserve, showing how paitence and playing straight can win a match for your side. Combining with Nick Cohen and Joel Davies, Gumms led from the front and ensured the Fourth Grade boys achieved their first win of the season. This dominant performance from the 4Pines hopsman is hopefully a sign of things to come for the rest of the season in creating momentum into Christmas and achieveing more wins on the board. Congratulations Gumms and well deserved!

We arrived at Waverley Oval full of positivity and hope that we might be able to turn around disappointing performance of Day 1 and scrap through for a second innings win. We knew it was going to take some positive cricket and a few things to go our way- including Eastern Suburbs desire for an outright win. When they batted on in the first session it was clear they were happy with the first innings win and nothing more, and subsequently we couldn’t dismiss them even with some aggressive and patience bowling. It wasn’t meant to be.

Eventually we got the last 2 wickets after an hours play and our chance of a second innings win was diminished. After Jack and Jay fell early, AB steadied the ship whilst Cameron played a masterful run-a-ball innings for 65 and hands were shook an hour before tea.

Things are about to change for the 1s side and we’ll be coming back hard next week.

Jack Edwards

Points:

3 Points – Chris Green
2 Points – Cameron Merchant
1 Point – Jack Edwards

Contents:

• Last wicket partnerships
• Bhandari’s House – Where was TK?
• Failed Pepsi’s
• Herdy’s Olive Jar
• Griffin’s Debut Dragon

 Report:

Week two of the Round 4 fixture saw Jamo’s men rock up to a beautifully prepared wicket (free of any helicopters) courtesy of the great Gene Namu (still recovering from the All Blacks Semi Final). The day was setup to be an exciting one after one of the great (frustrating) lower order knocks from Easts #9. His innings proved to be a big turning point in the game (9/189 – 10/323). ** insert face palm emoji **

This brought about a discussion amongst the group at breakfast about whether or not there should be a mercy rule on last wicket stands just to ensure the morale of all grade cricketers (who couldn’t possibly be doing anything better late on a Saturday than watching a #9 pongo every bowler to every fence at Manly Oval) still remains high enough to keep playing. Roy Formica, The Grade Cricketer, thoughts?

On the subject of breakfast, it was nice to see Tommy Kaye show up after a suspect week – why did you have to leave training early on Wednesday evening? What was happening at Centennial Park?

Moving on.

After much confusion with ordering (largely due to Sam Gainsford still speaking Swahili after his failed pepsi) everyone eventually got their pre-game meals in to ensure all batsmen were primed for the innings of a lifetime (I think it’s fair to say we’ll try a different menu next week). Special mention to Elliot Herd who decided to rock up to the game riding his bike without a helmet (forgetting about the kid who got hit last Saturday on Sydney Road) carrying his empty jar of olives with a homemade black coffee. Rare.

Back to Manly Oval.

The day started off promising, almost too much so. Sweet Chilli Willy’s signature dragon put enough fear into Griffin Lea that nobody we will ever want to debut in 2’s again. Yes Willy, that was a little aggressive mate.

A highly energetic game of touch footy (bunch of stoked men knowing their last wicket fell before stumps), accompanied by another stump target victory to the boys ensured that we did indeed peak in the warmup.

Onto the cricket.

Our innings started off strongly with Logan showing glimpses of the form that saw him score 85,000 runs in 2’s two seasons ago. Maxy was looking as sharp down the other end as he usually does in Manly on a Saturday (after the sun goes down). The pair put on a very comfortable 48 for the first wicket before Logan Weston had a 50/50 decision lean towards the man who apparently didn’t have enough fortune for one game (#11 who scored his first grade 50). This saw our innings hit a bit of a standstill as Easts continued to bowl tightly forcing dismissals to be forgotten about at the expense of Webber and Herd.

Taylor grinded through till lunch but unfortunately fell soon afterwards as Kaye also came and went. 0-48 turned 5-87, the boys were in need of something special. Fresh off his match winning 38*, Ashy joined Gainsy to lead the revival and did so with a typically aesthetic array of shots through the off side. The boys fought hard and put on a swashbuckling 65 for the 6^th wicket before both falling in reasonably quick succession. From there we needed a miracle to get the job done and unfortunately, despite best efforts from Griff, Sammy Webber, Jamo and Hicksy we fell 134 runs short.

Full credit goes to Easts on the win as they outplayed us in what was one of the rarer games of cricket. The teams enjoyed a chat on the field after the game over a nice, cold 4 Pines Pacific before the boys headed back up to the sheds for court. Sweet Chilli taking the cake this week with Sam Gainsford and Andrew Jamieson getting away with one.

Thanks to Gordy, Snr Gains, Sweet Chilli, Henry & Scott McLachlan for their efforts all day helping the boys.

Onwards & Upwards.

Tom Kaye

Points:

3 Points – TBC
2 Points – TBC
1 Point – TBC

Fielding Award – TBC 

After a disastrous last session for the Manly boy’s Day 1, the game was left evenly poised. Starting the day at 6/70, chasing 158, in batters Nick Mchlachlan and Zach Trewartha went about their business in a patient manner. Easts bowlers did not give them many balls to hit early on, which led to Zach showing intent and sadly edging it to second slip. In comes Brad Wilson.

Many players in this situation would be influenced by the match pressure to not play their naturally free flowing game. Not Brad. From ball 1 Brad went after the Easts bowlers and placed the pressure right back on the opposition. Boundaries proceeded for the next 5 or 6 overs from Brad, while at the other end the Easts bowlers set a negative game plane to Nick by bowling a 9th stump line. Brad departed for a valuable 21 runs that brought about a lot of nerves in the Eastern Suburbs side. Having 2 wickets in hand and 44 runs to get, the game looked set for a grand finale. However, we lost the last 2 wickets for only 1 run leaving captain Nick stranded for a well-made 38 not out. Nick led from the front with the bat and played a methodical innings, sticking to his strengths and choosing the right ball to slap through the covers. Really unfortunate no one could hang around with him both days.

Having only batted for 15 overs day 2, Eastern Suburbs team put the pads on and came out to bat. Honourable mention to Josh Seward, in his debut in 3s he showed his class and bowled a fiery new ball spell. Deserved more rewards than just the one wicket. Overall, a disappointing game where 45 minutes of cricket cost the team 6 points.

Points:

3 Points – Michael Counsell
2 Points – Griffin Lea
1 Point – Brad Wilson

“The Shack” Fielding Award – TBC

Ned Hole

After rolling East’s for 167 last week on a considerably flat wicket and being 0/19 overnight, we were in a really good position leading into this week. The plan was to not be complacent and make sure we remain patient. This is exactly what our two openers Nick and Adam did, getting us through the first 15 overs none down. Nick fell just shy of his half century, but put us in the perfect spot. The second wicket fell which Dom was unfortunate not to kick on. Adam and Joel then came and knocked off the rest of the runs of in style, with the both of them being not out. The ideal captains knock 66* was the highlight of the day. It’s the first win for the 4s lads, but this should give us some momentum leading into Christmas

Points:

3 Points – Joel Davies
2 Points – Adam Gummer
1 Point – Nick Cohen

Feilding “Shack” Award  – Nick Cohen

Will Akhurst

We arrived for the second day at cold, breezy Snape Park with 322 on the board. Skipper Andrew Rochford opened the bowling with Toby Laughton and together the two applied pressure which resulted in an Ollie Melville run out from mid-wicket to take the first pole. Lachie Kerr then came on to replace the tired skipper and made the next breakthrough trapping the other opener in front. Ollie Melville then came on to bowl replacing Toby which had immediate effect, with Ned Healy taking a sharp catch at short cover.

Another run out this time by Ned Healy grabbed the fourth wicket and Manly were on top. After this Eastes put together a partnership that took them up to tea before the wily veteran, revitalised by a two-paced tea featuring some lovely Tim Tams but excessively ripened bananas, got the breakthrough that we needed to have Easts 5 for 133.

Unfortunately Easts again rallied putting together a partnership that reached 98 courtesy of some poor Manly fielding that had two catches put down at point and slip. Throughout this period the batsmen took very few risks and did not really look to attack the target of 322. After being unlucky and missing out on some chances, Ned Healy was rewarded with the 6th wicket to leave them six for 231 after 71 overs.

With nine overs to go in the day we needed to take 4 wickets. Jake Osborne took the 7th wicket of the day caught by Jack Melchior in slips after the batsman had many chances. Ned Healy came on from the top end and after a short ball which caused the batsman some annoyance, as few of the Manly boys leapt to Ned’s defence. The next ball the batsman decided to chop on after some chat between the players. They blocked out the last 3 overs of the day which unfortunately ended in a frustrating draw to end the day. Toby Laughton

Points:

3 Points – Jack Melchoir
2 Points – Ned Healey
1 Point – Oscar Lucious

Fielding award – TBC

Toby Laughton