What a weekend it was for the Tahs, with milestones and victories aplenty across a scorching Saturday and overcast Sunday. The Men dominated against Sydney, our top four grades recording comprehensive wins while M5s were abandoned due to the heat, and PGs had a bonus point victory to secure a home semi. Meanwhile, W3s suffered a close defeat to a strong North Sydney side on Saturday, however, W1s and Brewers performed strongly with big wins on the back of some magnificent individual efforts. W2s had the bye.
M1s made the trip to Drummoyne to face Sydney, with skipper Jay Lenton sending the Tigers in to bat first. A clinical team bowling effort followed, two wickets apiece to Ryan Hadley, Tom Kaye and Josh Seward, supported by one to Jacob O’Sullivan, but it was English recruit Bertie Foreman who starred with 3/9 from 10 overs in a classy display, resulting in Sydney all out 129. The run chase started on shaky terms with a wicket first ball, but it proved to just be a catalyst for the Joel Davies show, as he showed his freakish talent with 84* off 41 balls in a brutal display of hitting, supported by Joel Foster with 36* as the Tahs chased the total down inside 11 overs, a bonus point win by 9 wickets.
A green wicket greeted M2s at Manly Oval on Saturday, skipper Andrew Jamieson electing to bowl after winning the toss. It was the skipper himself who justified the decision early, taking 3/38 from his 10 overs, backed up by a direct hit run out from Jordan Daly to have Sydney in trouble. Spin entered the game with Roop Dhillon proving effective as always with 3fa, before Sunshine (2) and Ford (1) wrapped up the innings with wickets of their own. Early wickets in the run chase halted momentum with the Tahs 4/32, before Ben Bryant (52*) continued his phenomenal form with a match-winning knock, supported superbly by Brynn Mendel (46) and later Isaiah Vumbaca (13*) as the Tahs won by five wickets with a bonus point.
Birchgrove Oval was the venue for M3s, Sam Hole calling correctly and choosing to bat first on what looked and was a beautiful batting wicket. Josh Coyte (32) and Lachlan Charles (44) began the innings positively with an 80 run partnership, before run-a-ball innings from the skipper (37) and Zach Trewartha (38) continued the momentum. Young gun Andrew Boulton top scored with a classy 53, while Ellis Raymond (41) and Fraser Noack (15) provided some late boundary-hitting to push the score to 9/294. Sydney began well in the chase, however, an economical spell from Coyte brought about the big wicket to turn the game, before the bowlers tightened the screws, wickets to Noack, Evan Dunnachie and Lachie Trewartha, but it was Z.Trewartha who led the way with 4/23 from 10 straight overs as the Tahs were victorious by 114 runs.
M4s were at Grahams, with the Tahs sent into bat first after losing the toss. Early entertainment from Jayden Kennedy (24 off 12) set the foundation, before Keelan Mendel (46) played the anchor role after the loss of several consistent wickets. At 7/118 the innings was on thin ice, but as was the case on numerous occasions last season, the lower order saved the day, skipper Adam Parkinson (56 off 41) and George Cumming (51 off 53) counter-attacking for a match-winning 96 run partnership as the Tahs posted 237. It was then over to Will Skinner to do the damage with the ball, as he bowled with sensational pace and control to pick up his maiden 5fa for the club, well supported by 2 wickets to the skipper, and 1 apiece to James Waddington and Josh Cooper. Sydney all out for 101, the Tahs with a bonus point 136 run win.
Saturday’s scorching heat impacted M5s fixture at Ryde Oval the most, with the match abandoned at the halfway point. Earlier in the morning, the Tahs were sent into bat, with Reiley Dunlop taking charge of the batting innings with a well-compiled 76, supported predominately through the middle overs by contributions from Luke Watts (22) and Kai Croft (31). Late runs to Lucius, Donnan, Dinan, and Mathieson, as well as a last-ball six to Jordy Brewster, saw the Tahs post 8/212, before the temperature passed the 42° barrier with the game forced to be halted.
Sunday saw PGs return to Manly Oval on an overcast morning, the Tahs sent into bat on the same green wicket that presented challenges batting the day prior. After a wicket lost in the first over, Bertie Foreman (19) and Akshay Joseph (88) consolidated briefly, before a few quick wickets put us back under pressure. Akshay continued to anchor the Tahs’ innings with great maturity and composure on a tough wicket, combining with Josh Cooper (28) for a crucial 69 run partnership. Brilliant late cameos from Evan Dunnachie (31 off 19) and Kai Croft (29* off 26) pushed the total to a very competitive 8/223. With a finals spot on the line for the winner, Tahs’ skipper Josh Seward took control of the game with the ball, taking 5/27 from 8 overs to run through Easts’ top order, superbly supported by all bowlers, other big wickets to Josh Lawson, Roop Dhillon and Lachie Trewartha. Easts bowled out for 119, a bonus point 104 run win for the Tahs, who finish 1st in the Sixers conference and book a home semi final on the 14th of January.
Tunks Park hosted W3s T20 match against North Sydney on Saturday, with the Tahs in the field first after losing the toss. An economical start with the ball was led by skipper Sallie Molyenux and Erica Sharma, the latter of whom picked up the opening breakthrough. Wickets were then shared between Sophia Chick, Jasmin Wilson and Lily Crabbe, courtesy of some excellent catches from Grace Pike, Sharma, and Wilson respectively. North Sydney posting 4/128. Gabby Dunnage (30*) and Daisy Addison (23) began the run chase positively with a flurry of boundaries in a 53 run partnership, before the loss of a few quick wickets halted the charge. Late runs from Sharma (16), Sophie Beukers (15) and Pike (15*) kept hopes up but ultimately the Tahs fell 14 runs short.
W1s arrived at Grahams on Sunday, Tahs skipper Lauren Kua winning the toss and electing to bat. With the score 2/39 early on, it was the skipper Kua (108) and new overseas recruit Georgia Adams (109*) on debut who consolidated the innings with aplomb. The two showing their class with an incredible 192 run partnership to take the game away from Northern District, both registering magnificent hundreds in the process, to push the Tahs’ total to 4/289, Eliza Henry with a late cameo of 18. With the ball, Chelsea McLerie picked up an early wicket, before three wickets in the middle to Kua had the Tahs in the box seat. ND’s fought back, before Ebony Hoskin tore through the middle-lower order with a superb display of fast bowling to pick up her maiden 5fa for the club, well supported by a big wicket to Adams, the Tahs victorious by 78 runs.
With Manly Oval and Grahams in use, Mike Pawley Oval welcomed Brewers for their one-day fixture against Gordon. Sent into bat first, Elizabeth Cambridge continued her strong form, batting with great composure and understanding of the situation to lead the way in the Tahs’ innings, scoring an ultimately match-winning 107. Well supported by important contributions from Emily Horstead (34) and Annabelle Croll (17*) as the Tahs posted 4/207. The effort that followed with the ball and in the field was outstanding, wickets shared amongst one each to Charlotte Allen, Hannah Moss, Lara Hughes and Daisy Addison, along with two to Kaya Punter, but it was Darcey Whiteley that led from the front with 4/11 from 8 overs, the Tahs picking up a double bonus point in a 104 run victory, Gordon all out for 103 in the 41st over.
Massive weekend coming up with the Men’s grades taking on Wests in one-day fixtures, M1s with the hugely exciting day-nighter at Wade Park in Orange. Sunday sees W1s, W2s and Brewers involved in a Manly Oval triple-header, all facing off with Bankstown in T20 fixtures. Meanwhile, W3s will look to bounce back in an away T20 against Sydney University. Hopefully another strong weekend for the Tahs with the Christmas break not far away.
Until then, Go Manly.
