For the QFs 1sts are away v Penrith, 3rds away v NDs, 4ths at home v Parra and 5ths at home v Gordon.
4 Pines Player of the week – Warren Evans
Wazza has bowled well in the past few weeks without any real rewards but this was made up for with a great 5/26 including a hattrick in his first over, just when it was needed. 4ths were in a crucial game that was going to determine whether they got a home or away final and the game was in the balance before Evans injected himself and took the game away from the Hawks. And let’s not forget his valuable 20 runs taking the score from 7/124 to 175. Well done old man, hope that hip flexor can stand up to the 104 over days fast approaching!
Wazza with his hattriick ball.
First grade booked their semi final spot with a convincing victory agsinst the Hawks at Manly oval. After being sent into the field, Dan Babula continued his excellent season with a few early wickets. The Hawks slumped to 4-40 before a figtback from the middle order to took them to 6-250 shortly after tea. Luckily, we took our final 4 wickets for only a few runs to bowl them out for 254. Babula was again the star with 5-58.
Our batting got off to a shaky start with an early wicket lost, however Edgell and Crosthwaite came together for a brilliant partnership. They took the score up to 150 before Luke was dismissed for 64. Crosthwaite then combined with Beadle to steer us home with Crossy finishing unbeaten on 119 and Beadle unbeaten on 57. All three of these guys batted beautifully and had some good time in the middle before the finals.
Next week sees us travel out to Penrith for the quarter final.
2nds finished the season in disappointing style against the lowly placed Hawks. We lost wickets early on and we left it to out 9/10/11 to get us something possibly defendable. Credit to Wil Outred for his well struck 28 and Ben and Mickey also batted well. The rest of us though were somewhat lamentable.
Mickey got an early one and then Ben Falconer bowled with good swing to get a couple of edges. A great effort by Ben and given the way he trains it was good to see him get rewarded. Wil also chipped in with one but the Hawks always looked in control and yet another game the majority of us would like to forget. All up a season that started promisingly but slipped as the season progressed.
On a greenish deck, Hawkesbury won the toss and sent us in. It was tough going for our batsmen early, with Adam falling without troubling the scorers. He was soon joined by opening partner Jarrod (9), who also nicked one to the slips. Lance and Ryan tried to steady the ship on what was proving a very difficult wicket. The pair managed to take us to 26 before Ryan (15) was undone by a great delivery. 3-26 and in trouble. Out to the wicket sprinted Sam Gainsford to join Lance. From the very start of their partnership, they were busy at the crease picking up a lot of singles and defending gallantly. Once they were set, Lance and Sam both began to find the boundary, which had proved difficult up until that point. It was a great partnership in tough conditions that proved crucial to the outcome of the match. Together, they’d taken us from 3-26 to 3-110 on a pitch which you never felt in. Unfortunately, Sam was run out for 31 but his contribution had us back in the match.
The skipper Craig Little then came to crease looking to build on Lance and Sam’s partnership. From the start of his innings, he looked to punish the bad delivery and gave us some momentum heading into the last 10 overs. Shortly after, Lance was caught trying to push on for a well made 47. Luke followed him and was out for 0 after he left one on middle (not a good day for the red heads!) Matt (7) then joined Genie for a short partnership before both were dismissed in the final few overs. Little with a well made 24. It was left to Ronnie and James to steer us home to a competitive 8-161 off 50. Definitely defendable on that wicket!
After the break, Matt and Luke opened up the bowling looking for early wickets. While the openers took after L.G, Matt was unstoppable at the other end. He opened proceedings with an LBW and never looked back. Matt bowled extremely well picking up 4 of our first 5 wickets. It was a combination of pace and swing that ripped the Hawks top order apart. He was well backed up by the always dangerous Ronnie Davis (2-25 off 7). At the first drinks break, Hawkesbury were 6-55 and in deep trouble. The highlight of the first session was definitely the skippers catching (3 in total). He managed to hold onto a ripper at first slip after an edge low to his left. Genie stuck out a tentacle and fortunately enough for us, it stuck.
Following Matt, Sam Alexander came on to bowl and continued to build reassure on the middle order. Like his brother, Sam did a great job for us with the ball. The Hawks struggled to deal with his flight and spin and he picked up a couple of much deserved wickets. 2-7 off 5 was a great return! By this stage, Hawkesbury had limped to 8-75. It was left to LG to burgle the last two wickets and close another clinical BP win by the Tahs. All out for 81. Credit must go to Lance and Sam’s great partnership which set the game. The bowlers then did the job again. Special mention to Matt, who finished with 4-27.
Bring on ND’s in the finals next week! !
LG
4th Grade – Manly 194 ( J Petersen 42, Hole 35) beat Hawkesbury 143 (Evans 5/26, Wilson 2/25)
An important game that would see us anywhere between 2nd and 5th. On a track that had some moisture the home side elected to bowl and got well rewarded with Max getting an early snick, as did Ross. Even Rowan was finding it tough and he too soon departed for 10 to make it 3/25. Cole and Hole started to look comfortable before Cole was trapped in front, making it about 4/50. Sam Hole looks better every week and his 35 was invaluable. Arshdeep (18) struck the ball well as usual before a prod got another edge to make it 5/97. Valuable runs these.Sam then was LBW to the leggie making it 6/99. Bossy looked menacing and was a ball or two from really kicking on but he tickled one from the leggie for a hard hitting 21 to make it 7/124. Petersen (run out for 42) and Evans (20) put on 50 match winning runs to steer us untroubled to 175 before Evans nailed a sweep but without enough elevation to be caught on the fence. Josh hit out including a towering 6 and was unlucky not to get his 50 after been run out. Brad and Nick took running between the wickets to another level when Nick was dismissed for a well made diamond duck. Brad happened to get yet another not out. All up 194 on what is now a pretty flat wicket. A further 7 mins of heavy rolling made it just that bit better.
Brad (2/25) was back in his rightful position as new ball bowler along with Nick (1/38). Nick overpitched a bit (not a bad thing) and the Hawks opener helped himself to these with some well timed boundaries. Up the other end Brad was applying the pressure and was rewarded with an LBW and then soon after a snick to 2nd slip when Max took a sharp one. At 2/37 the Hawks needed a partnership and we needed a wicket. Evans (5/26) replaced Nick and got the ball to move a bit. A mistimed drive to get rid of the hard hitting opener was a relief, next ball was a tidy outswinger clipping off stump then the next ball the Hawks capt shouldered arms to a ball that hit him in front to complete Evans’ first hattrick. At 5/37 we were on top.
Their #4 decided the best option was to take the bowlers on and he hit well for 24 before going for one too many. Another snick swallowed by Josh gave Evans a 5fa but things were a bit dodgy as we leaked a few runs and the storm clouds were rolling in. Lightning took us off the field but we managed to lay the covers. A fierce windstorm then brewed and made short work of the cover pegs and the covers were history. Hawks were 10 runs ahead at 7/129 off 29.3 overs. The radar had heavy rain fast approaching, we lost sight of the mountains, the Hawks capt was smiling and we were wondering if we were going to finish 4th or 5th. Surprisingly the wind seemed to thin the heavy cloud out and instead of the heavy rain we got light showers for about an hour. To the umpire’s credit and the Hawks capt and support crew (Hugh McKay) everybody was willing to pitch in to get a game going. Finally we went back on at 6.20, the game reduced to 40 overs therefore Hawks needing 156 to win (27 off 10.3 overs), us needing 3 wickets. To our credit we played smart cricket with Nick and Bossy bowling off short runs and building the pressure with their accuracy. Their mainstay then took on Trewartha from 3rd man and there was only ever going to be one winner . 2 wickets to get, Nick then yorked the #10, to make it 1 to get or 13 runs to win. Bossy then slipped one through the number 11 to win the game which was a pleasant surprise. We absolutely deservd to win this and we should be confident within reason of making a good showing in the finals.
Warren Evans
Fifth grade finished the season of round games in high spirits after a dominant performance against Hawksbury, defeating them by a little over 100 runs.
Maso and Billy opened up for the Tahs and Maso went about dispatching the opening bowlers to wherever he pleased. Unfortunately his excellent start cut short as he clipped one of his legs to square leg, but billy and Hamish took up where he left off and went about crafting a brilliant partnership that saw us pass the 150. Billy played excellently for 71 and Hamish, unlucky to find mid on when he was handed a half tracker, departed in the 50’s. Jake Carden featured again smashing 35 and Toby Poole rounded off the innings in a great display of hitting and finesse as he also got to 50.
Set 276 to defend the bowlers knew that it would be a fight and after Zach’s first ball found the edge we felt we were in the box seat.
Then from there it seemed like the opener and number three were vying for T20 spots as they sent Hawksbury’s run rate to almost 10 as they slogged their way (luckily at times) to 1-76 off 10 overs..
We knew we had to stay patient and take the opportunities that came and finally we were gifted a run out, as the number three started his campaign of running out as many people as he could.
With the score at 2-110 the game was in the balance and after a good tight spell between Jake Carden and Tom Kelly which slowed the run rate right down, Dylan was brought into the attack.
His spell changed the game picking up 4 wickets and dismantling the middle order of Hawksbury. There was a further two run outs courtesy of the number three the second of which was himself.
Dave picked up 2 late wickets himself to knock off the tailenders and give us a win, Hawksbury all out for 176.
Good momentum heading into the finals; go Manly.
