The first red-ball fixtures of the season saw M1s kick things off, hosting Mosman on Day 1. Skipper Jay Lenton won the toss & chose to bowl after a delayed start, Mosman making a solid opening partnership before Bertie Foreman turned the game in a matter of overs, with three big wickets in quick succession. Ryan Hadley with one just prior to lunch, Mosman 4/63 after being 0/48. Post lunch was a grind, but the Tahs maintained the ascendancy as Jacob O’Sullivan took one of the all time hangers at mid off to give Foreman his 4th (see Waratah TV for evidence). Another to Hadley & the Tahs were well on top, Mosman 6/87 before their fightback began. A 118 run partnership halting the Tahs’ charge with lots of close calls to no avail, until Josh Seward broke the partnership with a big breakthrough. Mosman making it through to stumps for no further loss, 7/257 at the close of play.
Allan Border Oval welcomed M2s as the Tahs were sent into bat first after losing the toss. Brynn Mendel at his destructive best early with a flurry of boundaries in a 48-ball 57, combining with Roop Dhillon (25) for a 81 run partnership before both fell quickly to halt the momentum. However, that proved to be only a minor inconvenience as it paved the way for Henry Rogers (118) & Ryan Farrell (115) to combine for one of the more brilliant partnerships in recent Tahs’ memory. Either side of a lengthy rain delay, the two individually peeled off classy centuries in a 213 run partnership which set the perfect foundation for the Tahs to launch late. When they departed, Isaiah Vumbaca (24) continued the momentum, before an entertaining unbeaten 54 run stand between Lachlan Barnsley (37* off 22) & Zach Trewartha (24* off 12) propelled the Tahs to 5/401 off 91 overs when stumps were called.
M3s were back at Atmosphere Park, aka Grahams Reserve, hosting Mosman, as skipper Sam Webber won the toss & elected to bat, he & Jack Melchiore making a steady start before the former was dismissed. Melchiore (55) & Reuben Kapoor (33) consolidated the Tahs’ innings with a solid partnership heading towards lunch, before a mid-innings stumble had the game in the balance at 5/128. But Evan Dunnachie (89) and Ollie Melville (64) were not going to back down from the fight, combining for a free-flowing 118 run partnership as both brought up important half-centuries. Evan falling just short of a century in pursuit of late boundaries. Josh Coyte with an important late cameo of 21* to lead the Tahs past the 300 mark, 9/304 at stumps.
Adam Parkinson & his M4s side were at Rawson Oval to take on Mosman, as the home side won the toss & chose to bat. The Tahs made an excellent start with the ball, Ryan Bishop-Perrett striking early before a mini rebuild from Mosman was halted by three more wickets in quick succession, two to James Waddington & one to George Cumming. Mosman began a strong fightback here, a 102 run stand proving frustrating for the Tahs until George broke the partnership, followed soon after by the skipper who dismissed the other set batter, Mosman 6/155. The home side’s lower order provided stubborn resistance with moderate partnerships, but George proved classy at the end to close out the innings with the final three wickets, to finish with 5/47 across 23 overs. Mosman all out for 243, Dom Wheeler surviving a nervy one over before stumps, Tahs to resume next week 0/0 in reply.
M5s skipper Simon Waddington won the toss at Mike Pawley Oval & had no hesitation in bowling first, his bowlers justifying the decision with a clinical display across the morning & early afternoon. Will Matheson was tidy early with the first breakthrough, but it was young Zac Buchanan who stole the show in the morning session with a phenomenal hat-trick across two overs in a probing spell of fast bowling. Believed to be the Tahs’ first hat-trick since the 1994/95 season. Mosman consolidated momentarily, but the Tahs didn’t let up, Nathan Pryke & Tom Walker dismissing the two set batters. Adam Searle showing his spin-bowling skill set with 3/14 late, before the skipper dismissed his opposing number after a considerable rain delay, to end the Mosman innings on 96. Note some excellent catching all round from the Tahs. In reply, a couple of early wickets didn’t stop the Tahs’ charge, as Jack Donnan (28*) & Bill Martin (12*) saw the Tahs safely to the close of play at 2/59.
Sunday saw Manly Oval host its first women’s triple-header of the season, Brewers kicking the day off. Skipper Arabella Handley won the toss & elected to bat, but the Tahs’ innings was off to the worst possible start with the score 3/4 early. Charlotte Croll (23) & Eve Burke (15) steadied the ship momentarily with an important partnership. Saoirse Ford (13) & Charlotte Allen (12*) with crucial contributions late to help the Tahs post 9/77. It was going to be a tough ask to defend, but the Tahs were up for the fight as all bowlers built consistent pressure. It was Burke that really changed the momentum of the game with a match-winning 4/13 from 4 overs, backed up by wickets to Handley & Annabel Kyme. Brilliantly supported by some excellent fielding & two incredible lightning fast stumps by Annabelle Croll. With Parramatta needing 8 to win off the final over, Lily Crabbe held her nerve taking a wicket & only conceding four runs, to secure a 3 run victory for the Tahs.
The midday game saw W2s asked to bowl first after losing the toss. Mia Waddington with the perfect start for the Tahs with an early wicket, before Parramatta consolidated briefly until an important breakthrough from Darcey Whiteley. One of the more rarely seen dismissals followed shortly after with Parramatta’s #3 out obstructing the field in bizarre scenes, before a run out to Laura Judson. From there, moderate partnerships & a few missed chances frustrated the Tahs, and despite wickets to Lara Hughes, Mia Nel & Kaya Punter, Parramatta were able to push their total to an imposing 7/144. Tough chase indeed, regular wickets through the first half of the innings halting any momentum the Tahs could build. Annabelle Croll with a lone hand of 40 off 34 balls to provide some resistance in the chase, but it was ultimately too little too late, the Tahs finishing 8/112 in reply.
As the afternoon sea breeze rolled in, W1s took the field for the final game of the day, skipper Katie Letcher winning the toss & electing to bat. A relatively subdued start for the Tahs with the bat after some tight bowling from Parramatta resulted in regular wickets. Overseas recruits Ella McCaughan & Megan Sturge momentarily rebuilding the innings, but it was ultimately the efforts of Hannah Darlington that led the way. A superb unbeaten innings of 55* off 37 balls to completely change the momentum of the Tahs’ innings, support from Lizzie Cambridge late to help the Tahs post a competitive 5/121. Parramatta started decently in reply, but the Tahs’ bowlers began to build consistent pressure on the back of Chelsea McLerie’s big opening breakthrough of the opposition skipper. Darlington with a wicket soon after, before Kristie Crawford’s 4 over spell of 3/14 turned the screws & gave the Tahs full ascendancy. Mia Waddington chimed in with a wicket too, and despite a late partnership from Parramatta, the Tahs ran away 21 run victors after a well rounded effort from all bowlers.
W3s unfortunately had a wash out on Saturday.
So the Men will resume Day 2 this coming Saturday with the Tahs on top in a few grades while others are well in the balance. W3s return to Balgowlah to host Bankstown, W2s travel to Tunks to face North Sydney, and Brewers are on the road away to Bankstown. Meanwhile, W1s host a T20 double-header on Sunday, matches against Gordon & Northern District.
Back soon. Go Manly.
