Welcome to another edition of the Weekend Wrap, proudly brought to you by our friends at New Balance | Belgravia Apparel. Visit them at www.belgraviaapparel.com for all your community club and business apparel needs.
What a crazy weekend of cricket we’ve just had. The Men resumed two-day fixtures against Randwick with M2s, M3s & M4s recording important wins, but not without some serious theatre. Meanwhile, the Women went 4/4 for the second week running with some superb individual & team efforts.
Saturday fixtures
Men’s 1st Grade:
In a spot of bother at 4/41 overnight in pursuit of Randwick’s 299, the Tahs made an ultra positive start to Day 2 as Beadle (47) & Dhillon (36) built into a strong partnership, ultimately worth 74. Just as the Tahs looked to have the momentum, a couple of quick wickets shifted the game back in Randwick’s favour, and the Tahs found it difficult to regain the ascendancy from then on. Starts from Foster (23) & Boulton (35) momentarily giving the Tahs a sniff but it wasn’t to be, bowled out for 190 in reply.
Men’s 2nd Grade:
A crazy day. Randwick resumed 7/95 in reply to our 236, and made a decent start to Day 2 before Osbourne picked up his 5th to break the partnership. A lower order revival had the Tahs nervous for a moment as Randwick’s skipper passed 100, but wickets to Dunnachie & Kerr saw the Tahs take first innings points by 58 runs. Skipper Trewartha (30) was off to a flyer as the Tahs looked to set a total, before a 75 run stand between Daly (52) & O’Sullivan (61) set up the innings, both with great half centuries as the latter in particular showcased some destructive hitting. A brilliant attacking half century too from Vumbaca (51no) seeing the Tahs post 5/211 from 34 overs, when the declaration was called, setting Randwick 270 to win from 36 overs. Osborne struck after a quick fire start, but from there, Randwick looked in full control with a few counter-attacking partnerships putting the Tahs under serious threat of a reverse outright loss. Wickets to Vumbaca & Kaye, but with Randwick’s skipper bringing up an incredible 2nd 100 for the day at Coogee, the home side looked well on track. Down to 14 off 12 balls, 7 off 6, and then 1 off 4, the game looked done. Not if you ask Tommy Kaye. Executing 4 of the most perfect yorkers under pressure, three dots, & then a run out of the final ball to keep second innings scores level, and meaning the Tahs hold onto their first innings point. Insane.
Men’s 3rd Grade:
Resuming 0/17 chasing 188 for victory, an early wicket & a tricky morning spell meant the Tahs had their work cut out early. However, Melchiore (80) & S.Hole (52) were up for the challenge, navigating the first session patiently, before building into what was ultimately a match-winning partnership. Melchiore dropped anchor in a 198 ball stay reaching 80, while skipper Hole compiled his own impressive half century as the two combined for a 112 run stand to have the Tahs in the box seat. A late wobble in the run chase but the work had been done, McDowell (17) contributing before Dinan (10no) hit the winning runs for a 5 wicket Tahs win.
Men’s 4th Grade:
Crazier day. Where to start? At Petersham Oval, Pryke & Kershler resumed the Tahs’ pursuit of 117 at 7/61. The two began the day steadily to rebuild the Tahs chances with Pryke (23) & Kershler (21) going along nicely. However, pressure’s a funny thing & one wicket brought two, leaving the Tahs 9 down still with work to do. Unfortunately, the final wicket fell with the Tahs just 4 short of first innings points, but plenty of time remained in the day. And the boys were up & about. Sunshine striking twice early followed not too long after by Pryke & Bishop-Perrett to have RPs 4/46, before the home side consolidated & looked destined to see out the afternoon. Not if you ask Nathan Pryke. The big man from Pottsville loves the big moments & tore the heart out of Randwick’s middle & lower order with a scintillating spell of hostile fast bowling to finish with 6/20, including a ridiculous 4 wickets inside 7 balls. RPs all out 103, leaving the Tahs 107 for a reverse outright win with 27 overs left. On the back of a brutal start from Kennedy (51 off 36) & great support from Donnan (21), the Tahs looked in cruise control at 0/73, until the collapse of all collapses. 0/73 to 9/95 with some crazy cricket, and all of sudden, the game looked gone. But the calmness of birthday boy Kershler & the experience of Bishop-Perrett saw the Tahs over the line for an absurd one wicket reverse outright win just as storms rolled in. And breathe.
Men’s 5th Grade:
After posting 186 on Day 1 & with Randwick beginning strongly to be 0/36 overnight, the Tahs were up against it on a flat Mike Pawley Oval wicket. Randwick continued with a steady start on Day 2 before the Tahs found the ascendancy with regular wickets on the back of disciplined partnership bowling. Graham with the opening breakthrough, before Buchanan picked up the next two, followed shortly after by Kelley with another couple, and the game was back in the balance at 5/107. Brewster chipped in with the 6th at 121, and the Tahs were on the charge, but the visitors fought back with a few counter-punches. At 6/156, they had control back, before two quickly to H.Matheson swung the game once more, but it wasn’t to be ultimately, as RPs lower order attacked their way past our first innings total just after tea. Graham with a consolation wicket just afterwards, before skipper’s shook hands with the Tahs going down on first innings.
Women’s 3rd Grade:
It was 1 vs 2 on Saturday in W3s, as the Tahs won the toss at Gannons Park & elected to bowl against rivals St George-Sutherland. And what ensued was an absolutely sensational start as Searles knocked over the dangerous opposition skipper early on, before Ellis picked up two in quick succession to have the Slayers 3/8. It wasn’t long before the momentum rolled on, as Champion took two back-to-back, while Molyneux was at her best with 3fa in an excellent spell. It wasn’t just the bowlers executing, there was some terrific fielding efforts too including 8 catches. Wright with the final two wickets, setting the Tahs 57 to win. Skipper S.James (24) made a positive start after an early wicket was lost, Pike began well, before Hough (13no) hit the winning runs to put the Tahs to the top of the table with a dominant 7 wicket win.
Sunday fixtures
Women’s 1st Grade:
At University Oval for the penultimate regular season fixture, the Tahs were asked to bowl first after losing the toss. After a decent start from Syd Uni, L.Hughes struck first, before the home side took control with a strong partnership. At 1/75, they looked in control, before a run out to skipper McLerie turned the tide. Wickets then to Hughes & Sharma had Uni 4 down, before another good partnership threatened until the skipper broke through for the 5th at 171. From there, the Tahs fought back strongly, led by Hughes who finished with 4fa, while K.Punter & Crawford also chipped in with wickets to restrict Uni to 208. The chase didn’t start in ideal fashion with an early breakthrough and at 2/45, the game was in the balance, before a superb 77 run stand between Kua (73) & Henry (38) set a terrific platform and had the Tahs in the box seat at 2/121 & 3/152. A middle order wobble ensued before important contributions from Handley (16) & skipper McLerie (24) got the Tahs back on track to have scores level 7 down. But the wild weekend of cricket continued as a two wickets in an over made it 9/208, before a wide saw the Tahs to a nervy 1 wicket win with an over to spare.
Women’s 2nd Grade:
On the back of some winning form, 2s were at Manly Oval once more, as Bankstown won the toss & elected to bowl on a sunny morning. After an early wicket, the Tahs regrouped courtesy of a patient partnership between Kyme (53) & S.Hughes (35) as both navigated a tricky new ball spell before building into their innings’ nicely in an excellent 80 run stand. Kyme compiling a particularly important half century against disciplined bowling. The middle order struggled for momentum as the Tahs looked to cash in on a good start, before contributions from Allen & Hough helped the Tahs post a competitive 7/162. For the second week in a row, a run out was the perfect start to proceedings in the first over with the ball, before Wilson took a sharp catch off Allen for the 2nd. Bankstown consolidated & were in complete control of their run chase at 2/92, but the Tahs remained patient & took their chances late. Bursill with the crucial breakthrough, before 2nd Grade debutant Gillett turned the game on its head with a superb spell of bowling to pick up 5fa. Things happened fast & the Tahs were on a roll, as Thornton & Kyme picked up the final two wickets to secure another impressive 38 run win against the ladder-leaders.
Brewer Shield:
Looking to book a home final with a big performance out west, Brewers were sent into bat first at Grahame Thomas Oval. What followed was really a clinical team batting performance as the top order all chipped in while some terrific partnerships helped the Tahs build a formidable total. Pearson (40) was at her counter-attacking best early, well supported in good partnerships with Terrey (16) & Davies (23). Pike (39) found the boundary with regular ease in a fluent innings that continued the momentum, while Brown (47) carried on with her excellent form with a run-a-ball 47. It was then Jayakody (57 off 50) & skipper Addison (42 off 32) who lifted the tempo to take advantage of the superb platform that had been built, as both moved the game forward with some brilliant hitting. Propelling the Tahs to a mammoth 9/305. With the ball, the Tahs were again absolutely clinical, as T.Ford struck in the opening over dismissing Bankstown’s skipper, before wickets from there fell at regular intervals. Pallister, Brown, S.Punter & Addison with wickets, before Ford picked up the final three to finish with 4/16, Bankstown all out 62 as the Tahs secured home final with a massive double bonus point win by 243 runs.
Upcoming fixtures
The biggest round of the season commences for the Men this week with club champs on the line as the Tahs take on St George, who currently sit 17 points ahead in the club champs race. Two-day fixtures with M2s & M4s at home.
Meanwhile, W1s & W2s conclude their seasons with one-dayers against Gordon & St George Sutherland, away & home respectively. W3s have a bye before finals, while Brewers host a massive elimination final at Manly Oval, up against Sydney Uni.
Until next week, up the Tahs!
