Seniors Opening Round Match Reports
Firsts bring home the bacon!
The 1s ventured up to Talaskia Reserve to be hosted by St. Johns Tecoma. Marshall Bunting, kicked off precedings with an early win by winning the toss and elected to bat. After a shaky start, with the loss of early wickets, Marshall showed plenty of patience kept defending while the ball was new and as the ball and bowlers grew tired, he began attacking, evetually putting together a great innings of 94no. He was ably supportted by Paul Adams, who was unlucky to be out for 18 and Trent Fitgerald and Josh Lindner chimed in with some handy runs before innings was compulsorily closed, 7/192.
After the break, we took the ball and while it took a while for the first wicket to come, once it did the wickets cam reasonably constantly, with all bowlers attacking the stumps on a ground that is reasonably short square, so, risky to bowl short. Dewayne Bowden took the first two wickets in consecutive balls and finished the game with the excellent figures of 5 for 34. The batsman couldn't get bat to ball against Cam Wheeler, who bowled exceptionally well, with figures of 3 for 6. Eventually St. Johns Tecoma were all out in the 38th over for 153, chasing quick runs. Generally, all bowleers bowled well were rewarded for attacking the stumps, with 7 wickets falling either bowled or lbw and the fielding was tight, so, it was pleasing season openning win.
Seconds take control early and don't give it up.
The 2s played St. Johns Tecoma at Windermere, the first time the 2s have played there for a while. Eraj Wimalaratna, better known Raj, the newly appointed captain of the 2s, won the toss and elected to bowl first and the Gators took control straight away, as early wickets fell, with Raj and George Shaw taking the first couple. The spin duo of Kevin Atacador and Peter Castledine, kept up the pressure with 5 wickets between them, for a miserly amount of runs. All the bowlers bowled tight with St. Johns Tecoma eventually running out of overs, with a totoal of 88. The enthusiasm was great and fielding was good, capped off by Adam Heath being involved in several wickets behind the stumps, including a couple of stumpings.
With the St. Johns Tecoma being limited to 88, we still had our work cut out for us, as Windermere is a big oval and the grass was long, so, boundaries wouldn't come easily.
Michael Wheeler opened the batting and looked good, until he slammed a ball down sqare legs throat, for 11. We lost another couple of wickets quickly, but, then two experienced campaigners came to the crease, in Pete Castedine and Adam Heath and they put together a handy 40 run partnership, before Pete was out for 11. Paul Wiles then strode to the crease and along with Heathy, guided the team home for a comfortable win, despite a controversial six by Wilesy.
Threes lose nailbiter
The 3s played on a tiny back oval at St Johns Tecoma, with what you might call a 'fluid' lineup. Dwayne Stangherlin was bit "tired and emotional" and was unable to make it out of bed, but, Cam Davey came off the honeymoon bench to help out. Also in the side and making their club debuts were father and son Mick and Nathan Boucher.
Bowling first the Gators had immediate success with Luke Heads (3/24) enjoying the new pitch (if not the short boundaries) and picking up several wickets. Young Nathan Boucher, just turned 15 , created some carnage of his own, taking 4 wickets (4/36) , including a magnificent diving caught and bowled. At 7-20 it was looking like an early afternoon, but a late order recovery saw the Tigers get to a very healthy 9/148, helped by some deteriorating fielding. Steve Terrington (1/10 off 7), Cam Davey, Dane Heffernan all did their bit with the ball, in tough conditions.
The run chase began reasonably well, despite the loss of a couple of early wickets with the Bouchers putting on a 50 partnership. With the stick, Mick made 19, Tommy Day a lusty 13, and Josh Burridge 11. Nathan Boucher's fine 62 almost brought the side to victory, but the chase got too difficult at the end, with experienced bowlers tightening up and getting wickets with regularity. The game went down to the final over, so all in all a good effort by the 3s and some promising signs for the season ahead.
