Two of the three Tewantin-Noosa cricket Teams playing last Saturday (sixths had a bye) won their matches in the first round of the two-day format.
FIRSTS: On Day 1 of their match against the Maroochydore Swans played at Buderim, the TNT bowlers had dismissed the opposition for 110 runs, with all ten batsmen out caught. Later that afternoon the Swans had the Thunder batsmen on the back foot and they finished the day on 5 for 64. Resuming last Saturday, it was a simple equation for the visitors, score 47 runs and get first innings points. The pitch was flat and incredibly slow (even for Maroochydore standards pitch). 17 runs off the first 4 overs cut the margin to 29 before TNT lost their first wicket (6 for 81). Then both sides began to show the tension with runs very hard to find and the bowlers and fielders on edge. Soon it was 7 for 99 when Scott Aufderheide was out for 11 but with only 12 to win and three wickets in hand the TNT team began to breathe a little easier. Then two more wickets fell for only 5 runs and it came down to Tom Freshwater and teenager Harrison Lea to score 7 runs for the last wicket; and Thunder having taken 25 overs for the last 23 runs this was going be a big ask.
But the Man of the Match, Freshwater delivered and with a boundary past slips saw his team home, winning by one run. His team had batted 34 overs for 47 (31 in the last 30 overs) in the morning and displayed some serious fight and showed that they can win the tough games this season.
Maroochydore had 66 overs to bat in the 2nd innings and after being 2 for 27 decided they would not try for an outright and put the shutters up. Nine TNT bowlers were used with the six wickets taken shared around. Two bowler’s figures highlighted the Swans efforts. Harrison Lea bowled 8 overs, 5 were maidens and he took 1-11 and Aufderheide’s 8 overs went for only 10 runs.
After a very frustrating afternoon the Thunder team drove home with the points in the bag and knowing they now had moved to second place on the premiership table.
Next Saturday the boys are at home against Gympie Gold.
THIRDS: On Day 1 of the first of the two- day games (played at Dale Officer Oval), Maleny had scored 150 in their first innings against the local bowlers. Last Saturday TNT resumed at 4 for 69 still needing to do more to gain first innings points. TNT started the chase badly losing Steve Gallagher (18) and Nick Bennett (33) plus another two to find themselves in trouble at 8 for 96.
Then captain Jason Toohey (63 no) and Brad Thompson (31) set about changing the game. The pair put on 90 runs to enable the Thunder boys to declare at 9 for 203. Batting a second time the TNT bowlers were on fire and bowled Maleny out again before stumps. Top wicket taker was veteran Robbie Payton who took 5-24 off 7 overs. A great win for the team. Next Saturday the team travel to Palmwoods.
FIFTHS: When play resumed on the second day’s play, Cooroy were 3 for 75 needing only 53 runs to pass TNT’s disappointing first innings score of 128.,
The TNT bowlers started well snaring some early wickets but with some dropped catches and missed opportunities Cooroy got the required runs before being all out for 207. Best of the bowlers were Ian Brundell 3-39, Mike Thomson 2-36, Luke Anstey 2-38 and Brendan Chaplin 2-42.
With 40 overs left to play, TNT were sent back into bat under lights – 79 runs in deficit, TNTs main focus was on batting out the remaining overs and not losing the game outright. After the loss of some early wickets Kent Officer 20n.o. and Luke Anstey 17n.o. ground out play to get TNT to a score of 3 for 59 when the match was called off.
In summary TNTs batting again let the team down, posting a score in the low 100s which was not enough for the bowlers to put any pressure on the opposition batsmen. Next Saturday the team commence their two-day match against Yandina at their home ground.
Exhibition night match- Thursday November 26.
On Thursday night the Thunder First Grade side will take on the Sunshine Coast Scorcher’s top team in a T20 match under lights commencing at 6pm at Read Park, Tewantin. The local team will be strengthened by the inclusion of ex-international batsman, Nathan Reardon and hopefully one of the BBL’s top bowlers, Ben Laughlin. The bar will be open and the Pizza Van will be on site.
e crease. Maroochydore crawled at 1.5 runs an over for 50 overs before a late flurry got them to 6/170 off 66 overs.
They broke the world record for slowest scoring rate off full tosses scoring off 2 of 18 full tosses (without a boundary) for the innings with their opener going 0/9 off balls down the leg side without a fine leg in one of the most incipient batting performances ever seen in a dead rubber 2nd innings. Afternoon well and truly wasted.
Freshy Man of Match with 8fa and the winning runs.
The win sees us slot into 2nd on ladder.
