Last Saturday the final round of the one day competition for the senior men was played.
Next weekend the two-day (red ball) matches start and will continue through for the rest of the season.
The club teams finished reasonably well in the round, but the highlight was another century by a teenager playing senior cricket.
Ethan Slaney, playing in third grade, scored a great 129 off 82 balls against the Nambour team. With teenagers scoring runs and taking wickets nearly every week in seniors, the future of the club appears to be in good hands.
FIRST GRADE: The team was at Read Park to play the last of their 50 over matches against ladder leaders Maroochydore Swans.
Asked to bowl first, the Thunder opening bowlers, the experienced Scot Aufderheide and the exuberant Tom Stewart responded with speed and swing. The wicket had some lift in it early and these two bowlers took advantage of the conditions and soon had the Swan batsmen reeling.
In the second over they were 1-4, then 2-14 after four, 4-19 and by over 15 they had lost nine wickets for only 34 runs. Aufderheide had 3-10, Stewart 3-12 and Ben Laughlin 3-12. It seemed the Thunder would be chasing less than 50 runs for a win.
Then, as happens often, in the unpredictable game of cricket, the Swan’s numbers nine and No 11 batsmen dug in and resisted for an hour and a half against seven of the Thunder bowlers to add 101 for the last record to finally be all out for 135. Surely a record.
Although there was a considerable air of disappointment in the Thunder sheds at the break, the Swan’s final wicket stand did provide an opportunity for the Thunder batsmen to spend some time at the crease which was needed.
Lewis Waugh, last year’s top scorer had been finding runs hard to come by and opened scoring a very patient 34 before he was run out. Jake Dennien scored 37 off 89 balls and the prolific Jarrod Officer hit another 50 not out to finish the day with a win for the team.
This was the First Graders 27th win in a row playing at Read Park over the past three seasons. Also, interesting to note that Gympie Gold defeated the star-studded Caboolture team last Saturday.
Next Saturday the team travel to Gympie to play them on day one of their two-day match.
SECOND GRADE: Playing Maroochydore on their ground, the seconds fielded one of the youngest Tewantin-Noosa teams seen in this grade, with at least five teenagers lining up.
Sam O’Neil and Jack Caspers were welcomed into the side.
Batting first Thunder started well with Max Cooper and Tyrone De Kauwe, but wickets began to fall to the experienced opposition bowlers. At drinks, Thunder was 4-57 but after that, poor batting and three run outs cost the side dearly and they were all out for 74.
Only De Kauwe, Pete Walker and Dan Cooke reached double figures. At Maroochydore you have to pitch up, which the inexperienced Thunder bowlers failed to do, and this allowed them to dictate the scoring and win the match.
THIRD GRADE: Playing at home and winning the toss against Nambour, Thunder batted first and hit their first goal of 40 runs after 10 overs but fell just short of the second goal of 80 by drinks.
From there the second highest partnership for the club this season of 184 runs was compiled by Ethan Slaney and Ben Shaw in a near flawless exhibition of strong hitting, deft touches and great running between wickets.
Slaney achieved his maiden century – 129 from 82 balls in a mature and calculated innings. Ben Shaw scored a solid half century in similar fashion.
With 253 on the board and a dejected Nambour at the crease, Thunder set about dismantling them. Nambour showed some resistance, but Thunder stuck to the task every ball and took consistent wickets rolling them for 117. Top wicket takers were Tadgh Crowley (3), Ben Shaw (2) and Richard Lee (2)
This was the team’s best performance this season and this win should place them in the top four for Grade 3. The team is feeling very much like an actual team, all playing for each other.
FIFTH GRADE: The team faced Cooroy at their ground in a top of the table clash with the winner securing a spot in the one-day final. The afternoon started well, winning the toss and electing to bat but Thunder lost three early wickets.
Teenagers Rory Ramsden (12*) and Farren Cooke finished well to see the team register a competitive score of 196. Top scorers were Brendan Wright with a courageous 52, Anthony Blackwell 47 and Kent Officer 13.
Cooroy made a solid start to get to 34 before the loss of their first wicket with a great run out from Farren Cooke, who also ended up with two catches for the day.
Cooroy continued to bat well after the drinks break but Thunder also took wickets regularly to slow the run rate and keep in the game.
Unfortunately, the team lacked a bit of their usual strong consistency with their bowling and fielding which Cooroy capitalised on and they passed the required score in the 36th over. Best bowlers were Kent Officer 2-49, Farren Cooke 1-17 and Jordan Lane 1-8.
Next Saturday the team is at home and will play Coolum in the first day of their match.
SIXTH GRADE: The team took on Glasshouse at home needing a win to have a chance at finals. Winning the toss the opposition was sent in and they scored freely, ending on 4 -240.
Thunder started confidently with the bat and quickly started running down the total before Craig Moore fell for 22. Shane Gesell joined veteran Tony Watson and they pushed the score to 119 before Gesell fell for 39. Watson played one of his best innings to date and eventually was out for 70. Wayne Moore again batted well for his 49 and Naveen Chand for his 26, both not out.
The team reached the required target in the 27th over to record a very satisfying win.
