The pre-season cricket matches played last Saturday at Read Park gave 15 players a chance to show their form before the Sunshine Coast Cricket Association season proper commences on Saturday 11 September. The Tewantin-Noosa Thunder (TNT) First Graders took on the Surfers Paradise Club, captained by ex-international player, Nathan Reardon. They played two T20 matches and the locals won both against the visitors.
Game one: TNT was sent into bat and things looked disastrous after three overs with the score at 3 for 7. The Gold Coast opening bowlers were lively and three sharp ,close in catches had the early batsmen in trouble. However, new player, ex-Gympie batsman, Lewis Waugh steadied the ship and held the innings together. He combined with Jake Dennien (20) and when he was eventually out for 34, Dom Taylor took over, hammering eight fours in his 43 not out. The TNT boys finished their 20 overs on 7 for 119, well short of the planned target score.
When Surfers Paradise opened their batting, what happened mirrored the TNT’s start to their innings. The visitors lost three early wickets, two to Scott Aufderheide and the other to new player, ex-international bowler, Ben Laughlin. Laughlin took a wicket for the club with his second ball, a one-handed screamer, caught and bowled. The visitors struggled all through their innings and finished on 9 for 83 after their 20 overs. Aufderheide took 3-19, Laughlin 3-5 and Jake Dennien 2-13, off their allotted four overs each.
Game two: This time the visitors, Surfers Paradise batted first and posted a score of 125 with Laughlin and youngster Tom Stewart taking two wickets each. Batting late in the day club stalwart, Chris Wright got the team off to a flyer, posting 46 with shots all around the field. With a solid start, the TNT batsman took the opportunity to practice their batting and after the 20 overs, the team had put on 153 runs for the loss of only four wickets.
Blake Steel, Andrew Kratzmann and Jarrod Officer all put 30-plus runs on the board. This was a really good day to start the season off and games were played in great spirits with the Surfers boys. There were star sightings everywhere with three former Australian players – Reardon, Laughlin and Craig McDermott (watching his youngest son bowl) there all day and our own former first-class player Bob McGhee spending a fair bit of time at the match.
The First Graders take on Glasshouse this Thursday night (2 September) at 6pm under lights in the last trial game before fixtures commence on 11 September. It would be great to see good numbers down for training and then stay to watch the locals take on the strong mountain team. TNT will have a full-strength team out for the game so another chance to see Ben, Scott and Tommy Stewart let a few rip!
