By Randall Woodley
Following on from the successful night match on the Thursday night, Thunder first graders had a day out against the Gympie Gold team at Read Park last Saturday. Winning the toss and deciding to bat first, the TNT openers batted very patiently intent on building a solid foundation so that the later batsmen could build a competitive score.
Captain Jake Dennien and Alex Bennett built the score slowly to 46 before Bennett (20) was out. It was 1-61 at lunch. Sam Baker scored a classy 33 and later in the early afternoon the scoreboard showed 3 for 155. Jake Dennien eventually went for 89, one of the best innings he has played for the club and then it was time to shake things up and Jarrod Officer led the charge. He scored his century of just 63 balls hitting eleven 4s and five 6s. He was supported by Scott Aufderheide (40 off 30 balls) and the pair put on 87 before the captain declared at 5 for 312 in the 91st over. The Gympie boys had to play out 4 overs before stumps and lost a wicket to Aufderheide and will resume next Saturday at 1-11. Another 19 wickets to take next week and a great chance for the Thunder to go for an outright win.
THIRDS; The team travelled to Palmwoods and after Jason Toohey won his first toss of the season the Thunder batted first. The team started well before losing Cooper Lea (28) and a couple more wickets to be 3-74. With Pete Walker as the anchor-man, Adam Curry (40) and Darcy Morgan (28) pushed the score up to 6 for 191. Eventually Pete Walker was out for 98 showing skill and poise in his innings. Robbie Payton then blasted a 37 to help TNT to be all out for 257.
At stumps Palmwoods for 2 for 60
FIFTHS: travelled to Yandina last Saturday with a new look team brimming with enthusiasm. Losing the toss, TNT were asked to bowl in the scorching 40-degree heat and it turned out to be a long and frustrating afternoon. Wickets were hard to come by but eventually the TNT boys wrapped up the Yandina innings at 225. Best of the Thunder bowlers were Steve Hill 5-35 off 20 overs, Ian Brundell 2-64 off 10 with Euan Buxton, Luke Anstey and Naveen Chand each taking a wicket.
Thunder batted out the remaining 6 overs to be 1 for 10 at stumps. With the TNT batsmen now very aware that 200 is the benchmark score, the feel in the sheds is that TNT will give the run chase a good shake next week. Game on!
SIXTHS: The team took on Coolum at Dale Officer oval and struck some early gold with one of the best caught and bowled wickets this year. The visitors were in trouble at 8/107 before some sloppy fielding and a few wags of the tail eventually had them all out for 169. Justin Talbot, Shane Gessell, Wayne Moore, Brendan Chaplin and Graham Chaplin each captured two wickets apiece. Special mention to the wizard Finn Mayo who again at just 14 had the batters completely baffled with his “leggies”. Batting late in the day TNT lost a wicket and will need to buckle down next week to gain first innings points.
