By Randall Woodley
FIRST GRADE: On Saturday at Read Park the TNT team took on the Coolum Sharks in the first of two weekend matches. Winning the toss, the home captain decided to bat first on the excellent looking wicket and a fast outfield, despite the rain during the week. The openers started well with evergreen Chris Wright scoring at a run-a-ball to be out for 45 with the score on 72 in the 17 th over. The Coolum bowlers slowed the run rate down but the anchor-man, Alex Bennett (70) ensured that he and his partners would build a competitive score. After the 50 overs the scoreboard read 7 for 247 with other good contributions from Andrew Kratzmann 43 and Dom Taylor 23 no.
When Coolum came out to bat there was a gale-like northerly blowing and threatening skies. After only 2 runs being scored off the first 3 overs the pressure told on the young Coolum batsmen and great fielding by Sam Baker saw a runout. A few overs later another run-out saw the opposition on 2-8 off 7 overs. Captain Jake Dennien then quickly went to spin to try and rush through the overs to ensure that the 15 overs could be bowled to constitute a match. When lightning forced the players off the field in the 21st over, Coolum were 6 for 31 giving the TNT boys a comprehensive win. Jake Dennien had taken 3 for 12 off his 7 overs and was backed up by off-spinner Dom Taylor with 1-12 off 8.
On Sunday the match was against Caloundra and TNT were able to include three Scorchers players in their line-up. (Ben Gear, Dan Cummings and Nick Selman). Caloundra won the toss and batted first on a very flat pitch. The bowling and fielding of the TNT boys was first class and all the Caloundra batsmen found it hard to score runs against the opening duo of Scott Aufderheide and Tom Freshwater. The first wicket fell at 8, the second at 37 and the procession continued until the 44th over when their innings came to an abrupt halt on 113. The outstanding bowler of the day was Tom Freshwater with 5 for 30 off 9.4 overs with his first four wickets all bowled. Other wicket takers were Aufderheide, Jake Dennien, Dom Taylor and Dan Cummings.
TNT had 20 minutes to bat before lunch and after a first over maiden the batsmen got into their work with 31 coming off the next 3 before Nick Selman was out, followed by Chris Wright just after lunch. With the loss of the 2 wickets for 1 run Caloundra were back in the game but 38 came off the next 4 overs to effectively decide the result. The home side passed the target score in the 18th over with Dan Cummins 36 and Ben Gear 35 no. This win gave the team two out of two for the weekend and their 11th victory in 14 limited-over matches so far this season.
Next Saturday the team will face their rivals, the Caboolture Snakes at their ground in the final round of One Day matches.
THRID GRADE: The team travelled south to Burpengary in a must win game to keep their One Day finals hope alive.
Captain Jason Toohey lost the toss (sixth in a row) and TNT were sent in on a soft deck. The start was steady with Adam Curry’s 30 helping the team to 2 for 50. Then the team suffered a middle order collapse and found themselves at 5 for 56. A gritty partnership between Toohey 23 and Sam Baker 14 ensured the team got to a competitive total of 102, but well below of expectations.
Burpengary started strongly reaching 48 before Jason Toohey got the breakthrough. At drinks they were well on track being 3-68 but the TNT team stuck to their tasks with the slower bowlers taking advantage of the pitch conditions. Then with the help of a couple of great run-outs the TNT boys were able to wrap up their innings for 90. Best bowling figures for TNT were Toohey 3-17 off 8, Nick Bennett 2-21 off 8 and Adam Curry 2-12 off 5. Harrison Lea who was unlucky earlier took the final wicket. This win puts the team in second spot and a win next week against Glasshouse at home will cement a spot in the One Day final.
FIFTHS: After having their Saturday match washed out the team faced Caloundra on Sunday with a 10-man team. Losing the toss TNT were sent into bat on a wet but playable deck. The boys struggled with the bat from the beginning and halfway through the innings were 6 for 50. Then Blake O’Donnell (38 no) and Wayne Moore (32 no) set about resurrecting the innings and managed to build the score to a semi-respectful total of 148.
But with one player short in the field it was always going to be an uphill battle. With wickets hard to come by Caloundra managed to squeeze out the runs with only 4 down and 4 overs left. Not enough runs for TNT against an ordinary bowling attack summed up the game. Best Bowling figures for TNT; Kent Officer 1-33, Bob McGhee 1-25, and Steve Hill 2-25.
Next Saturday the team is at home against Maroochydore.
