Randall Woodley
The weekend turned out to be a successful one for the Tewantin-Noosa Thunder Cricket Club.
First, third and sixth grades all came home with wins, the women’s team sealed the Tier 2 premiership with another victory and two batsmen, Ben Claypole (firsts) and Anthony Blackwell (fifths) notched up centuries.
Earlier in the day, youngster Bailey Hozier played a BBL-like innings in the under 15s hitting 71 runs off 38 balls.
FIRST GRADE: Last Saturday the team completed day two of their two-day match against Nambour who started the day at 1-30 and chasing Thunder’s 318.
Scott Aufderheide got the team off to the perfect start removing the competition leading run scorer and with Ben Laughlin taking another in the next over, Nambour were 3-40. It took another 22 overs to take the next wicket but after the lunch break, Scott (3-13) and Ben (3-14) tore into their batting line-up and by early afternoon they were all out for 103. All the bowlers were on-song with Josh Christensen taking 3 for 17 off his 4 overs. The fielding was top notch with Josh taking two screamers and Andrew Kratzmann another.
After spending 96 overs in the field in both of the last two games and the pitch not offering a lot of life, Thunder did not enforce the follow on.
There were 43 overs to be bowled and only one word can describe what happened next- carnage. The Thunder batsman hit balls to all parts of the field to register a score of 7 for 300 by stumps. The score included 33 fours and 8 sixes. And it was the chance for Ben Claypole to show his batting prowess scoring his first century for the club (106 no). Others to get amongst the runs were Jarrod Officer 68, Cody Pyne 36, Jake Dennien 32 and Dom Taylor 24no.
It was a pretty impressive batting performance by the Thunder, scoring 618 for the loss of 17 wickets. Next week they are at Read Park playing Glasshouse in a two-day match, the second last one of the season.
SECOND GRADE: The team were at home against Caboolture who decided to declare at 4 -235 hoping for an outright win. However, the Thunder players decided this was not on and dug in for the day. At stumps they had lost eight wickets for 186 and were still confident, if time had permitted, they could have matched Caboolture’s score. There were many contributions with the best being Tyron De Kauwe 34*, Josh Christensen 31, Jake Caspers 24, Daniel Cooke 30 and Max Cooper 23.
THIRD GRADE: The Thunder team started the day at 3-70, needing another 40 runs to claim a first innings win against top of the ladder the Maroochydore Swans. Nigel Webster and Will Cooke went out looking to knock over the runs and post a decent total for the Swans to chase in the afternoon. Nigel knocked off half the runs in less than a few overs hitting boundaries before wickets began to fall. Thunder eventually was dismissed for 157 posting a 47-run lead. Nigel Webster was again the standout with his 49.
At stumps the Swans were 3 for 65 with Richard Boyd picking up two wickets. This was a very good team win for the boys who next week will be at home against Caloundra.
FIFTH GRADE: The team started the day at 3-24 after Palmwoods had posted 356 on day one. The struggle against the fast and swinging Palmwoods bowlers continued and the score looked ominous at 6-41. Despite a solid partnership from Ben Blackwell and Tony Watson, the team were all out for 131 with veteran Watson unbeaten on 44.
Palmwoods then enforced the follow on going for an outright win. After losing an early wicket, Finn Mayo came out to bat with Anthony Blackwell. Anthony was in fine touch from the outset and was especially lethal off the back foot. Finn likewise scored quickly and found some very productive shots. These two batted out the rest of the day with an unbeaten 142 run partnership. Finn made his first 50 in senior cricket and Anthony made his second 100 of the season.
Some good cricket played by both sides but Thunder’s struggle to stop the flood of runs last week proved too much to overcome.
SIXTH GRADE: Last weekend the team resumed at 0-5, chasing Caloundra’s 190. Ron Lewis (16) and Naveen Chand started the chase well and Naveen soon had his 50 up and continued on to a well-made 68. The team were eventually out for 199 giving them first innings points. Others to score were Craig Moore 34, Brian Lee 22 and Lachlan Webster 20.
Caloundra decided they would bat again with five overs remaining and quickly lost two wickets. The team played well both weeks and ended Caloundra’s unbeaten season. With two away games to go, hopefully the boys can secure two more wins and go into the finals with momentum.
WOMENS GRADE: The women’s Thunder team won the toss and sent the Maroochydore team into bat in their last game of the season. Kirsty Patten took the first wicket early, bowled a wide next ball then knocked over the stumps putting her on a hat-trick for the next over, missed out but along with all the bowlers kept things tight. Rebel Bishop-Kinlyside knocked over the stumps for her first wicket of the season but alas it was a free hit, but she redeemed herself and bowled the same girl out with a legal delivery. Maroochydore finished up with 3-121.
Solid batting by Melinda Baker (30 retired) Petrina McAulay (30 retired) and Patten 22 gave the lower order something to chase. Nikki Dunn and Sharon Withers needed 6 off the last over and with some great running and a four from Withers sealed not only the game, but the premiership for this new Thunder team.
Under 15s: On day one of their two-day match against Coolum Sharks the Tewantin-Noosa team scored 8 for 285 off their allotted 50 overs. Top scorer was Bailey Hozier who scored a great knock of 71 off 38 balls. His innings included four sixes and eight fours. Others to score well were Aiden Mayor 33*, Farran Cooke 25*, Ben Blackwell 30 and Alec Dillewaard 32.
