By Randall Woodley
Overall, it was a disappointing semi-final weekend for the four Thunder cricket teams but the 5th Grade team will be playing their Grand Final next weekend at Read Park.
FIRST GRADE: During the season the First Grade team have played 21 matches and scored 3777 runs. But yesterday they ended up just 23 runs short which would have seen them play in next weekend’s Grand Final. Playing Maroochydore Swans at their home ground in the semi-final, the TNT boys spent most of Saturday in the field bowling against a stubborn team of batsmen who appeared to want to bat for two days. However, all the Thunder bowlers stuck to their tasks and wickets fell regularly. Just after 4pm the last Swans wicket fell at the score of 144 in the 77th over. Best of the Thunder bowlers was spinner Dom Taylor who took 4 for 24 off 18 overs and Scott Aufderheide 3 for 48 off his 20 0vers.
With a dozen overs to bowl the Thunder openers Jake Dennien and Alex Bennett started strongly and at stumps the team were in sound position at 0 for 27. Overnight rain delayed the start on Sunday and left the Thunder to bat with a very slow outfield. The Swans struck early and the visitors were soon down three wickets. All the Thunder batsman found it hard to score runs on the dead wicket with the only batsman able to pass twenty was Chris Wright (21). Despite some defiant stands the Thunder team fell short of the target- all out for 122. Next Weekend the Swans will play Caboolture in the Grand Final. They surprisingly defeated Glasshouse who were on top of the table.
The season has ended for the team and although gutted after yesterday’s loss they should feel proud of their efforts during the season with 16 wins and a draw from 21 matches and only 4 defeats. This would be one of the best season’s results for some years.
THIRD GRADE: The team travelled up the range to play Maleny in their semi-final at the showground oval and batted first. Veteran Jason Toohey dug in and provided an innings for the other batsmen to play around. After losing a couple of wickets he was joined by Nigel Webster and they began consolidating the innings until Webster was out to what was considered a poor decision. Thunder went to lunch at 4 for 38. Toohey was out soon after lunch but cameos by Troy Dennien (20) and Harrison Lea (15) helped the team to a competitive total of 96.
Bowling late in the afternoon, Thunder appeared to be on top of Maleny and at stumps they were 7 for 69, still 27 runs behind. Best bowling figures were from
Harrison Lea with 1-5 off 6 overs, Ben Giddy 1-11, Brett Fordyce 1-10 and Jason Toohey 1-19 off 12.
On Day 2 the team began the day feeling optimistic about a win but their hopes were dashed as the Maleny batsmen defied the bowling and kept batting. They were eventually all out for 130. Both teams batted a second time but at the end of the day the team from the mountains were the winners. This was a good season for the boys with new skipper Nick Bennett and with the team spirit within the group very obvious they will go one better next season.
FIFTH GRADE: Playing Maroochydore Swans at Caloundra the Thunder were asked to bowl first. The boys picked straight up from where they left off from last week and bowled the Swans out for 74. Ben Shaw was the pick of the bowlers taking 4 for 16 off 10. Mike Thomson at his usual best took 2 for 27 off 13 and the team’s real-life Viking, Luke Anstey knocked off 3 for 16 in his 12 overs. Dave Baker running late saw TNT turn to young gun Cooper Lea to keep – a master stroke that saw Dave Baker at first slip taking three absolutely incredible catches that made a big difference.
Batting second the Thunder finished the day leading by 25 on the first innings at 6 for 99. Best scores were from Tony Watson 32, Cooper Lea 26 and Steve Hill 25.
Day 2 saw the TNT innings fold early- all out for 108. Maroochydore batted a second time and declared at 2 for 159 going for an outright win. TNT struggled in the second innings but were able to hold out and at stumps were into their Grand Final next Saturday. It seems that the match will be played at Read Park starting at 10am. Supporters are encouraged to turn up to cheer the only remaining Thunder team to a championship win.
SIXTHS GRADE: The boys almost pulled of Mission Impossible over the weekend in their semi-final against top team Palmwoods. With most of Saturday washed out the TNT team began batting again on Sunday at 4 down for 27. They struggled to score runs and were eventually bowled out for 74 with top scorers, Shane Gesell 28, Brendan Chaplin 19 and Justin Talbot 17.
Palmwoods batting second did not start well losing a wicket in the first over to be 1 for 0. Youngster Finn Mayo opened at the other end and after conceding a run off his first ball, clean bowled the Palmwoods skipper for a golden duck with his second – 2-1 off 2. Palmwoods found the going just as tough as had TNT but started to tick over the scoring to be 27 in the 11th over before Wayne Moore took his first wicket. With wickets continuing to fall Palmwoods found themselves at 9 for 56 with 22 runs still to be scored. Unfortunately, their tailenders got them over the line for the win
Top wicket takers for TNT were Wayne Moore 4-23, Shane Gesell 2-4 with Talbot, Mayo and Brendan Chaplin taking a wicket each.
It seems that this was the last match for Joe Jurisevic in TNT colours. He retires after racking up 123 matches, 1038 runs, 46 wickets and 40 catches and the odd run out over 10 seasons with the club.
Next season will see this team again in the top four.
