Randall Woodley
Quote of the week: – “I am jealous of my parents; I will never have a kid as cool as theirs.”– Chris Gayle, West Indian Cricket Great.
After two weekends of rained-out matches, the Tewantin-Noosa Thunder Cricket Club was able to complete all four scheduled fixture matches last Saturday and came home with three wins. The First-Grade win adds further to their record, which now stands at twenty-two wins in a row and with three One-Day matches left to play they are looking like finishing the season on top of the ladder.
FIRST GRADE The team were at home against Nambour who won the toss and decided to bat first on a wicket that looked like it had something in it for both bowlers and batters. There was a howling wind down the ground so bowling from the northern end was a tough ask for any bowler. Nambour survived the first 8 overs before strike bowler Ben Laughlin came on and took 3 wickets in 2 overs to have them 3-13 off 10.
They fought back well through the middle with last year’s competition top run scorer, Steve Ledger making a solid 65. However, Thunder bowlers were always on top and the Cutters were dismissed for 134 in the 46th over. Best bowling figures were from Jarrod Officer 3-17, Ben Laughlin, 3-32 and Dom Taylor 2-30. A really good bowling effort with little match practice the last few weeks.
The run chase could have proven tricky but an opening stand of 69 between Chris Wright and run machine Lewis Waugh put the game out of Nambour’s reach. Wright went for a run a ball 40 with Lewis finishing 60 not out and Blake Steel 18 not out at the end. Next Saturday the team will play the second one day match against Nambour again, at home.
SECOND GRADE After two losses, the team were keen to win this match against the Lighthouses at Caloundra. Losing the toss, Thunder was asked to bowl first which really suited them. Harrison Lea and Ben Giddy were spot on and strangled their openers from the start, Caloundra losing their first wicket in the 3rd over. Tyron De Kauwe, on debut with the club, took a wicket in his first over and finished with 4 for 8.
Talon Reichert and Jason Toohey bowled into the wind through the middle of the innings and continued to take wickets. Caloundra were all out for 66. Ben Giddy took 2 for 12 and all the other bowlers took a wicket each.
Mark Kratzmann and Harrison Lea opened for Thunder and scored freely until Lea (19) departed with the score at 1-29 after 4 overs. Adam Curry (15 no) joined Kratzmann (16 no) and they saw the team home at 2-67 in the 12th over. It was a very good team effort and the boys will repeat it again next Saturday.
FOURTH GRADE The team also played at Caloundra but ended up being defeated. Batting first, the Thunder team experienced highs and lows throughout the innings and finished with 9 for 153. Top scorers were Billy Lloyd-Green 41 and Brendan Wright 27.
Batting second, Caloundra went on a run’s spree, hitting every bowler to all parts of the field. Missed early chances were costly but when the team is having a “day”, these things happen. Caloundra simply took their chances and went on with it passing the target in the 15th over. Next week the team will be up against the same team in a 40 overs clash.
SIXTH GRADE Due the rain during the week, the team took on Wamuran at home on a synthetic pitch, in a top 4 race to the finals. Winning the toss, the locals elected to bat and started well to be 0-61 off 10 overs. At drinks TNT were 1-91. Shane Gesell, although injured went on to score 68. Bobby McGhee (40) and Max Cooper (45 no) took to the Wamuran bowling and soon had the score at 194 in the 24th over. Cooper and Kent Officer kept the runs flowing and TNT reached 270 by the end of the innings with Kent Officer smashing 68 off 7 overs.
Bowling second the Thunder never let Wamuran into the game and they were all out for 106. The outstanding bowler was veteran Bobby McGhee 5 for 31 assisted by Ian Blundell 3 for 19 and Justin Talbot 1-10.
Great effort both batting and bowling that should almost guarantee the team second spot, at worst for the March finals.
JUNIOR MATCH The TNT Under 13s match against Cooroy-Eumundi was played under lights at Read Park last Saturday night after the First-Grade match. It was an exciting time for the youngsters playing with a pink ball under lights and the TNT team came out winners. They scored 6 for 198 from their 30 overs. Top scorers were Eddie Smith 53, Alec Dilleward 45, Ishaka Morgan 21, Matt Riddle 20 and Noah Marshall 20.
In reply Cooroy-Eumundi could only score 163 giving the home team the win.
