It was a big weekend with six senior teams (five men’s and one women’s teams) representing the Tewantin-Noosa Thunder Cricket Club in matches up and down the Sunshine Coast.
And the good news is that in the seven matches played, the locals were the victors in five of the games.
There were also six junior teams (from under 11 to under 17) taking part in matches last Saturday morning with some of these played over two days.
First grade
The team was involved in two games at home against the Gympie Gold Club over the weekend.
The first was on Friday night, under lights in the final T20 round robin game. The local boys won the match by 88 runs, scoring 8 for 198, mostly due to a squash buckling innings of 74 off 30 balls by Ben Laughlin. He was supported by Chris Wright 29 off 20, and Jarrod Officer and Dom Taylor both scoring 25.
On Saturday the match was a 50 overs-a-side and captain Jake Dennien decided to bat first on a great looking wicket. Unfortunately, Gympie started better than the home team, taking three early wickets to have Thunder 3 for 29 and then 4 for 60. Ben Claypole (28) and Dennien settled things down and put on a good partnership of 62. Some positive batting from Blake Steel (17) and Dom Taylor (27) provided great support for the captain Dennien, who made a patient but classy knock of 83, guiding the team to a competitive total of 9 for 209.
Talon Reichert and Tom Stewart started off really well, bowling good areas with Talon getting the first breakthrough to have the score at 1 for 40. Gympie then had a solid partnership through to the first drinks’ break, reaching the score of 1 for 105.
An important wicket from the crafty spin of the skipper (having a great day), changed the momentum of the game, breaking the second wicket partnership, with the score at 2 for 115. Some tight bowling from our experienced players, Stewart, Ben Laughlin and Jarrod Officer saw Gympie lose three wickets for two runs to have them 4 for 140.
After the second break some top-quality spin bowling from Dom Taylor (2-23), Michael Eckard (1-44) and Dennien (3-18) supported by some top-class fielding, virtually sewed the win up for the locals.
Gympie was all out for 183, 26 runs short of the target, giving the Thunder their first win in the extended format.
Next weekend they play Coolum Sharks at Coolum.
Second grade
The team, with a number of junior players in the ranks, were at Yandina and after losing the toss were asked to bat first. The experienced Andrew Kratzmann, (46 and out in the 29th over), returning from knee surgery, opened with Josh Peters (61) and these two men compiled an opening partnership of 125.
Yandina took the pace off the ball in the final 10 overs, making scoring difficult. Cooper Lea smacked a quick 15, Oliver Wilson got 10 and Jason Toohey was 18 not out to have Thunder scoring 182.
Tyron De Kauwe and Ben Shaw opened the bowling for the Thunder and had a difficult time containing the batters. Toohey and Peters were able to tie them down with some tight off-spin. Then teenager, Will Cooke came on to bowl and snared a wicket first ball and a second wicket in the same over.
At the drinks’ break, Yandina was 4-99 so Thunder was well in it. However, discipline with our lengths was lacking in the final 20 overs with short balls dispatched to the fence. Tyron picked up a couple, Oli Wilson got his first wicket and Will Cooke finished with 3 for 16. A few missed chances ensured the team finished just short of a win.
Next Saturday the team is at home against Coolum in a day/night match.
Fifth grade
The team played Coolum and recorded a great win, scoring 8 for 294 and then restricting Coolum to 197 in their 40 overs. The highlights of the afternoon were a ton (116 off 82 balls, including 12 fours and 8 sixes) to veteran Kent Officer and a classy 96 off 78 balls to Jarred Davis. The wicket takers for the Thunder were Dave Lyons, Tadhg Crowley, Farran Cooke, Aedan. Mayo and Matt Mayo.
Next week the team is at home against Maroochydore Swans.
Sixth grade
With the team practising hard during the off season, they were confident in their first game of the season against USC. Bowling first, all the bowlers and fielders were on song and restricted the University boys to 109.
The Sixers were able to pass the target in the 29th over despite a couple of hiccups along the way and assisted by a good attacking innings of 39 from Shane Gesell.
Women’s grade
The revamped TNCC’s women’s team opened its season under lights at Read Park on Saturday against Glasshouse Rangers. Sent into bat, the team reached a very respectable total of 3 for 117 off their 20 overs. With limited experience in the team, captain Petrina McAulay was the difference, having to retire, not out on 32. All the other batters contributed to the total with good knocks from Kay, Sharon and Mieka.
In the field, the team showed determination and spirit, chasing everything down.
Despite the inexperienced bowling attack, they took six wickets with youngster Abby Webster taking her maiden wicket and the first for the new team.
Shannae was the best of the bowlers, snagging 2 for 5 off two overs. A win for the Tewantin team by 12 runs and a great start to the season.
