By Randall Woodley
The summer cricket fixtures are in full swing on the Sunshine Coast and last weekend the Tewantin-Noosa Thunder Teams won three of their four matches played.
FIRST GRADE:- After their first round loss the team were determined to score a win in the goldfields against Gympie. After winning the toss the TNT boys batted first on a very dry wicket and slow outfield. This made scoring runs difficult and at the end of their 50 overs they had registered 7 for 189, (probably 220 on their home ground). All the team contributed with seven batsmen getting 20s but no one went on to post a high score. Andrew Kratzmann top scored with 27 but everyone played their part with Dom Taylor a run a ball 20, Cody Pyne 16 no off 16 and Scott Aufderheide 15 no off 8 at the end pushing to what was felt to be a competitive total.
Gympie got off to a good start being 1-41 off 9 before the TNT’s bowling and fielding strangled their run rate and with it, they lost wickets. All the bowlers were on song with teenager Tom Stewart being exceptional and together with Scott Aufderheide 1-24 and Tom Freshwater 3-37, the trio had Gympie on the ropes. Then in the middle and end, Jarrod Officer picked up 2 -17, Jacob Dennien 2-21 and Dom Taylor 1-28. In the end a comfortable win, bowling Gympie out for 153.
Next weekend will be a marathon for the team at Tewantin with a 50 over day/night match against Glasshouse on Saturday and the T20 Finals on Sunday.
THIRDS:- The team were at home to Palmwoods at Read Park in their first day-night match, playing with a pink ball. Losing the toss, the TNT boys bowled first on quick wicket and lush outfield. Harrison Lea took the new ball and bowled a tight spell early, finishing the day with 2-30 off his 8 overs. At the other end veteran Robbie Payton kept the run rate in check and took 1-8 off 7. They were backed up by Brad Thompson 2-42, and Jason Toohey 1-22. In the end Palmwoods scored 151 with the TNT fielding much improved with the only downside conceding 25 runs off wides.
Blake Steel (42) and Pete Walker (15) got the team off to a solid opening stand of 34. Later Troy Dennien chipped in with16 but wickets kept falling. Teenager Jack Saunders joined the captain, Jason Toohey and they put on 34 before the captain was out. Robbie Payton 16 no finished it in style with a couple of hefty blows. Jack Saunders was still there at the end with a fighting 34 no. A good win to get the team going for the season. Next week the team play Caloundra at their ground.
FIFTHS:- The team took on the Yandina Club at Dale Officer Oval in a 40 overs- a-side match. Losing the toss, the boys were sent into bat on what looked like a good batting strip. Openers Brendan Wright and Steven Hill started strongly for TNT, taking 8 an over off the first 4 overs before both openers fell in quick succession. Tony Watson and Ben Shaw batted patiently before Shaw was caught out trying to push the runs along. Luke Anstey, on his first game back, batted well for a top score of 19. Tight intelligent bowling from Yandina kept the middle and lower order quiet, and with only three players getting into double figures. Dave Baker batted patiently ensuring TNT batted out their 40 overs, finishing their innings on 135.
With an under-par score, TNT’s bowling and fielding had to be spot on. Mike Thompson and Luke Anstey opened the bowling, finding good line and length from the start and had the visitors reeling at 5 for 35 putting TNT back in the game. However, some dubious umpiring decisions kept the Yandina captain at the crease, and he went on to subdue the bowling attack with the sixth wicket partnership that was hard to break. But with only 135 runs on the board there just was not enough pressure on the Yandina batsmen to keep the game in TNT’s favour, and they chased down the score in the 28th over with 4 wickets in hand. Wicket Takers- Mike Thomson 3, Luke Anstey 2 and Wayne Moore 1. Next Saturday the boys travel south to Burpengary.
SIXTHS:- The team scored their second win in a row, playing against Coolum at their ground. Coolum scored 182 with wicket takers being Euan Buxton 2-45 (in his first senior game) one wicket each to Naveen Chand and Justin Talbot and four wickets from the ever-reliable Graham Chaplin. Again, the chase was on and challenge accepted from Craig Moore and Shane Gesell who exploded out of the gates before copping a jaffa that removed his off stump for 26. Then Brian Lee played strongly for 43 and along with Craig Moore (24) helped set the team up for victory. With some other late order contributions, the team passed the target with 5 overs to spare. Next Saturday the team is at home against Caloundra.
