Last Saturday was the first day of the final round of two-day matches for 2022.
After next Saturday the players will take a break and start again on Saturday 7 January.
There were some great performances at the weekend by Thunder players with centuries by each of the Third-Grade openers, Richard Lee and Brendan Wright and a six-wicket haul for young Second Grade bowler, Josh Christensen.
Under 15 player Bailey Hozier also scored a quick fire 90 in his Junior Match. With the final day next Saturday, most of the Thunder teams are in sound positions to end the year with wins.
FIRST GRADE: The team was at home at Read Park against Coolum Sharks who are a team of younger players plus a couple of very experienced cricketers. Thunder was asked to field first which suited their plans.
Opening bowler Tom Stewart cracked them open immediately, as usual, with a wicket third ball and another in his second over, just giving the fielders catching practice. There is no one on the coast better with a new ball and it’s unbelievable how many wickets Tom Stewart takes in his first two-three overs every week. He finished with 3-5 off eight overs. Talon Reichert (2-16) and the two Ben’s, Claypole (3-15) and Laughlin (2-16) joined in to have them 6-31 soon after drinks.
They battled to be all out for 72 in the second session. 58 overs left in the day and the plan was pretty clear for Thunder to obtain a lead and have an hour bowling in the late afternoon.
Thunder were 2-10 early but on what was a pretty good batting wicket the batsmen scored freely. They declared on 6-168 off 35 overs.
Runs were shared around between Jake Dennien (38), Jarrod Officer (37), Blake Steel (21), Cooper Lea (24*) and Dom Taylor (34*). That left Thunder a minimum of 20 overs to bowl.
As expected, Tom Stewart (another Scotty Bowland?) took the new ball and snagged a wicket first ball of the innings. From then on it was a grind, Coolum defending every ball to be 27 off 21 overs before three boundaries in the last over with everyone crowding the bat. They finished the day 1-39 (still 57 runs behind). Excellent bowling again and the game is well set up to push for the outright next week.
SECOND GRADE: The team played a day/night game against Coolum at their ground and was asked to bowl first on a dry pitch.
Josh Christensen got an early breakthrough followed by Ben Shaw which had Coolum 2-6. Robbie Payton got a wicket with his first ball and the score was 3-21. Coolum then built a solid 100-run partnership with the Thunder fielders missing a few chances.
After the tea break, Christensen came back into the attack picking up a further five wickets (included being on a hat-trick and a brilliant caught and bowled) to end the day with 6 for 16….. Well done, Josh on career best figures.
Coolum ended their innings on 9 for 181. Other wicket takers were Robbie Payton 1-35 and Ben Shaw 2-23.
Thunder only faced three overs late at night but will be ready next Saturday striving for at least a first innings win.
THIRD GRADE: The team hosted Caboolture at home and was sent into bat on a sticky wicket. The openers played patiently, negotiating the initial jagging of the ball and with the slow start, Thunder was just short of 50 by first drinks.
When their opening bowlers were replaced the Thunder batsmen accelerated as the loose balls came more regularly.
Fortunately their bowlers were not good enough to bowl consistently and the two batsmen, Brendan Wright and Richard Lee set about achieving milestones -100 partnership, then 150 partnership and their sights were then set on the club high for the season so far of 186. The great partnership ended on 256.
Both openers scored 100s, Wright 101 from 198 balls and Richard Lee 124 from 202 balls and set the team up for the team’s highest total for the season at 3-304 after 76 overs. A great foundation for next week and an understanding that the job is only half done.
FIFTH GRADE: The team had a tough afternoon against the Maroochydore Swans. The Swans batted all afternoon and at stumps were 3 down for 233. Wicket takers for Thunder were Kent Officer, David Lyons and Jordan Lane.
SIXTH GRADE: The boys were down at Palmwoods for the first of the two days and after winning the toss elected to bowl first. All the bowlers were on song especially Justin Latimer who bowled a great spell with figures of 6 over with 6 maidens. He was supported by Wayne Moore with 4 wickets and Shane Gesell 3 for 27. Other wicket takers were Justin Talbot and Graham Chaplin. Palmwoods were all out for 146.
