For the fifth weekend in a row a Tewantin-Noosa Thunder Cricket Club batsman has posted a century.
Last weekend it was fifth grader, Sam O’Neill’s turn to register his first ton for the club.
He scored 120 against Yandina in his team’s total score of 226. All the five senior teams are in positions to win their matches next Saturday if the batsmen can do what they are supposed to do- score runs and the bowlers take the necessary wickets.
FIRST GRADE: The match against Glasshouse Rangers at Read Park last Saturday, was the second last game of the season for the Tewantin-Noosa Thunder First Graders. After winning the toss Glasshouse chose to bat first on an easy paced wicket.
As has been the case consistently since the break, Thunder toiled really well in hot conditions but spent the full day in the field, bowling 96 overs. The bowlers kept attacking all day, but the Ranger batsmen performed above expectations.
Thunder kept them to 3-180 off 70 overs with another 115 coming from the last 26 overs. Overall it was a solid effort to keep them to 6-308 at stumps although the team dropped a few tough chances which cost them. Wicket takers were Ben Laughlin 3-46 with Dom Taylor, Tom Stewart and Jake Dennien all snagging one each.
Interesting choice for Glasshouse next weekend with a draw seeing their season over or will they go for the win. The Thunder’s strong batting line-up are looking forward to the challenge in their last bat at home for the season, next Saturday.
SECOND GRADE: The team travelled down to Glasshouse, and after losing the toss the boys were sent into field on a very batter-friendly deck. The opening bowlers created opportunities and were unlucky not to take more than one wicket in their spells.
Jason Toohey and Will Cooke backed up this opening spell with some tight line and length deliveries. However the Glasshouse batsmen were in no hurry and batted out the 75 overs to be 5 down for 170 at stumps. Special mentions goes to Pete Walker’s excellent keeping, Jake Caspers safe hands in the field with three catches and Will Cooke’s prefect pressure bowling.
Bowling figures- Tyron De Kauwe 1-11, Josh Christensen 1-21, Will Cooke 1-24 and Ben Potter 2-33. Early wickets will be vital next Saturday if Thunder are to press for first innings points in this two-day match.
THIRD GRADE: There were two must win games left in the season for the Thunder team, who were playing Caloundra last Saturday at home. After winning the toss and batting first Thunder were in early trouble being 4-59 at drinks. The captain had promoted some of the junior players in the team up the batting order and they responded well. Harper Lee and Ben Shaw steadied the innings with a patient 52 run partnership followed by a free flowing 80 run partnership from Ben Shaw and Oli Wilson (35). Finn Mayo came to the crease and crunched seven fours on his way to 33. One of the most pleasing aspects of the day was the last four wickets adding 50 valuable runs in the total of 240.
The batting star today was Ben Shaw who hit a career high 84. It was a well-paced, mature innings that seemed to get better as it went on. With 35 minutes of play left Thunder fielded and tried a few bowlers in short spells and it was Ethan Slaney who delivered, a wicket in his first over. Stumps saw Caloundra 1-13 and another day of cricket to be enjoyed next Saturday with a real chance of a win.
FIFTH GRADE: Playing Yandina at their home ground, the team were sent into bat first and struggled early to be 2 for 27. Then things changed for the better and Sam O’Neill and Ben Blackwell then put on an outstanding 159 run partnership. Ben finishing on 46 and Sam finishing on a brilliant 120, his first century for the club. Rory Ramsden (18) and Brian Lee (14) got some quick fire runs but in a further effort to increase the run rate during the final overs of the day saw Thunder have a tail end collapse and at stumps they were all out for 226. This is a competitive target and will give the Thunder bowlers a real challenge next Saturday in a must win game for the team to be any chance of playing finals.
SIXTH GRADE: The Sixes are well on top in their match against USC. The Thunder bowlers were devastating, bundling the university team out for a total of 36 runs in 32 overs. Six Thunder bowlers took wickets with Wayne Moore being the standout with 4 for 7 off his 8 overs. Thunder declared at 2 for 82 and then put in USC to bat again. At stumps they were struggling at 2 for 16 and next Saturday the Thunder boys will be pressing for an early outright win.
UNDER 15: On week one the Thunder team had scored 6 for 285 against Coolum. Batting second, Coolum’s openers played the ball carefully early before Noah Marshall got one through the defences. Rory Ramsden took a wicket late in the first hour, and then another second ball after drinks dismissing one of their better batsman.
Coolum continued in their defensive mode and the TNT boys kept trying to bowl Coolum out, but they did not appear interested in upping the run rate. Coolum ending play on 6 for 104. Top bowlers for Thunder were Rory Ramsden 2-5, Ben Blackwell 2-7, and Noah Marshall and Aedan Mayo a wicket each. TNT U15s had a great all-round game, batting and bowling well as a team across both days.
UNDER 17: Needing a win to have a chance at the finals the team came home with a great victory. On day one they had scored 138 and day two saw them having to defend the small target. Great early bowling from Will Cooke and Ollie Wilson had USC 3-14 and Thunder were looking in great shape. Excellent bowling from Finn Mayo with a Michelle Pfeiffer (five for), Will Cooke and Ollie Wilson with two each. Disciplined bowling from Miles Roxbury, Brandon Henderson dried up the runs with a fantastic catch by Tom Daly to hammer the nail in the USC coffin to win the match by 28 runs.
