Randall Woodley
Overall, it was a successful weekend for the Tewantin-Noosa Thunder Cricket Teams, except for a surprise loss for the First Graders.
The highlight of the matches were centuries to the experienced Anthony Blackwell who hit the winning run against Yandina in 5th Grade to be 151 not out with 22 fours, and Under 17 player Ollie Wilson who was 122 not out in the morning match.
FIRST GRADE: The team was south at Glasshouse needing a double bonus point win to keep their one-day finals hopes alive. The Rangers batted first, and the Thunder bowlers started well taking a wicket in the second over and then the third over was the most eventful wicketless over ever- two dropped chances, a ball that hit the stumps and the bails stayed on and a missed run out. The bowlers kept at their task and restricted the Rangers to 150. Back in form, Scotty Aufderheide took three wickets, Tom Stewart and Ben Laughlin two each.
The boys started in a positive manner after the break, moving to 66 off the first 11 overs with Ben Laughlin (34) and Lewis Waugh (38) batting aggressively. Then as can be the way with cricket, sometimes as quick as it comes it can go!
In the space of eight balls, 0-66 became 4-75 and soon it was 8 for 111. Aufderheide and Stewart put on 32 for the ninth wicket and it looked like the target could be reached, but the last two wickets fell without further runs – all out for 143.
It was a very disappointing effort by the team even though three of their top batsmen were away. Only four batsmen reached double figures. It is hoped that lessons can be learnt from this game and more determination and commitment is shown next Saturday when the team take on second placed Maroochydore at home.
SECOND GRADE: The team played Glasshouse in a day-night match at Read Park and was asked to bowl first. Tiernan Crowley got a breakthrough first over with a smart return catch. Some tight bowling and a run-out had them struggling to score and at drinks they were 2-61. The team continued with line and length bowling and aided by great fielding and neat catching saw the opposition all out in the 36th over for 142. Best bowling figures- Jarred Davis 3-23 and Jason Toohey 3-28.
In reply, Thunder lost both openers early before keeper Cooper Lea came to the crease, and this saw the fireworks start. He bashed the ball to all parts of the ground and belted his way to 88 before going out LBW. Tristan Griffin and Dan Cooke stayed with the captain Jason Toohey until they passed the target in the 29th over. Great win for the team
THIRD GRADE: The team played Caloundra Lighthouses at their ground and bowled first. The opening bowlers applied pressure from the start and a big wicket came early in the form of their big hitting captain. Ben Shaw bowled out his eight overs and was unlucky to not take a wicket after consistently missing the edge. Teenager Ethan Slaney bowled his allowed six overs for the ridiculous figures of 2-3. Each bowler did their job of keeping the pressure on and was assisted by the sharp fielding to have them all out for 83. Others to take wickets were Richard Lee 3-13, J. Carlisle 2-9 and one each to David Lyons and Luke Anstey.
Achieving the win was not as easy as the team hoped but they passed Caloundra’s score losing five of their wickets. Next Saturday the team is at home against Nambour
FIFTH GRADE: On Saturday the team was at home playing Yandina. They fielded first but Yandina got off to a great start with their openers putting on 79 in the first 15 overs. They continued to dig in, but Thunder was able to slow the run rate due to tight bowling from team members. Looking for the next break through the captain, Matt Mayo threw the ball to the team’s spinning option, his son Aedan Mayo. Aedan had immediate success in his first over and from there did not look back, tearing through Yandina to finish with 6-33 (eight overs). Yandina finished on 9-200 after 40 overs.
The father and son Blackwells opened the innings and got Thunder off to a measured start. At drinks the team was on 3-53. Needing to obviously lift the run rate dramatically, that is exactly what Anthony Blackwell did playing shots to all parts of the ground. Other batsmen came and went, adding their scores to the team’s total with Anthony continuing to dramatically lift the run rate in the final 10 overs.
It all came down to the last over where Thunder needed nine for victory. Then it was three needed off two balls. Rory Ramsden, now at the crease managed a single, leaving two needed off the final delivery. Fittingly, Anthony Blackwell played a pull shot out to deep mid-wicket, getting back for the two runs and a great win for the team to finish on 7-201! Anthony Blackwell with one of the best knocks ever to be played on Dale Officer Oval, batting the entire innings to be 151*.
SIXTH GRADE: The team travelled to Palmwoods and batted first. The team batted very intelligently and put 212 runs on the board by the 32nd over. Top scorers were Wayne Moore 57, Ron Lewis 30, Justin Talbot 21 and coming out of retirement Joe Jurisevic 30*
From the first over the Thunder bowlers were on top and the Palmwoods team folded for 77 in 18 overs. Bowling honours to Tom Avery 3-9 and Justin Talbot 3- 8.
