Quote of the Week :-“If it is difficult, I will do it now. If it is impossible, I will do it presently.” Sir Donald Bradman.
With only two One-Day matches left to play before the season’s finals, the Tewantin-Noosa Thunder teams moved into top gear last weekend winning all four matches in which they played. And to top off a great weekend, another two centuries were scored by club players.
FIRST GRADE Playing Nambour again at Read Park, Thunder won the toss and decided to bat on a good wicket and fast outfield. After losing a wicket in the first over the boys had to play carefully to ensure they posted a good score. However, when Jarrod Officer joined Lewis Waugh at 2 for 48 the expected good score looked like becoming a great score. The batting of Officer was described by one spectator as exhilarating and he and Waugh posted 220 runs to break the old 3rd wicket club record from 40 years ago. Officers scored 147
(14 X 4s and 7 x 6s), his highest score in any form of cricket. When he was out Waugh continued and was not out at the 50 over mark with 102. This was his third century of the season and he is closing on a 1000 runs since September. Blake Steel had helped the team to get to 320 for the loss of 3 wickets with a blistering 39 off 18 balls.
Nambour came out and had a great start to be 1-120 off the first 17 overs. Wickets were hard to come by although all the Thunder bowlers stuck to their tasks. When Nambour’s captain was dismissed by Scott Aufderheide for 80, they shut up shop and crawled to be 4 wickets down for 220 at stumps.
540 runs scored in the day for the loss of only 7 wickets! Big day for the batters but a tough one for the bowlers, from both sides. Next week the team will be at Maroochydore in the first of two 50 over games to finish the season’s fixture matches.
SECOND GRADE Hosted by Caloundra the Thunder team batted first. They opened with Mark Kratzmann (16) and Billy Lloyd-Green, his first game with the seconds. After taking the first wicket at 33, Caloundra brought on the spinners and soon Thunder was 3-65.
Nigel Webster joined Lloyd-Green and the pair kept the run rate ticking over. Billy reached a fine 50 and did not stop there. With the overs progressing into the last 10, the Nigel and Billy show continued with Lloyd-Green eventually out for 77. Webster continued on and the team registered 4 for 173 with him getting his 50
Bowling second the wind had picked up making conditions difficult for the pace bowlers to keep on line. Despite this, Tyrone De Kauwe took the first wicket at 15. After the opening spell Jason Toohey and James Denslow were brought into the attack and ground away on an almost dead dry wicket. After drinks the boys really put in a massive effort with dark and wet clouds circling around the ground. The race was on to stop Caloundra to get above the required run-rate. The second wicket fell with Jason cracking the game open at 2-105. Their innings was held together by their captain who went on to score 101 but Thunder kept at the job and restricted them to 7 for 158 at the 40 over mark.
Best bowling figures for Thunder- Tyrone De Kauwe 2-21, Josh Peters 3-18, Jason Toohey and Billy L-Green took a wicket each. Another good win for the team.
FOURTH GRADE The team were out to make amends for their loss last week to Caloundra and batted first. After a solid start, Thunder was 2-45 after 10 overs and 4-81 at drinks. After drinks the batsmen accelerated with quick singles and boundaries galore to Ben Shaw and Richard Lee; a payback after last week. The team progressed to be 7-192 off the 40 overs. A great score and like the team’s score last week, more than competitive. Top run getters- Richard Lee 50, Ben Shaw 34 and Connor Harrison 25.
Thunder started well taking early wickets and soon the Lighthouses were 4-34, followed by an LBW to Bobby McGhee off his first ball had half their team out for 44. A couple of chances and annoying partnerships saw Caloundra 7-134 after 27 overs and ahead of the runs with rain coming. Ben Shaw then bowled superb to finish with 4 wickets off his 8 overs. Bobby McGhee ended their innings at 154 with a direct hit run out.
Top bowlers-Ben Shaw 4 -26, Mike Thomson 3 -25 and Luke Anstey 1 -22.
SIXTH GRADE Playing Wamuran-Stanley River for the second week in a row the team played strongly and had a win again. The Thunder boys, on their home ground batted first and registered a very good score of 211 for the loss of 9 wickets. Wamuran improved on their scoring the previous week but fell short to be 7 for 183 when time ran out. The sixes are looking good for the finals in March.
