Quote of the Week :- “A wise man learns from the mistakes of others – a fool by his own!” Adam Gilchrist, Australian Test cricketer.
After the impressive results of the previous week, the club could not repeat the four wins again on Saturday. However, the First Graders marched on for their 24th win in a row which is a Sunshine Coast Association record. The semi-finals will be played over the weekend of 5 and 6 March with First Grade top of the ladder, Second Grade still a good chance to make it and Sixth Grade also well placed to be there.
FIRST GRADE
Playing Maroochydore Swans at Buderim the team was looking for a match that would stretch them in all facets of the game but the Swans never really looked like making a game of it.
They won the toss and batted first. Scott Aufderheide opened and bowled 10 overs straight of fast good lines and on another day, he could have taken five wickets. However, his 10 overs cost only 21 runs and he was rewarded with a wicket.
His opening partner Tom Stewart again bowled well but in shorter spells. He ended with 3 for 20 off his seven.
None of the Swan batters mastered the Thunder’s accurate bowling and lost their last batter in the 44th over for a team score of 117. Jake Dennien took 2 for 27 and the other wickets were shared. Cody Pyne had a good day behind the stumps with a catch and a super stumping.
Thunder decided to give some of the players who haven’t had many digs this year a chance, move up the batting order in their innings after lunch.
Ben Laughlin opened and blasted 50 runs off 37 balls (seven x fours and one six). Lewis Waugh continued his great season and was not out on 36 when the match ended, passing the Swan’s score in the 30th over. Cody Pyne remained not out on 19.
Next Saturday the team will play Maroochydore again at their ground to finish the fixture season.
SECOND GRADE
The team was at home against Yandina with a chance to solidify a finals’ berth. However, the day did not turn out as hoped.
Yandina batted well and scored 8 for 200. However, this score was reduced to 168 due to a mishap by the umpire who should have called time after 37 overs when they were 6-168. To say the least, it was not a great day in the field with multiple dropped catches and more than 30 sundries.
James Denslow was promoted to opener, and it turned out well with him taking on their gun opener with some glorious hook shots as they tried to bounce him out.
Mark Kratzmann was out for 14 and Denslow had to retire injured for 57. Adam Curry was scoring at a good rate with Thunder on 2-115 when Josh Peters went with 54 to get.
Then it was 6-147 but with Adam Curry still there striking it well on 27no including two massive sixes – 22 to win.
Unfortunately, the lower order did not read the script and the team folded to be all out for 164.
Next Saturday the match will be repeated, and the equation is simple – win and they will be in the finals, lose and its next season for the boys.
FOURTH GRADE
Playing at home against Maroochydore the team bowled first with Luke Anstey taking the first two wickets to have the Swans 2 -23. A change of bowling tightened the screws with Richard Lee and Ben Shaw bowling great to see the run rate crawl along after drinks.
It was in this period that Maroochydore was 6-91 after Harper Lee, having a day in the field, picked up a catch off Matt Mayo and effected two run outs.
It was left to Brandon Henderson to finish off the innings and mop up the tail, taking 3 for 20 on his Fourth Grade debut. The Swans finished on 141.
Batting has been a real problem for the team this season and on Saturday, two run outs early made the task even more difficult. With wickets continuing to fall, the team was all out for 79. Richard Lee was the top scorer with 14
SIXTH GRADE
It was a loss for the team against Caloundra. Batting first, Thunder started well but unfortunately Brenden Chaplin was the only real shining light making 50 off not to many balls.
The team was all out for a disappointing 151 in the 32nd over, at least 20 short of what was needed. The only highlight of the team’s bowling performance was Justin Latimer’s 5 for 17 off eight overs.
Next week the team will win and play in the finals.
JUNIOR MATCHES
The under 17 team played USC in a semi-final at Read Park on Sunday and had a big win. Batting first the team scored 9 for 203 in their 55 overs. Top scorers were Harper Lee 43, Ethan Slaney 27 and Matt Beatty 23 no.
Bowling after lunch, the boys dismissed the USC team for 60 runs. The wickets were shared with six bowlers taking wickets. They will now play Nambour in the grand final on Sunday.
The under 15 team had a good win over Yandina last Saturday night under lights at Read Park. The Thunder team scored 3 for 109 in their 20 overs and dismissed Yandina for 86 with seven of the Thunder bowlers taking wickets.
