Around the Grounds
Impressive batting from Michael Eckard (104) and Andy Batten (68*) spur Firsts to a big win. Second grade lost a close game with Reilly Carroll (4-22) causing damage with the ball. Thirds lost to a strong Caloundra Team and Sixths scrapped to a good win with Max Joyce taking (4-12). The Ladies won again, now three from three with Talei Owen (48*) once again the stand-out. Noosa District 17’s completed a dominant win on the back of Farran Cooke’s century last week and the Shire Boys lost a nailbiter on the last ball. Both U13’s teams fought hard but ultimately couldn’t get over the line.
First Grade
Overcast and gloomy conditions greeted First Grade at home against Glasshouse as captain Michael Eckard made the first of many great decisions and chose to bat. There was enough assistance for the bowlers in in the pitch combined with frequent rain delays to make batting tough. However, after losing an early wicket, Mick and Samadhi Baker built an early partnership. Mick playing with maturity and patience reigning himself in and Samadhi barely surviving. Multiple plays and misses yet no edges suggested the Glasshouse bowlers were too short in length. In between, the momentum shifted as runs started to flow, reaching the 50 partnership in the 10th. The end of the power-play signalled another shift, with the Glasshouse spinners finding turn and drying up the runs. After Samadhi (41) got out trying to run when the ball was next to the keepers’ pads, scoring continued to be difficult and after two more wickets the game was back in the balance the score 3 for 100 after 30. However, Andy Batten joined Mick at the crease, who proceeded to deposit the ball to all parts. Eight sixes and a few fours later, Mick (104 at a run a ball) was celebrating his first home Hundred for the club and his second this year. An incredible innings which saw him go from 50 to 100 in about 30 balls. The hurt continued for Glasshouse with Cooper Lea (33 of 27) and Andy (68* of 66) finishing with a bang with 70 coming from the last 8 overs. Incredible hitting! The bowling started a little loose, yet Glasshouse struggled to score off the bat. After tying down the openers, regular wickets fell throughout with our bowling not at our best but still too good for Glasshouse. Mick continued his day out with 3 for 44 and Ben Giddy (3-37) and Zac Murray (2-35) loosened up and had better second spells. A bit a scare late with some clean hitting from the Glasshouse lower order but the game was effectively over by the first drinks break. Mick and Andy followed by Coopers’ fast scoring effectively won the game lifting a par total to well above. Consistency could be improved with the bowling but a great win regardless.
Second Grade
After a two and two start to the season, second grade headed down to Glasshouse. Stand-in skipper Josh Peters lost the toss and Tewantin were sent in to bat. Things started badly, losing in form batter Josh early with runs not coming easily but Rory Ramsden (38) and Joe Murray (50) solidified on a tough wicket. As the game progressed, the team ran hard and played some classy shots to keep the scoreboard ticking over at three to four runs an over. The innings finished on a high, with Ben Blackwell hitting a massive six and Matt Nenadic (31*) some clean balls, reaching 4-165. The score felt competitive with tight bowling, which started superbly with Josh Christensen’s wicket maiden. However, a couple of loose balls an over cost the team as Glasshouse scored steadily. Plenty of chances were created but none went to hand early. Luckily, Reilly Carrol’s (4-22) first two balls proved almost unplayable, leaving the Glasshouse reeling at 4-69. From there the game stayed extremely tight, with momentum changing every over. Wickets fell regularly and the pressure stayed on. It went down to the last over with them needing 5 runs with 2 wickets in hand. Unfortunately, Tewantin just came up short, but it was a nail-biting contest with plenty of positives.
Third Grade
Third grade hosted top of the table Caloundra and won the toss choosing to bowl, hoping to get the benefit of a reduced over match. After making early inroads through some incredible deliveries, the run rate increased rapidly with a boundary being gifted most overs. Aiden Mayo (1-19) was the pick of the bowlers with Caloundra posting 216 off the allotted 32 overs. The chase started poorly losing early wickets to keep up with the run rate. There were a couple of good partnerships but the team couldn’t continue the momentum against a strong team. All out 147. A tough loss but plenty to like.
Sixth Grade
Sixth Grade travelled to Landsborough and batted first playing with freedom. Unfortunately, wickets fell with regularity until Dante Cox (42*) scored some crucial runs with the tail to reach all out 115. Needing to bowl well Tewantin did just that taking 4 ealry wicket and building pressure with tight bowling, Max Joyce (4-12) then took three wickets in an over to take the momentum and finish Landsborough off for 92. Clinical catching and some patient batting and bowling the key.
Women
The women lost the toss and were sent into bat in a top of the table clash against Glasshouse. Talei Owen got to the retirement number of 30 after falling one short the last two games. Captain Petrina Mcaulay (23) kept the run rate moving before a mini batting collapse saw Sharon Withers holding out long enough to bring Talei back in. They batted through, with Talei finishing not out on 48 off 38 balls and Sharon not out for a well-played 7 to finish on 109. Disciplined bowling was to be the key and it started well with Bec Whisker bowling Glasshouse’s big hitter with her first ball. The tight bowling continued and was backed by excellent work in the field with three run outs. Unfortunately, in the 14th over captain Trina went down to a calf tear to put a dampener on a great win. The Thunder Women now alone on the top of the table.
Juniors
Noosa District U17 continued their red-hot form and demolished Caboolture on the back of a brilliant hundred from Farran on day 1. Day 2 arrived, and the bowlers took over restricting Caboolture to 8/128 off the full 55. Really impressive all-round display.
U15 Shire Boys were at home in Cooroy for day 2 versus Nambour. Galant effort which ended with the Shire Boys on the wrong side of a final ball thriller. Great fight and onwards to next week. U13A’s lost a close one against Nambour after being bowled out for 125 with 10 overs remaining and Nambour chasing the score with last wicket. Great game but disappointing to leave overs on the table. U13B’s were also defeated 8/66 versus Maroochydore 2/137. A great team effort in the field and a big step up on the quality of bowling and fielding all around. Well done everyone.
