Randall Woodley
Last weekend was the official start of the Sunshine Coast’s 2023-24 cricket season and what a busy weekend it turned out to be. Five senior teams took to the field whilst all the juniors, under 11s to under 17s played their first matches of the season.
And despite the weather, the results were fairly positive for the club after Day 1 of the matches.
FIRST GRADE: The boys commenced their first two-day match against the Maroochydore Swans at Read Park under threatening skies and after winning the toss they decided to bowl first. Without their No 1 bowler, Ben Laughlin for the first hour they opened up with the two 17 year olds, Talon Reichert and Zac Murray.
Jarrod Officer who has played 300 first-grade games commented after the day’s play that he was sure they were the youngest opening attack in his time and maybe in the club’s history.
However, the pair absolutely deserved the new ball and showed it – Talon taking a wicket in the first over before Maroochydore got on a bit of a roll.
Zac picked up the next wicket to have them 2-50 before the interruptions through rain began. During the afternoon there were five rain delays – which played into Thunder’s hands.
Ben Laughlin took 2 quick wickets (2-12), one to the skipper, Michael Eckard before Zac Murray (3-34) took 2 more rippers in between rain delays. Talon came back late to take another wicket (2-42) and Officer one to have Maroochydore on 9-107 at stumps. The ground was lightning fast even with the wet so overall it was a great effort with the ball and sets the team up well for next week.
SECOND GRADE: Like most of the other teams playing on Saturday, the seconds were on and off the field at Palmwoods all afternoon. The new captain, Tristan Griffith won the toss and sent the Hawks into bat on what looked like a soft wicket. It proved to be a long and slow afternoon with all the Thunder bowlers on song, and not allowing any of the opposition batters to score freely. They all bowled well with the highlight of the day seeing youngsters Jack Kaspers (0-30 off 11) and Finn Mayo (1-22 off 16) bowling long spells of leg-breaks. Josh Christensen came back on late in the day to take two quick wickets. At stumps Palmwoods were 4 -79 off their 57 overs. The fielding of the team was exceptional which backed up the bowlers performance. Next week the boys will be pushing for the win.
THIRD GRADE: The team travelled to Caloundra and were met with a green and patchy deck under cold and windy conditions. Thunder’s skipper lost the first toss of the season and they sent us into bat. Brendan Wright and Harper Lee started well but then the Tewantin-Noosa boys lost a few wickets in quick succession to the ball nipping around. At 4-40 the team were struggling but the players dug in and formed a few partnerships which dragged them back into the game. Leon Beatty knocked them around for his 26 but it was the captain, Nigel Webster who steadied the ship and carried the team to a reasonable total of 171. Nigel scored 86 off 82 balls with twelve 4s and four 6s. Daniel Cooke (23) and son Farran put on valuable runs at the end. At stumps Caloundra were 0-10.
The highlight of the day was seeing four father/son combos playing with some getting a chance to bat together (Lees, Beattys, Websters and Cookes). Plenty of work to do next week with the game starting at 12pm.
FOURTH GRADE were at home taking on Caloundra who decided to bat first. The bowlers struck early and had Caloundra at 3-71. Unfortunately that’s where the joy ended. Thunder’s best bowler, Rory Ramsden (1-19), pulled up lame and with four 4 stoppages in play due to rain, Caloundra’s 4th wicket partnership put on 140 runs. They finished the day on 4 for 277.
A bit of work to do next week to stay in the game but no doubt the combination of experience and youth in the team will give it a red-hot go.
FIFTH GRADE: In a rain interrupted afternoon against USC, the Thunder team were 5 for 70 at stumps with top scorer Tony Watson (21).
UNDER 17s started their season against Cooroy at home and batted first. Brandon Henderson and Oliver Wilson opened the innings and it was Oliver’s outstanding innings that kept his team in the game. Notable mention to Max Joyce and Farron Cooke who stayed at Oli’s side to steady the ship with him. Oli top scored with an amazing 82 (off 87 balls) not out and saw the team home with a defendable total of 123 off 30 overs.
Heading into the field as the wind picked up and the rain threatened, the Thunder bowlers were able to get two wickets thanks to Brandon and Tony Hunting and Cooroy finished the day on 2/79 off 25 overs. Should be a good session next Saturday so come down to Dale Officer Oval and support the team.
UNDER 15s played Cooroy-Eumundi at Cooroy and bowled first. Thunder’s bowlers had early success and apart from some middle order resistance they were bowled out for 50. Best of the bowlers – Emile Lewis 2-13 (4), Eddie Weychardt 2-4 (1) and Lachlan Kelly who took wickets off his first two balls and will be on a hat trick next innings! The bowlers were well supported by some great fielding and catching.
Thunder’s batting innings started shakingly being 4-33 but a solid middle order partnership of 52 from Fenn Peddie (24) and Ben Blackwell (57*) saw Thunder finish Day 1 on 6-141.
UNDER 13s travelled to Yandina to play the Pioneers. Winning the toss, they batted first finishing 3-197 off 30 overs with all batters valuing their wickets. In response Thunder limited Yandina to 8-41 with some great stump to stump bowling and fielding.
UNDER 11 (Lightning). The team won their match against Palmwoods Gold, scoring 2-102 to Palmwoods 82. The match over 20 overs each was the first competitive match for most of the young players and the result was a bonus for them.
