Around the Grounds
Plenty of cricket in the last two weeks, with the first portion of two dayers finishing up, First grade through to the T20 finals, Scorchers winning the Schaeffer Shield and the other senior and junior teams getting stuck in. Joe Murray, Samadhi Baker and Christian Hytch all scored hundreds, with Christian also taking five wickets!
Scorchers Schaeffer Shield
Sunshine Coast went undefeated over the weekend and claimed the Schaeffer shield. Tewantin had strong representation with six players making the team. Standout performers were Michael Eckard who made 50 and took three wickets and Samadhi Baker with the rare combo of a duck stumped of a wide on the first ball of the innings followed by a hundred, both made the South Queensland team to travel to Cairns in two weeks.
First Grade vs Glasshouse – Thursday Night T20
Facing a must-win match to secure a place in the finals, First Grade met Glasshouse on Thursday night in testing batting conditions.
Batting first on a tricky wicket, the side struggled to find fluency early, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Ben Laughlin stood tall amid the collapse, producing a superb counterattacking innings of 52 from 28 balls, striking some towering sixes over cover on the up. His composure steadied the innings, and with support from Andy Batten late in the act, the team managed to reach a defendable total.
In reply, Glasshouse’s chase faltered from the outset. Tight opening spells restricted them to just 1/11 after four overs, and the pressure never relented. All bowlers maintained excellent lines and lengths, ensuring the remained in control throughout the innings.
Ben Giddy led the attack with 3 wickets, while Josh Gittins and Jacob Dennien each claimed two as Glasshouse were dismissed well short of the target.
An outstanding rescue effort from Laughlin and a clinical display from the bowling unit sealing victory and sending the side through to the finals at Maroochydore this Sunday.
Two Dayers
First Grade vs Caloundra
Day 1
With storms on the radar, the side was eager to bowl first — and despite losing the toss, that opportunity came. Mick and Ben Giddy opened with a clinic, taking two wickets in the first five overs, including a sharp run-out engineered by Jarrod Officer.
Riley Woolmer then took charge, claiming four wickets as Caloundra collapsed under sustained pressure. The visitors were dismissed for just 74 on a lively but fair surface.
In reply, openers Samadhi Baker and Tristen Griffin made a confident start. After an early wicket, Joe Murray joined Baker and built a solid partnership before lightning halted play with the team well on top at 2/116 (28 overs), already surpassing Caloundra’s total.
Day 2
Play resumed with Joshua Christensen stepping in for Joe Murray and immediately finding the middle, striking his first ball through the covers for four. After the loss of a few quick wickets, Michael Eckard continued his fine form, registering his fifth consecutive half-century.
A destructive partnership between Andrew Kratzmann (41* off 27) and Andy Batten (38 off 21) pushed the total to 6/232 declared, setting a lead of 158. The bowlers finished the job efficiently, with Riley Woolmer and Ben Giddy again leading the attack, supported by both Joshs. Caloundra were dismissed for 123, giving the side a dominant outright victory.
Second Grade vs Caloundra
Day 1:
After losing the toss, the team was sent in to bat. Openers Oliver Wilson and Ben Blackwell started positively, but two quick wickets swung momentum. Despite a promising start at 3/67, spin on a dry pitch proved to be the game changer, and the side was bowled out for 101.
With the ball, Levi Towart struck early, with debutant Zak Woolmer taking his first catch in Second Grade before lightning ended play prematurely with Caloundra 1/30.
Day 2:
Rowdy struck early to remove two batters, and Travis Woolmer bowled an outstanding spell of 3/29 (4.3), supported by Towart (2/37) and Rowdy (2/56). Caloundra edged ahead, posting a 100-run lead.
Set to bat out the day, the team responded superbly. Rory Ramsden and Joe Murray steadied the innings before Murray produced a magnificent 103 from 125 balls — his first senior century for the club — guiding the side to 3/189 at stumps with some momentum.
Third Grade vs Yandina
Rain shortened One Dayer
On a dicey deck which had the covers blown off mid-week, Tewantin were sent in to bat first and really struggled to score as the pitch played havoc. Doing well to bat the overs the scrounged to 105 with Reilly Carrol scoring a brave 29 not out. In reply Yandina took advantage of some ill-disciplined bowling and flatter pitch to chase the runs comfortably. With the toss going the other way it could have been a different result.
Sixth Grade vs Palmwoods
Day 1:
Returning to Palmwoods, the team won the toss and bowled first, with the bowlers striking early — Ramsden and Hozier removing both openers for ducks, aided by an excellent catch from Cooper Withers.
Withers then claimed a wicket himself, supported by tight bowling from Latimer and Moore. Young wrist spinner Henry Blackwell was particularly impressive, taking 3 wickets from 9 overs and creating multiple chances. Palmwoods were 8/122 when play was stopped at 4pm as lightning halted play.
Day 2:
Resuming with two wickets to claim, the bowlers finished the job efficiently. Bailey Hozier struck first with a catch to Ron Lewis, and Justin Latimer wrapped up the innings to dismiss Palmwoods for 144.
Batting proved difficult on a deteriorating pitch. Despite determined contributions from Brian Lee (17), Wayne Moore (21), and Hozier (25) a few crucial run-outs proved costly. Luke Anstey (16*) and Justin Talbot (12) offered resistance at the end, but Palmwoods held on bowling the side for 110.
