Randall Woodley
Quote of the week- “The bat is not a toy; It is a weapon. It gives me everything in life which helps me do everything on the field.” Virat Kohli, Famous Indian Cricketer.
FIRST GRADE: 1st grade hosted Glasshouse for week one of the last fixture game of the season. The team were aiming for a win to guarantee them the Sunshine Coast’s Association minor premiership.
Winning the toss Thunder decided to bat on the notorious number 2 pitch at Read Park which looked great for batting. When a few balls flew through off the ramp in the first over, the batters knew the new ball was going to be a challenge. Like some of their opening starts in recent weeks, Thunder found themselves in trouble again at 2-1 which soon became 3-9. However Sam Baker and Jarrod Officer (28) were able to consolidate the innings to 4-58, then another wicket fell for the Thunder to be at 5-68. This brought Blake Steel out to partner Baker and the pair put together a brilliant partnership of 105 with both looking like they would bat all weekend. Steel went for 66 (7 x 4s and 3 x 6s) and Baker was out soon after for 58 to see the team in a good place at 7-181.
No 8 Cooper Lea was out there with No 9 Ben Claypole. It was strange to see a batsman who has scored two 100s in the past twelve months batting at 9.
Cooper Lea (23) went at 8-207 to bring out No 10 Dom Taylor. Claypole was out at 228 and then everyone watched Taylor completely dismantle the Glasshouse attack, taking 48 off the last 6 overs of the day with the No 11, Zac Murray also clearing the ropes!
Bad light saw the day finish with Thunder 9-276 from 74 overs.
SECOND GRADE: The side travelled to Coolum to take on the Sharks needing an outright win for a shot at the finals. Losing the toss, Thunder were asked to bowl first. Tyron De Kauwe and Luke Smalley started really strongly with both picking up wickets in their first overs. Smalley in particular toiled hard, bowling 13 overs straight threatening the whole time and was unlucky to not pick up more wickets. Joshua Christensen was always threatening the outside edge picking up 3 wickets of his own through the middle. Jarred Davis bowled superbly putting the ball on some very challenging lines and lengths with his off-breaks to snare two wickets.
The threatening rain was mostly confined to the tea break, only losing a couple overs of play, before Fin n Mayo bowled well to clean up the tail and skittle them for 114 in 41 overs. A really good result for Thunder. After losing two wickets, Max Cooper stayed solid and was joined by Tristan Griffin and the pair were still there when bad light stopped play early. Max batted with patience and poise to finish 37 not out. The team will start next Saturday at 2 for 59 aiming to pass Coolum’s score and then go for the outright win.
THIRD GRADE: The boys drove south to take on the fourth placed Caboolture Snakes team. Winning the toss Thunder chose to bat on a pitch that offered little other than a slow bounce. They started well with Craig Moore and Lachlan Webster taking the shine off the bowling and batting out the first 15 overs of slow but accurate bowling. Craig then departed for a well-earned 18 before Lachy followed to have the team a little shaky at 3-32. Richard Lee and Daniel Cooke then steadied the ship and took the score to 4-75 at tea. After tea it all went south with all the batters falling to get-out shots on a slow pitch: all out for 109. Caboolture then batted in slow drizzle making bowling hard until the umpires calling end to play with them 0-42. Lots of work to do next week!
FOURTH GRADE: Fallons Solutions 4th grade- Day 1 v Cooroy-Eumundi at Dale Officer Oval. Winning the toss, Cooroy chose to have a bat. Jeremy Holland went through the top order with accurate and intelligent bowling, taking all the wickets to have Cooroy at 5-22. Their middle and lower order dug in for a while but were all out in the 44th over for 119. Max Joyce, Cooper Withers with a wicket each and Alek Dillewaard with two wrapped up the Cooroy innings. Some all-round brilliant fielding by Thunder was a key factor as well.
In fading light and with on and off drizzle, Thunder lost two batters early but Anthony Blackwell (100*) and Jeremy Holland (38*) then put on a superb 124 partnership to snare the 1st innings lead and finish out the day. Anthony was able to bring up his century in the last over before stumps. His great innings included 19 x 4s. A great start for the team and a lot to build on next Saturday.
UNDER 15As: The team put on a terrific team effort last weekend to win their way into the Grand Final next Saturday/Sunday against the Coolum Sharks. The Thunder boys scored 9 for 149 with top scorer Rory Ramsden registering 81 runs off 76 balls (7 X 4s and 3 X 6s.) Aedan Mayo backed him up with 16. Then the Thunder rolled the Caboolture Snakes for 59. Best figures to Rory Ramsden 3-11 and Ben Blackwell 3-10. The boys will be practicing hard this week looking to bring home the premiership next weekend.
UNDER13sA: The Thunder team are off to the big dance V Coolum Sharks next Saturday after a close semi-final win over the Maroochydore Swans last weekend. Against disciplined bowling the Thunder team scored 115 with top scorers, Henry Blackwell 34 not out and Nate Watson 19. Thanks to an inspiring team effort in the field, the players were able to restrict the Swans to 102. Great performance from every player. Here’s hoping the team have saved their best till last.
