Quote of the Week- “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” – Michael Jordan, NBL Basketballer
The 2023-24 Sunshine Coast Cricket Association’s Season has finished as it started….with a wet weekend. But it also finished with a premiership being awarded to the Tewantin-Noosa Thunder First Grade Team. After the three days of the scheduled Grand Final against the Caboolture Snakes were washed out, the top team, Thunder were declared the season’s champions. This was well deserved, winning 14 of their 21 matches with 4 losses and 3 washed out games.
There were some outstanding individual performances by the players but it was the overall team effort that saw them continue to win throughout the season. It seemed at many of the matches that when a team member was struggling, another stepped up to score runs, effect a runout or take vital wickets. The season was summed up yesterday by the veteran and club stalwart Jarrod Officer who made these comments after the presentation of the premiership cup and medals.
“What a season. One of the most enjoyable I’ve had.
After losing Jacob Andrew, Scott Aufderheide, Tom Stewart, Lewis Waugh and Ben Claypole and Dom Taylor for a large part of the season you would have been crazy to think we would finish top of the table in 3 formats, make 3 grand finals and take home 2 flags.
Michael Eckard was amazing as our captain and leader, Sam Baker and Andy Batten made great comebacks, wicket-keeper Cooper Lea stepped up to have a great year and isn’t even scratching the surface of his ability yet. We saw Talon Reichert’s batting improve out of sight and Zac Murray come out of nowhere to be one of the best bowlers on the coast….and the old guys keep hanging in there!
Rain got in the way again but fantastic season for our 1st grade. What a team!
– 2 Day Premiers
– One Day Premiers
– T20 Grand Finalists
– Minor premiers – finished 1st in all 3 formats. “
SEASONS MATCHES AND RESULTS FOR THUNDER FIRST GRADE TEAM:-
Round Verses Match Thunder Scores Opposition Scores
1 (WIN) Glasshouse T20 79 7-72
2 (WIN) Coolum T20 6-143 6-126
3 (WIN) Caboolture T20 3-168 3-154
4 (WIN) Caloundra T20 5-152 81
5 (Wash out) M’dore T20 7-126 3-33
6 (WIN) Nambour T20 5-183 90
7 (LOST) Gympie T20 128 4-139
8 (WIN) Maroochydore 2 Day 330 126 & 1-20
9 (LOST)Caboolture 2 Day 5-393 (decl) 7-405
10 (WIN) Caloundra 2 Day 6-186 & 6-80 176 & 87
11 (WIN) Coolum 2 Day 8-188 & 1-12 168 & 106
12 (WIN) Nambour 50 Overs 195 127
13 (WIN) Gympie 50 Overs 2-93 91
14 (WIN) Glasshouse 50 Overs 8-196 166
15 (WIN) Maroochydore 50 Overs 7-201 6-69
16 (Wash out) Caboolture 50 Overs
17 (Wash out) Nambour 50 Overs
18 (LOST) Coolum 50 Overs 66 5-67
19 (WIN) Nambour 2 Day 9-320 & 3-61 224
20 (LOST) Gympie 2 Day 92 125 & 5-82
21 (WIN) Glasshouse 2 Day 316 238
Scheduled Matches 21
Won 14
Lost 4
Washed Out 3
TEAM’S STATISTICS
Batting:-
Jarrod Officer 676 runs at an average of 30.7
Michael Eckard 596 runs at an average of 27
Ben Laughlin 485 runs at an average of 28.5
Andy Batten 475 runs at an average of 30
Sam Baker 443 runs at an average of 21
Bowling:-
Zac Murray 38 wickets at 14.6
Michael Eckard 34 wickets at 20.2
Ben Laughlin 32 wickets at 10.1
Talon Reichert 20 wickets at 22.8
Fielding
Cooper Lea (wicketkeeper) took 35 catches and made 3 stumpings.
Jarrod Officer took 20 catches.
Sam Baker took 18 catches.
Although it was only the First Graders who won the season’s premiership, the other four senior teams had some good wins and with so many of the club’s talented teenagers emerging, every player and supporter is eyeing off the 2024-25 with optimism.
This will be the last cricket column I will write for the Noosa Today newspaper. After 15 seasons and writing for a number of different newspapers it is time I handed it over to someone else who can put their own perspective on next season’s matches.
