By Randall Woodley
The First Grade team were the only ones to complete a full match of cricket at the weekend. Of the eight matches scheduled to be played, only the one ended in a result. The others were either washed out or called off before the first ball was bowled. It had been planned as a big weekend of cricket with each of the grades drawn to play two ‘one-day’ matches, one on Saturday and one Sunday. The only match completed was the First Grade game against Gympie at Read Park and unfortunately this resulted in a loss.
First Grade – Due to the wet condition of the ground, the match at Read Park on Saturday against Gympie Gold was delayed until 12.30pm and the overs reduced to 40 a side. TNT won the toss and sent Gympie in first. The visitors started in a flurry of runs and were 90 when the first wicket fell. The TNT bowlers continued to take wickets but runs were being accumulated at about 5 an over. Eventually the last wicket fell at 190 which was going to be a huge task for the TNT batsmen with grey skies and fading light. Best of the TNT bowlers were Jacob Dennien 3/31, Cody Rzeszkowski 3/34 and Rowdy Thomson, back in form with 3/38.
Scoring the required runs became an even more difficult task with both openers back in the shed with only 10 runs on the board. Ben Gear, the team’s most consistent batsman started to turn things around but he kept losing his batting partners to a mixture of bad shots and good bowling. Ben was eventually out for 68 with the score on 115. The only other solid contribution was from Stephen Shaw with 20. The late order batsmen did their best to score the needed runs in the dark conditions but the last man was run out at 6.15pm with the score on 153.
Sunday the team travelled to Nambour and bowled first. Nambour compiled 5/184 before rain stopped play. Bowling figures for TNT were Jacob Dennien 2/37 off 9, Stephen Shaw 1/28 off 7, Rowdy Thomson 1/10 off 3 and Lachie Gunner 1/16 off 4. TNT never batted due to the rain and the match ended in a draw. Next Saturday the team heads to Maroochydore and all things being equal, including the weather, the team should register a win in their last match before the Christmas break.
The only other team to play any cricket were the Fourths who travelled to Palmwoods. The home team batted first making a slow start. However, they eventually compiled 244 for the loss of 6 wickets off their 40 overs. Best bowling figures for TNT were Tom Green 2/14, Joe Jurisevic 2/28, Graham Chaplin 1/45 and Nev Kratzmann 1/44. The covers went back on over the tea break and with poor light and rain starting to fall again, the match was abandoned. Next Saturday the Fourths will play Caloundra at home at Dale Officer Oval.
Next Saturday the Seconds will be at Read Park playing Maroochydore Swans and the Thirds will drive to Yandina for their match.
