By Randall Woodley
Two Tewantin-Noosa Cricket Club teams have made it through to the semi-finals of the Sunshine Coast Cricket Association Competition. The seconds lost their match against Yandina yesterday but still finished fourth on the table. They will play top placed team Maroochydore Swans at their ground next Saturday and Sunday. The Fourths also made it through after being given a forfeited match on Saturday by last placed Burpengary. Their semi-final will be against Yandina next weekend at the Yandina Cricket Ground.
Firsts
Although losing to Nambour on Saturday in their 50 overs match at Read Park, the team showed an encouraging overall improvement in attitude, bowling and batting. This, augers well for next season, with plans in place for additional recruitment and the appointment of a coach. With TNT bowling first, Rowdy Thomson took the wicket of their premier batsman early but a second wicket partnership of 80 runs saw Nambour gain the ascendency. Lachie Gunner, returning after a two months absence, bowled 6 overs straight and with pace and lift took 2 wickets for 17. Nambour continued to score runs and eventually were out for 274. Jarrod Officer was the pick of the bowlers with 4-51. The other wickets were shared with teenager Keegan Bean taking his initial first grade wicket. In reply the home side were dismissed for 200. Openers Lachie Gunner (19) and Jacob Dennien (18) batted patiently for 13 overs before both departed at the score on 42. Club stalwarts Andrew Kratzmann (40) and Jarrod Officer (44) held off the attack but when they departed the task of reaching the target became almost impossible. A late aggressive innings from Tristan Griffin helped the team reach 200 runs.
Seconds
Playing Yandina at their home ground, the TNT team batted first on a flat and hard pitch with little grass. Reece Langan got the team off to a flyer and after four overs the score was 0-28. The opening stand was broken in the 9th over with Reece departing for a well-made 43. It was 4-106 in the 22nd over before Steven Gallagher (49) and Robbie Payton (39) moved the score to 162 in the 34th over. A couple of cameos from Dan Rewald (18) and James Beesley (19) pushed the score up to a competitive 214 off the 40 overs.
In reply the Yandina openers came out swinging but a sharp chance, well caught by Kent Officer off Robbie Payton and another caught behind saw him claim 2-16 off 5 overs to reduce Yandina to 3-51 off 10. Things were looking good for TNT with Yandina 5-112 after 19 overs but their captain had other ideas and scored 73 in no time to take the game away from the visitors. When he was out on 7-191 and his team still needing 23 runs, TNT were back in the game. However, Yandina went on to score the required runs in the 37th over. Other wicket takers were Cody Wright 3-35 and James Beesley 2-28. Next week’s semi-final will stretch the team but captain Chris Wright is confident of a strong showing by the boys.
Jarrod Officer
In TNT’s match against the Gympie Gold cricket team two weeks ago, the club president, Jarrod Officer registered his 200th First Grade game. He began playing in the top grade at the age of 16 and has hardly missed a match during those years. When he began playing in firsts his father, Dale Officer and uncle, Kent Officer were part of the team. During this time, he has scored approx. 4800 runs for the club, taken 290 wickets and registered two centuries. He has represented the Sunshine Coast in the Schaffer Shield Southern Queensland competition a number of times and this year captained the team.
He has also captained the combined TNT-Murgon team at the annual Country Week competition in Brisbane and twice brought home the trophy. Jarrod has no intention of retiring but is looking forward to next season, rebuilding the First Grade Team and has as his long term goal, another First Grade Premiership for the club.
