By Randall Woodley
Two of the Tewantin-Noosa (TN Thunder) cricket teams are in good positions heading into next week’s last fixture matches of the season. The seconds, captained by veteran Chris Wright and last year’s 5th Grade team- now playing fourths, need to win their last matches to confirm their places. The best performance at the weekend was Jye Baker’s 6 wickets playing Landsborough in Third Grade.
FIRSTS A depleted TNT team without eight of last year’s semi-final team, travelled to Gympie at the weekend to take on Gympie Gold. Losing the toss, they were asked to bat first on an unpredictable pitch and very slow outfield. Openers Jacob Dennien and Michael Perry did their best to blunt a very aggressive attack and played patiently for 19 overs when Perry was out for 20. The team worked their way to 48 after 29 overs but then one of the most dismal batting displays experienced by a TNT side took place. Wicket after wicket fell and eventually the team were all out for 65. Dennien top scored with 21.
Gympie came out blazing and passed the TNT score before a wicket fell at 75. Then like TNT, the Golds had a batting collapse to be 6 for 116. This was a result of outstanding bowling by new player, Blake Steel who took 4-36 off 13 overs and veteran Rowdy Thomson 1-19 off 9. At stumps Gympie were 7 -154. The match finished on Sunday in a defeat. It has not been a good season for the top team after losing so many players to retirement, promotion to Scorchers and injuries. However, plans are well under way for next season with recruitment and coaching the main aims.
SECONDS Playing Palmwoods at Read Park in a two-day match, TNT won the toss and batted in good conditions. Chris Wright opened the innings and scored an impressive captain’s knock of 84. Veteran Robert Payton chimed in with a valuable 36. The innings finished at 173. In reply Palmwoods were 5-78 at stumps on Saturday.
On Sunday the “Twos” completed the job and bowled Palmwoods out for 134. Best of the bowlers were Robbie Payton 3-44, Will Gear 2-30, Jason Toohey 2-24 and Cody Wright 2-26.
With an outright win the goal, the TNT boys batted again and registered a second innings score of 181 with Steve Gallagher scoring 81 and Chris Wright 38. Palmwoods were then put in with 23 overs to be bowled. When the match finished they were 4-95. Best of the bowlers in the second innings were Sam Baker 2-14 and Gallagher 1-0. Next week the match is against Yandina and is a must “win” to ensure a place in the semi-finals.
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THIRDS The team were at home at Dale Officer Oval in their match against Landsborough. Although the team lost the match the highlight was Jye Baker taking 6 wickets- a great result for the young bowler. Batting first the home side made 154 with top scorers Michael Sobey (54) and Brendan Wright (28). There was a solid last wicket stand between Alex Morgan and debutant Hayden Carey.
In reply, Landsborough were 2-59 at stumps on day 1 with their top batsman out. Late in the day, Jye Baker bowled a great spell and continued again on Sunday picking up his 6 wickets. However, despite this good bowling the Landsborough team chased down the TNT score with some big hitting.
FOURTHS Playing Yandina at their home ground, the TNT boys dismissed them for 151. Rupert Kain took 3 catches. The best bowlers for the Thunder were Graham Chaplain 4-36, Justin Talbot 3-22 and Luke Anstey 2-18. At stumps on Saturday TNT were 1 for 15. Chasing the Yandina score on Sunday, there were some solid efforts but no one could post a big score. Eventually the TNT team fell 12 runs short of the target. Top scorers were Justin Talbot 37, Tony Watson 30, Shane Gesell 11 and Graham Chaplain 10. Next week the team will play last placed Burpengary at home. The team will need to win this game to ensure their place in the semi-finals
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