By Randall Woodley
NOOSA CRICKET
Two of the club’s experienced cricketers, Andrew Kratzmann and Craig Moore steered their teams to victories last Saturday. Kratzmann scored a 100 at Read Park and Craig Moore his 99 at Burpengary. The nail-biting match at Read Park was witnessed by a good crowd with many juniors there to support the team.
First Grade: Playing a 50-overs match with a white ball and black sight screens, the team were decked out in their new maroon outfits with personalised numbers. With two of the team’s best players away with the representative Sunshine Coast side, captain Ben Gear won the toss and sent Caloundra into bat. His gamble looked like paying off as Robbie Payton snagged an early wick to have the Lighthouses 1-2. However, their batsman knuckled down and the next wicket did not fall until the 25th over. Being two bowlers short, seven TNT players were called on to bowl and wickets started to fall. Jacob Dennien took three, all caught on the boundary by the reliable hands of Andrew Kartzmann. Then the Caloundra middle and late order batsmen unleashed and put on 116 runs in the last 15 overs to give TNT a formidable target of 263 (8 wickets) to chase. Jarrod Officer took 3/55 and Lachie Gunner picked up the other wicket.
TNT opened cautiously with Dennien (19) and Tristan Griffin (16) putting on 30 before a wicket fell. Ben Gear strode to the crease and was soon joined by Andrew Kratzmann. Slowly but surely, these two batsmen chipped away at the target but then Ben was run out for 52 (3/151). Jarrod Officer was next to go after scoring a quick 25. At the end of over 40, TNT still needed another 76 runs to win; at over 45-40 to win and at the beginning of the 49th, 14 runs were needed. Andrew Kratzmann was nearing his ton and the team were eight down. Teenager, Darcy Morgan faced the first ball in the last over and smacked a 4. Next ball he repeated the shot for another four and then a single had him at the other end. He finished on 14 not out. Two balls left with three to get. One ball to be bowled – the scores were tied on 263 and Andrew Kratzmann on 99. The large crowd, swelled by a number of junior cricketers were hushed. Then the ground erupted as Kratzmann scored the winning run and reached his century. What a day, what an innings! Kratzmann – ever humble – was congratulated but commented that it was an all-round team effort with every single player contributing to the great win.
Fourth Grade: The team travelled to Burpengary and batted first in their 50-overs match. They scored a commendable 8/221, highlighted by 99 from opener Craig Moore, out in the 38th over. Neville Kratzmann (father of Andrew) was run out for 41. Others to contribute were Graham Chaplin 18 not out, Deon Baker 14 and Luke Anstey 12.
Then TNT contained the Burps to 6/201 after their 50 overs. Alex Morgan in his return match took 2/35 off 8, Tony Watson 2/44 of 8, and Joe Jurisevic 2/21 off 4. This was a good win for the team who had to rely on a few first-time players (Adam Bean, Dean McDonald and Jack Norman) filling in. Special mention to the stand in captain, Deon Baker who lead the team spirit all day and lifted the team after drinks when a few heads seemed to be down.
Second Grade: Playing at Burpengary the TNT captain decided to field first. Good start with Will Gear taking 2/26 in his first spell and Keegan Bean bowling well without luck for 0/24 off 6. Then an 80-run partnership changed the game until Mitch Langan bowled a lively spell to rest back momentum. Burpengary finished on 170.
Batting second, TNT lost regular wickets and were bowled out for 80 with Michael Perry scoring 17 and Reece Langan 18.
Third Grade: Playing at Dale Officer Oval and many players away, the team had to be reorganised. Probably for the club a first, with three father and son combinations playing. Unfortunately, TNT lost their strike bowler to injury in the third over and Maroochydore ended up scoring 6/197 in their 50 overs. Best of the bowlers was young Kieran Dunning with 3/44, David Baker 2/38 and Naveen Chand 1/33. With two players needing to leave early the push for quick runs did not pay off. Brendan Wright (21) and David Baker (7) knuckled down for a few overs but with their wickets the innings was quickly wrapped up for 60 runs in 20 overs.
Next weekend all Grades will be playing double-header 50/50 matches (Saturday and Sunday).
