This week ended the Round 3 fixtures vs Centurions for both the U15 and U17 teams winning one and losing one. U15 at home prevailed where our older boys unfortunately couldn’t get the chokies in the end.
U15
Centurions won the toss and elected to bat, our openers bowled well without much success, but still keeping the run rate around 3 rpo. Our first change bowlers Oliver and Bhat did the damage, both restricting the batsmen to the point of impatience where they both got very important wickets (batsman) for the team.
Tate came on and he too restricted the opposition as per usual while picking up a couple of wickets, a quick, clean stumping by Oliver to get a batsmen going ok helped keep us on top.
The fielding got better as the day went on but a couple of missed opportunities allowed Centurions to get to 174, which for them was still under par.
Saxon and Mathews opened the batting and Saxon jumped out of the blocks striking the ball cleanly and picking the gaps. An opening partnership of 71 was a good start to the run chase and had Centurions quiet and flat but we then ended up losing 4/35 in quick time while also getting bogged down in the middle overs. This kept Centurions up beat but vital partnerships between Hwight & Cardaci and Cardaci & Oliver in very good time saw us take the win while also finishing the innings on 6/202.
Bowling - Oliver, Bhat & Saxon restricting the batsmen making them take extra risk and finally getting the wickets
Batting - Saxon & Mathews opening stand to get on top of Centurions then Hwight, Cardaci & Oliver's partnerships to get the team the win and finish in such a commanding way.
U17
Fremantle won the toss and elected to bat , the port boys got away to a reasonable start until wickets fell to frequently to continually reduce the Freo boys momentum. A slow run rate early kept the middle order under pressure needing to score quickly. Mustard 27 of 61 and Sweetman 44 of 51 were the main stayers. Kibria chimed in at the end with a 14 of 25 ball return which netted our boys 9 /170 after their allotted 50 overs , the coach Matt Walker mentioning 20-30 runs short of where we needed to be.
Week 2 arrived on a hot day and very windy up at Illuka started slowing for the visitors where the host were 2/107 chasing down 171 for the win. Our seam bowlers just couldn’t get a break through early , in come the spin twins Hallows and Richardson who bowled tight through there 20 over spell which did keep us in the game. Sweetman bowled a couple of spells with plenty of change up on a flat wicket which did pay dividends who on the day was Fremantle’s chief destroyer 6/39 of 10 overs which took the game deep.
Unfortunately the total just wasn’t enough Centurions passing the score in the 48th over 8 down.
Bowling Sweetman 6/39 Hallows 1/20 off 9 overs Richardson 1/31 and Roberts doing a good job 1/12
Batting Sweetman 44 of 51 Mustard 27 of 61 , Ratter 20 of 49
Congratulations to Korey Sweetman for winning Junior player of the round and Jake Oliver for taking out Port Boy of the week