Fresh off his 122 in Nelson’s Hawke Cup victory over Southland – new Club recruit Thomas Zohrab was straight into the action for our Premier team against East Shirley, at Burwood Park, in the weekend.
The 1st-year University of Canterbury student took an early wicket at 1st-change, but it would be with the bat that he would really make an impact on debut. Easts batted fairly well through the morning and past lunch – declaring at 257/9. Inglis & Latham each claimed 3 wickets.
In reply Zohrab struck 98 off 126 balls (including 13 fours and 1 six) – providing the perfect foil to Tinus Huyser (62 from 49 balls) as the pair added 108 for the 1st wicket from just 16.2 overs. He then paired with Liam Winn (50) to add a further 109 for the 2nd wicket, and he himself wasn’t dismissed until the 41st over with the score at 257/3.
The Premiers will resume next week with a decision required around their approach with the 1st innings scores tied on a very good batting wicket.
CHAMPIONSHIP:
Our 2nd’s travelled to picturesque St Leonards Square in Sumner to take on the home side in day 1 action. Some big names (& frames) rolled out, in the absence of younger ones preferring to attend Electric Avenue, with Mark Shackleton, Brett Thomson & Dan O’Keefe all putting their hands up to assist in a crisis.
Sumner batted 1st and struggled through to 160/5 off 40 and battling but it appears this correspondent has somehow upset all 2nd Grade members as they are refusing to give me further deets – other than they were going good in reply Alex Heenan pumped it again with (at least) 60 not out (at tea) and Tom Dunlop not out in the 20’s.
Millennials replying to texts or social media requests is problematic it appears at times…
DIVISION 1:
Fresh off their stunning outright victory last week, but also hampered by unavailable players, our 3rd’s batted 1st against Lancaster park 3rd’s on Burnside 1. Park rolled out an interesting looking mixture in their line-up – I’m pretty sure it was a combination of travelling gypsies and junior accountants.
Their opening bowler was a shortish, barrel chested man with a bushy beard whose action looked like a grasshopper climbing a tree branch – and I’m certain that Tom Petty was fielding at cover for most of the day.
But it was our lads who were free-falling initially as we were all out for 89 – only Aiden Mikaera (21) & Henk Huyser (38) offering significant resistance.
In reply Park mustered 214/8 declared with no: 3 Amos scoring a well compiled century. Dan Vedder the pick of the bowlers with a 3 for. But our lads dug in in the 2nd … um … dig … to be 55/1 – Mikaera & McKenzie both unbeaten on 20 odd to offer some optimism for next week.
DIVISION 3 CANNONS:
The missing person’s report which was filed with the Police in respect of El Capitan Peters has been withdrawn – as he returned to the line-up to take Riccarton at Yaldhurst Domain.
Batting 1st Terror Foote (35) & Knowles (23) added 50 for the 1st wicket before Footie Foote scored 58 of his 71 in boundaries to lift the rate. Taser Bradley (20) and Kasun (25) also chipped in as the boys cruised through to 224/6 of their 40 overs.
Riccarton struggled in reply with only opener Rathore (37 off 24 balls) offering resistance – eventually all out for 89 in the 28th over. Kasun cleaned up the tail with 3, after Knowles & Lenny Otte had taken 2 each. Lurking at 3rd change El Capitan had a quiet day by his standards with 1/10 off 5.
DIVISION 4 BOOMERS:
A similar story at Tullett Park as only opener Thomas (41) offered much with the bat for Marist Harewood as they were bowled out for 105 in the 34th over. Wickets shared about with Tony Edlin’s 3 the best – Regan Wilson, Rana & D’Obbly O’Brien each snared 2. Deon Cremer was absent – allowing others a decent crack at things with the ball.
But it wasn’t all plain sailing in reply with 6 Boomers batsmen being dismissed in single figures. Luckily O’Brien wasn’t having any of this “difficult run chase” nonsense – striking 6 fours in his 49 not out. Campbell Rose, at number 9, hung with D’Obbly to get the lads over the line – 7 down in the 37th over.
DIVISION 5 STRIKERS:
Electric Avenue also impacted the Strikers this week – getting the win courtesy of a default by their Marist Harewood opponents.
PRESIDENT’S FOXES:
Still 1st equal with 2 matches to play in the round-robin competition the Foxes travelled to Burwood Park to take on the dangerous East Gold team.
Having won the toss and asked East to bat they were under pressure initially as Craig Gibb & former Otago Batsman Peter Dobbs starting to find the short boundaries straight to their liking.
At 48/0 off 11 the introduction of Wheeler was required and he slowed the rate nicely taking 1/16 off his 1st 5 overs.
The introduction of Josh Vernall further hampered the East effort – bowling 8 straight he claimed 4/33 as Easts lost regular wickets before finally succumbing to 160 all out in the 38th over. Wheeler & Kember 2 wickets each and Shane Young, in his 1st appearance for a couple of seasons, was cat-like in the field.
In reply Tim Grocott trapped both openers in front to have the Foxes reply, and season, hanging in the balance. Marty Conway (35) played positively and, despite his loss, Burnside reached 86/3 at the half way (20 over) mark – the same position as Easts had earlier been.
But Everest & Robertson wanted to put the matter to bed and did so in fine style – Matt playing beautifully (55 not out) and Skipper Robertson (50 not out) sharing a 93 run partnership to finish things off rather quickly inside 33 overs.
The Foxes play Merivale Papanui next week and a win in that game guarantees them at least a share of the primary Grade competition.
20 ACTION:
Well there wasn’t all that much off it as the Believer’s had a bye and the Holstein’s Boys defaulted.
This left the GhettoHustlers and the DDT’s as the only 2 teams actually getting some cricket in.
Hot off the messenger APP from the Hustler boys is this:
“Played the in form St Albans Fozzies who the boys know quite well now after tussling for a few years.
A Mexican stand off ensued during the week as each team tried to feel out whether a default would be made with a festival on. Neither team budged.
Turning up with 5 regulars away and to St Albans warming up 30 minutes before the game there was doubt creeping into the minds of a few. Particuarly with David Hills out injured with a broken heart.
The opposition had done well in terms of ring ins, enough to declare “we have a good team this week” Bat first and put on 162 with Callum getting a hard earned 53* on a spicy Nunweek wicket.
Some good cameos all round given the pitch would have to be the most dangerous in the South Island.
We put the new ball to good use and got the ball to swing and rear up, nullifying any footwork of every batsmen who all wore them to the body, and unfortunately one player (helmet-less) wearing one on the jaw.
The lads all bowled well and skittled them for 50″
Meanwhile the DDTs chased Halswell’s 125/5 after Moore (2/15) and Vieceli (2/35) did most of the damage. The Diamond Trader’s replied positively with McCauley retired (46) & bionic knee Knowles (28*) getting the lads home easy-times…
JUNIOR FOCUS:
“After the rain affected match last week the team were excited to be play their first game as the holders of the John Grocott Trophy.
Playing against Halswell in Aidenfield the Burnside boys won the toss and decided to bat first. All contributed well with all seven batsmen scoring double figures. Josh R (33), Callum E (31) and Luke M (53).
In previous games the bowling line’s were fairly wayward but the planets were aligned and the boys were on target today. Callum E (2 for 5), Ryan R (2 for 14), Luke M (3 for 12), Josh R (3 for 31) and Will Mc (4 for 20). The teams fielding was the best they’d shown all year which helped keep the runs down.
In the end we were too strong for Halswell with BWU 7 winning with 217 runs against 149″.
And this in from Alix Scobie of BWU 9:
“What a game at the Oval. What a stunning evening. I had sunblock on, but thank you Jillian for the top up, I was cooking while I was scoring! Back to the game:- It was like the boys saw the field and went “I belong” and off they went!
Starting with the most involved fielding I have seen from Tom yet, moving around, getting behind the ball and backing up his buddies. Caleb was all over it, moving his buddies around the field to prevent the 4s by Medbury. The blocking of the ball with their bodies saw Troy stop a 4 within a metre of the boundary – NICE, and Matthew was on fire around the wickets today, and backing up his fielding mates.
Everyone was standing further back from the wickets, meaning there were very few over throws that were boundaries this week – wahoo, exactly what we practiced for on Thursday night!
The bowling was to the Hansen’s this week. Troy had a mega 6/3! Stunning stuff. Caleb not far behind with 8/1. And Will, where did that bowling come from? 10/2 – superb bowling this week. Henry was very close to a maiden over – fantastic work! And there were less wides and no balls than we have had for a while.
Then it was our turn to bat. Troy, what a way to lead your team into batting – you found the sweet spot on the boundary and stuck with it for a massive 6 4s and 2 6s, a total of 37 runs, supported well by Thomas who was making great calls to back you up! Just when we all thought that was the most runs we would see, in came Matthew and Caleb. Matthew hit runs of EVERY BALL he faced tonight, and 9 of them were 4s, with a total of 39 runs!
A run or more of every ball faced is a first for the team. Josh and will casually followed and bought the team up to a century, Josh hitting (and not quite believing it) a 6 over the farthest boundary; and four 4s. Will and Josh did great calling, and were perhaps more conservative in their running efforts. Tom and Henry came in and took the team to over 150 runs at the end. Super cool to see a 4 Henry!
Overall the batting was the best it has been, not because of the runs, but because we had the least number of run outs (and wickets) that we have had for a very long time. This is because of good and clear calling between the batsmen about runs. I was stoked to hear Caleb chatting to Matthew before they went in to bat to make a plan. Go you two! It clearly worked – your partnership was 63 not out”.
Trophy defended at BWU 7 level and plenty to be positive across all grades for the weekend ahead,
Yours in cricket.
What kind of preparation should be done before the match?