LMS T20 (8-a-SIDE) EASTERN SYDNEY MIDWEEK DIVISION 2 ROUND 12 v ‘JOHNNY CASH MEMORIAL’ AT CP 4 BRAZILIAN FIELD , CENTENNIAL PARK ON THURSDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2023
Cancelled because of rain.
MASTERS ROUND 9 v BURWOOD BRIARS AT RON ROUTLEY OVAL, ROTHWELL PARK, CONCORD ON SUNDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2023: REPORT BY JASON KENN
A glorious albeit a little warm day greeted both teams as Burwood hosted CCNSW at Ron Routley Oval.
CCNSW welcomed 3 debutants Kieren Purnell, Sandeep Bhandari and Matthew (‘Matty J’) Johnston into the team to bolster an already strong CCNSW squad. Welcome to the Club, gentlemen.
The day started on a winning note, with Andrew Dadswell winning the all important toss and having no hesitation in batting first on a deck that would come to resemble Nagpur by the end of the day’s play. A new opening combination of Rob Lawther and Kieran Purnell strode to the crease, and started positively with a partnership of 21, until Kieran was trapped in front for 4 by a new ball that didn’t bounce more than a few inches. Enter an in-form v/c Dan Turner who continued the momentum with Rob scoring freely as both took control on a tricky pitch.
Rob worked his way to 40* retired prior to drinks and never gave the opposition a chance with his stylish shots all around the ground, and even ducking a weaving a few head high full tosses. This brought last season’s leading run scorer to the crease Jason Kenn. Dan and Jason survived some tight stump to stump bowling to go to drinks at 1-79. On resumption, Jason put one over the fence (because it would be rude not too), before I tried to replicate the same shot, but the pitch demons got the better of me and I was bowled for 9.
Enter another debutant Sandeep Bhandari who joined Dan who continued to look like another retirement looming, before he played and missed for a well earned 31. Quick wickets fell in succession and we were in trouble before our third debutant Matt Johnston came to the crease for the first time in 18 months after shattering his finger in a club game. Showing no rust, he joined Sandeep who was also victim to the bounce and trapped lbw for 10. Mick Tarrant came in at 6-119 in the 29th over and he and ‘Matty J’ regained control of the innings, constantly finding the gaps and the boundary, before Mick hit one straight back to the bowler to be dismissed for 19. Dave (reverse sweep specialist) Craig joined Matty J (who was running out of puff), and showcased his skills to keep pushing the score past 160 before Matty J was stumped for a well deserved 28. Ben Stanic pushed the scoreboard to 170 before being run out on the last ball of the innings. CCNSW headed to the sheds for a well earned drink 9/170 after 40 overs.
As we sat around and contemplated how to go about defending this total on a pitch on which it was becoming more difficult to score runs, our philosophy was to bowl full and straight, and that’s what our opening pair of Ben Stanic and Mick Tarrant did. The plan worked in Mick’s first over trapping their opener on the pads. Burwood found scoring tough early on and Ben Stanic struck next helped out by a reflex catch by Dave Craig (who still probably hasn’t seen the ball).
Runs then flowed at a steady pace for Burwood before a 60 run partnership was broken in the 25th over by a glorious delivery from Jose Poothokaren to remove their opener for 39 (ouch).
Burwood looked to be gaining the upper hand in the middle stages, but enter our captain, Andy Dadswell who worked his magic to remove their dangerous middle order batter, bowling him around his legs. A few field changes to try and dry up the singles paid off with a sharp catch at short mid wicket by Jason Kenn to remove their hitter for 27. The game was in the balance with Burwood needing 24 of 18 balls, as Mick Tarrant came back for his second spell, and changed the game in CCNSW favour, only going for 3 runs in the 38th over. Tight bowling from Ben Stanic in the 39th over. 15 now needed off 6 balls but Mick Tarrant continued his line and length with 2 wickets in the final over sealing the game for CCNSW. Mick Tarrant finished with 4-21, Andy Dadswell 3-30 and wickets each to Ben Stanic and Jose Poothokaren.
This was a great game to be part of,- tight to the very end, and played in the true spirit of the game.
The Team was: – Rod Lawther (w) 40* ret not out; Kieren Purnell 4, Dan Turner 31, Jason Kenn 9, Sanjeet Bhandari 11, Andrew Dadswell (c) 5, Jose Poothokaren 0, Matthew Johnston 28, Michael Tarrant 19, David Craig 7*, Ben Stanic 3
The Result was: –
C.C.N.S.W.: – 9-170 (40 overs) (R. Lawther 40* ret not out)
Defeated
Burwood Briars CC: – 9-161 (40 overs) (M. Tarrant 4-21)
By 9 runs
FoW: – 1-21 (K. Purnell); 2-83 (J. Kenn); 3-95 (D. Turner;) 4-100 (A. Dadswell); 5-108 (J. Poothokaren),;6-119 (S. Bhandari); 7-153 (M. Tarrant); 8-163 (M. Johnston); 9-170 (B. Stanic).
The Bowling was: – B. Stanic 9-0-38-1; M. Tarrant 9-0-21-4; D. Craig 4-0-17-0; M. Johnston 5-0-24-0; J. Poothokaren 7-0-27-1; A. Dadswell 6-0-30-3
The Fielding was: –
Stumpings: – Nil
Catches: – One to R. Lawther (w); and one to each of D. Craig, J. Kenn and B. Stanic
Run outs: – Nil
Player points (awarded by umpire): – 3 points to R. Lawther; 2 points to M. Tarrant; one point to M. Johnston
VINTAGE ROUND 9 v SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS AT CAMPERDOWN PARK, CAMPERDOWN ON SUNDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2023: REPORT BY GERALD O’SHEA
After a pre-match barefoot ceremony honouring and showing respect for local Indigenous Country the Vintage side went on to win a thriller at Camperdown Oval last Sunday in a high quality encounter with the strong Southern Highlands side. This victory has taken a few years to come around so spirits are high heading into the last two rounds. Cricketers’ Club won the flip and batted first and after a slowish start (2-8 off 6 overs) against a very accurate bowling attack were soon able to change gear through solid knocks from Joe Scarcella (34*) and Peter Rolls (31). Greg Brooks (30*) then came to the wicket and followed them into the shed with his signature ball striking that accelerated our run rate, taking pressure off instantly. This is what he does. The back end of the innings was fortified by Jim Hadley’s sublime 32* and Sittampalam Ragavan’s (‘Raga’) accompanying 23* giving the Highlanders requiring a fair shot to pass CCNSW total of 8-170.
The Southern Highlands boys started well enough, keeping abreast of the 4.25 run rate but little by little CCNSW’s accurate bowling saw them gain the upper hand. Southern Highlands were 7-150 off 37 overs with 3 overs to go and 21 needed. In the 38th over Hadley only conceded 2 runs and a wicket and in the 39th over Brooks only 3 runs and a wicket . this halted their momentum and the match went into the last over with southern highlands requiring 16 runs to win, Raga (2-14) held his nerve in the last over to see us close out the match out and win by 9 runs (with only 6 runs off Raga’s over).
CCNSW bowling was on display last Sunday and wickets were shared around including Greg (2-32), Jim Hadley (2-23), raga (2-14), Joe Scarcella (1-18) and Garry James (1-37) digging deep with a dodgy knee and rewarded with a wicket at the games critical turning point. Special mention goes to keeper John Finucane whose skill is quite breathtaking at times. He snapped up 3 sharp catches, and a fourth snick, although heard all over the field was denied. Also good catches by Joe Scarcella and Paul Georgiadis and a special one hander by Greg off his own bowling in his final over. Joe Scarcella’ all-round performance saw him named MOM on a memorable Sunday at Camperdown where Peter Rolls and his merry men were a reminder of how well a team can stick together when it matters.
Special thanks to Carla Stacey (Inner West Council’s ‘Coordinator Sporting Partnerships’) and her lady helpers from the Inner West Council for putting on afternoon tea as part of Council’s Seniors’ Festival. Cakes were amazing with Joe Scarcella (having the first shift off the field as 12thman) being the only one able to take advantage of the Pavlovas as the rest of the team had to bowl and field after tea!
The Team was (playing 12): – Gerard O’Shea 7, Frank Baliotis 0, Joe Scarcella 34*, Peter Rolls (c) 31, Jim Robson 0, Greg Brooks 30* ret not out, Garry James 1, Mick McCormick 5, Jim Hadley 32 * ret not out, John Finucane (w) 1, Sittampalam Ragavan, 22* Paul Georgiadis 1
The Result was: –
C.C.N.S.W.: – 8-170 (40 overs) (J. Scarcella 34*; J. Hadley 32* ret not out; P. Rolls 31; G. Brooks 30* ret not out)
Defeated
Southern Highlands: – 8-161: – (40 overs)
By 9 runs
FoW: – 1-6 (F. Baliotis); 2-8 (G. O’Shea); 3-82 (J. Robson); 4-101 (G. James); 5-107 (M. McCormick); 6-108 (J. Finucane); 7-161 (P. Georgiadis); 8-163 (P. Rolls)
The Bowling was: – M. McCormick 3-0-19-0; P. Georgiadis 5-0-17-0; S. Ragavan 6-0-14-2; G. James 7-0-37-1; J. Scarcella 5-1-18-1; J. Hadley 7-0-32-2; G. Brooks 7-1-32-2
The Fielding was: –
Stumpings: – Nil
Catches: – 3 to J. Finucane (w); one to each of G. Brooks, P. Georgiadis and J. Scarcella
Run outs: – Nil
Player points (awarded by umpire): – 3 points to J. Scarcella; 2 points to J. Hadley; one point to G. BrooksSee: https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/org/sydney-masters-cricket-association/vintage-summer-202223/vintage/game-centre/43233f7f
SOCIAL GAME v MOLONGLO AT KIPPAX OVAL, HOLT, CANBERRA ON SUNDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2023: REPORT BY SOREN HUGHES [ASSISTED BY AI CHATBOT]
Front row: Ziggy James, Tom Robertson, Soren Hughes, Rhys Longbottom , Harry Bridge
Molonglo Cricket Club was founded in 1956 as a nomadic social cricket club originally with a strong connection with Canberra Grammar Old Boys. Its logo is a keg of beer which perhaps over-emphasises the social aspects of the Club which contains very competent cricketers. It has no geographic connections with the Molonglo River or valley in Canberra
With only six players mid week, MCC recruited some local Sri Lankan players for the day, including an opening batter from the local first grade side. CCNSW was also short despite the best efforts of Tom Robertson to persuade more C&S players to come and in the end we recruited 2 local players for the day including most relevantly a keeper and also gave a opportunity to Brett James’ 15 yr old son Ziggy- a promising young bowler.
The game was at the first Grade ground at Kippax Oval 1, located in the suburb of Holt in the Belconnen district of Canberra.
Tom Robertson and Rhys Longbottom (recruited from our LMS Mid week team) opened the batting scoring at a run a ball and put on 84 for the first wicket in 14 overs before Longbottom retired at 50* off 42 balls and Tom was out, hit wicket for 31 off 38 balls. The partnership built a strong foundation for the rest of the team but unfortunately the opportunity was not taken. Apart from 39 off 54 balls from Harry Bridge and an obdurate 19 from Brett James off 28 balls the rest of the batting failed and we ended with 8-178 off 40 overs, only adding 94 runs from the last 26 overs
Brett James and Rhys Longbottom opened the bowling and Brett dismissed both openers in his first four overs to reduce Molonglo to 2-26 in the seventh over but their numbers 3 and 4 batters were a class above us and both reached 50^ ret not out. Apart from a very economical spell by Soren Hughes (7 overs for 12 runs) the rest of our bowlers failed to contain them until the late introduction of young Ziggy James who brought us back into the game with only a few overs left and took 2-10 from 7 overs on his CCNSW debut.
At 6-149 with only 6 overs left the game seemed in the balance. Unfortunately their number 10 batter (current First Grad top order batter), dealing mainly in boundaries was too good for us and delivered blow after blow to win the game for Molonglo on the first ball of the 40th over. We did drop a couple of catches so the game was there to be won by us but we didn’t take the opportunities.
A great day was had by all and the fun and merriment was reflected in the post game banter and a speeding ticket for one lucky driver who didn’t lose any demerit points on the ACT side of the border.
This report was partly generated for you by a chat bot who has, in so doing, perhaps delivered possibly our first AI generated match report. (Ed note: a lot of factually incorrect information generated by the ChatBot has been deleted and Soren Hughes takes responsibility for what remains above)
The Team was: – Tom Robertson (c) 31, Rhys Longbottom 50* ret not out, Harry Bridge 37, Tim Kerr 2, Soren Hughes 12, Brett James 19, Brendan Kay (w) 5, Luke Holman 10, Mark Henwood 2, Jack Luff 2*, Ziggy James 3*
The Result was:
C.C.N.S.W.: – 8-178 (40 overs) (R. Longbottom 50* ret not out)
Lost to
Molonglo CC: – 6-179 (39.1 overs)
By 4 wickets
FoW: – 1- 84 (T. Robertson); 2- 85 (T. Kerr); 3- 111 (H. Bridge); 4-150 (S. Hughes); 5-157 (B. James); 6-159 (B. Kay); 7- 168 (M. Henwood); 8-170 (L. Holman).
The Bowling was: – B. James 7-0-30-2; R. Longbottom 8-1-35-0; S. Hughes 7.1-3-12-0; L. Holman 2-0-9-0; J. Luff 2-0-22-0; H. Bridge 3-0-15-0; Z. James 7-1-10-2; M. Henwood 3-0-24-0
The Fielding was: –
Stumpings: – Nil
Catches: – One each to M. Henwood, B. James and T. Robertson
Run outs: – One to J. Luff