A day of achievement

What a day we had yesterday – how about this for amazing achievements:

C2 Red (Aniket)

After losing the run machine (Lakshya Rao) for 0 we were 1/0 chasing 161 for victory. Enter Saurabh (81*) & MohanSomasundram (74*) who passed the Opposition total of 7/164 with just 1 wicket down. This was a 2^nd wicket, unbeaten partnership of 168. This is the 2^nd best partnership for this Grade being beaten only by 197 scored in the C2 Semi Final in  2000/01

C4 Blue (Rob)

How about Kauschal Gandhi for the Blues in the Sheep Station Trophy game against the Reds (Ross S). Kauschal bowled 3.5 overs and took an amazing 6/7. A few callouts about this performance:

• Included in this was a hat-trick, only the 53^rd in our 93 year history and the first in C4 Grade
• In what must be another first (no stats on this one but….), the first 2 wickets of the hat-trick were LBW’s. How about Vinod Kumar (Umpire) who was himself given out LBW and gave the decisions. This is what Sheep Station Sportsmanship is all about
• Unfortunately, we don’t have records of 6 wickets in an innings (just 7 or better) but it would be up there. For info, the best bowling performamce (7 wickets or better) in C4 is by Peter Flook who took 7/30 in 2024. The best 7 wicket haul for our Club was by Tim Scoular (A2) who took 7/3 back in 2014.

Add to this

• The self-proclaimed A2 returning prodigal super-star, Lachie Edwards, played his first game after injury and scored 19*
• Ian Diggers Digby scored his 1,000^th career run
• Manraj Singh (D1 Red) took 4/9 in 7 overs.

Photo: Kauschal Gandhi (C4 Blue) after taking 6 for 7 and this included our 53^rd Club hat-trick in the Sheep Station Trophy game.

A long-time waiting

Spare a thought for Lachlan McBrien (A2) last weekend who was playing his first match back this season. A quick reminder that last weekend had intermittent showers with games being off and back on throughout the day. The A2 Reds Vs Kenthurst in a one-dayer was one of those games.

Picture this, Lachlan was batting at No 5 and followed Oliver Makin (33*) & Jude Boyle (38) who had a long and rain interrupted partnership. Lachy had the pads on for around 3 hours and when Jude was eventually dismissed he finally walked out to bat after having his pads on for close to 3 hours. Unfortunately, as he came out to bat the rain came down again and the innings came to an end without facing a ball.

Photo: Lachlan McBrien on his way to top scoring with 48* Vs SKLPS @ Kenthurst Park – 26 January 2019.

Unbeaten run

While on a long-time waiting, how about the B1 Red (Warren) boys. After a close win on the weekend the boys have been undefeated since Round 2 last season when they played B2 and went on to win the Premiership. Unfortunately, we don’t have records showing undefeated runs, especially when a Team moves up a Grade but it is a great achievement.

The only problem with calling this out is that we all know what happens next so….if / when the boys go down all fingers will be pointing at Nick Duck who called out this achievement.

Photo: B2 Premiers 2023/24: Warren Schwartzel, Jason Garrett, Zac Turner, Nick Duck (obsecured), Cameron Bish (obsecured), Rob Knapman, Adam van Saarllos (obsecured), Daniel Schwartzel, Ray Khamis (obsecured, thankfully!), Matthew Schwartzel, Matt Digby and Nathaniel Chidgey – Thornleigh Park – 17 March 2024.

A hard lesson

In the same A2 game, this time we were bowling and Jack Hutchinson came on to bowl. In the words of our intrepid, on the scene Reporter, Ben Burrows:

“…then Jack “MVP” Hutchinson came on. First ball of the spell he goes around the wicket to a left handed, single. Right handed on strike. Jack runs in to bowl over the wicket, as soon as he lets go of the ball a no ball is called. Painfully Kenthurst’s best bat skies the ball to the safe hands of Willy for a single.

 On my way to sock Jack in the mouth for overstepping, the umpire explained that the no ball was for not telling him which side of the wicket he intended to bowl on. Now some of the team forgave Jack for this, especially considering that he did say that he was coming over the wicket.

 However as the bloke standing next to him when he did so, it was a bit quiet Jack.

 He now knows that when he intends to switch sides he should attempt to deafen the umpire.”

Photo: Jack Hutchinson (right) with Craig (left) & Todd after winning the B2 Premiership in 2022/23

The long wait

Back in 2001/02 Greg Fiedler (A1) was on 4,999 career runs. Taking off for a quick single to bring the 5,000 run milestone, Greg tore his hamstring that put him out for the season. He had to wait until well into the next season (23 November 2022) to make his comeback and score his 5,000^th run. Fast forward to this season.

Last weekend, Allan Raffel, referred to in last week’s Anecdotes as ‘Lazarus with a triple bypass’, made a comeback in B1, playing his last game in the same Grade in 2021/22 after having a heart-attack and requiring 4 life-saving stints. Anyway, he played his first game in 4 years and top-scored scored 57. This innings brought him to 3,999 career runs and a spot in the top 20 run scorers of all-time.

So when does Raffa have another crack at scoring the 1 run? Not sure…he is unavailable for the next 2 weeks and after that only time will tell. Watch this spot.

Our theme music for this one is the classic by Supertramp – The Long Way Home

Photo: Allan Raffel in the B1 Semi Final @ The Glade – 5th & 12th March 2016.

C2 Grade by the numbers

This week we focus on C2 Grade – our first game in the C2 Competition was in 1946/47.

Some interesting facts for C2 Grade, by the numbers:

• 20 x times Grand Finalists – our 3^rd most successful Grade behind B1 (24) & C1 (21) for the most of any Grade
  • Our 1^st Premiership  win was in 1949/50
  • We have won 13 x Premierships and been Runners-up 7 times
• Best bowling performance by an individual is 9/28 by N Lobsey in 1972/73 Vs Glenorie
• Highest:
  • individual score is 223 (Holland Reserve) scored by Russel Ingram on 5/12/2009. Russel also scored 211 (Mimosa) on 31/10/2009
  • partnership – 333 runs for the 1^st wicket by Russel Ingram (223) & Chris Williamson (76) Vs Mt Colah @ Holland Reserve on 5/12/2009
• The most capped C2 player in our history is Peter Lees (1994/95 to the present) with 166 innings. He scored 2,796 runs with a high score of 100*
• Our all-time best C2 player is David Carey (1979/80 to 2001/02) who scored 1,571 runs and took an amazing 295 wickets
• 139,067 runs have been scored @ an average of 16.8 runs / wicket
• 138,036 runs have been scored against us @ 17.1 runs / wicket taken

Photo: Chris Williamson (76) and Russel Ingram (223) after their Association C2 Grade 1st wicket partnership Vs Mt Colah on 5^th January 2010.

What would your Decision be?

Question 1

The bowler delivers the ball from well behind the stumps and in line with the bowling end umpire.

The striker immediately backs away and makes no attempt to play at the delivery, however, the ball breaks the wicket. The striker claims she wasn’t expecting the delivery to be bowled from so far back. There is an appeal for Bowled. This is the first instance of a ‘long ball’ received by this striker. What action is required from either umpire?

Question 2

You are the bowling end (BE) umpire. The number five batter is on strike with number 11 at the non-striker’s end during the final over of a limited overs match.

On the second ball, the striker plays the ball deep into the outfield and calls for two runs. The fielder positioned near the boundary gets to the ball quicker than the striker anticipated. The striker turns well short of his ground at the BE on the first run which the umpire believes is a deliberate attempt to get back on strike. Meanwhile, the fielder slides to collect the ball, but in doing so, knocks the ball into the boundary.

What happens now?

Question 3

On the final delivery of an over the bowler stumbles, breaking the bowling end (BE) wicket with her boot as she delivers the ball.

The ball pitches short and bounces twice on the pitch before reaching the popping crease. The striker plays the ball through the covers, attempting three runs. On the second run, both batters accidently run short.

1. What action is taken by either umpire?
2. How many runs are scored and how are they recorded?
3. Who shall face the next delivery?

Photo: U17 Premiers 2023-24. WPHC Co-Captains are: (Left to Right) Scott Reid (Umpire), Nic Price (Captain), Lukas Kohlhagen (Captain), Peter Lee (Umpire).