The ‘race’ to 7,000 runs
A couple of weeks ago we did a story on ‘The race to 7,000 runs’ between James Makin (A1) and Michael Banner (A2 Red) – two of our long-term players and great mates who have played a lot of high-level cricket together.
Going into the latest Round the race became even closer.
Think about this:
- In 95 years and with 528 Seniors Teams entered and around 10,000 players who have worn the Baggy Blue, only 2 players have scored 7,000 career runs
- Going into this Round:
- Michael (1997/98 to current) – 6,991 runs (331 innings)
- James (1989/90 to current) – 6,990 runs (401 innings)
So…after a combined 732 innings there is just 1 run separating these great players and both players are just a couple of shots away from cracking the 7,000 runs mark.
So…how did they go on Saturday?
James scored 14 runs and Michael 16*to both break the 7,000-run barrier. Well done boys.
New C3 Grade 6th wicket record
What a day for this achievement. In the C3 Red boys after being 5/41 put on a Club record 205 run 6th wicket partnership to power us to 6/252.
Congratulations to James Wilkins (112 and our 564th ton) and Isaac Traylor (85*) on this great achievement.
This broke the pervious reciord of 174 by John Rose and Dylan Bish Vs Thornleigh @ Campbell Park in the 2017/18 Semi Final.
Well done boys.
The Now Generation
Two of the greatest Women players to play the game, for any country, are Denise Annetts and Lisa Sthalekar and both are West Penno players– check out our photo Gallery – Australian Representatives
The baton has now changed to the new generation of players who have come through our pathway and are starting to make waves.
Earlier in November, the WBBL did a promotional shoot with a current player from their Junior Club.
Lauren Kua, a West Penno Junior, is playing for the Sydney Sixers WBBL and is also a graduate of the Australian U19 pathways. With her in the photo is Trisha Yadav who plays in our Stage 3 Girls Team and is in the Australian U16 Indoor Cricket Team.
Father & Son
First up, our musical introduction: Luke Combs – The Man he Sees in Me
We have a long history in having father and sons playing together and building lifetime memories. This season is no different but there are a couple of combinations that standout as being extra special through their on-field pertformances. Here goes:
Luke & Lance Tabone (C4)
Luke has so far scored an amazing 520 runs in 7 innings at the equally amazing average of 520.00 with a top score of 200*! Needless to say, Luke is heading the Club batting aggregate and average this season.
Lance, an opening bowler, is also having a stella season with the ball. As at the end of Round 6, Lance has taken 17 wickets at 13.7 with a best of 4/8 from 8.3 overs to also be the leading bowler in our Club – across all Grades.
James & Oliver Makin (A1)
James, an opening bat, has scored 212 runs @ 42.4 to be leading the A1 batting aggregate and is also about to break-through the 7,000 runs barrier.
Oliver, just 15 years of age, is the A1 Grade opening / first change bowler, has taken 14 wickets @ 18.0. This is the second best aggregate for A1 and the 4th ranked in our Club covering all Grades this season.
Our best ever Girls side?
We started our first Girls Comp in 1996/97 and have now registered just over 1,300 Girls.
This season we have a Stage 3 Team (U15 to U17) in the very strong Parramatta DCA Comp.
On the weekend the Team had a 5th wicket Girls Club record partnership of 166 with Gayathri Naik 85* (68 balls + 12 fours) & Trisha Yadav scoring 83* (58 balls + 14 fours) – a fantastic achievement.
What is amazing is that between 1996/97 to 2024/25 there were just 9 scores greater than 50.
This season there has already been 6 x scores over 50 with one century (our first) and 3 x scores over 80.
Standing – Mick Nethery (Coach), Belle, Alisha, Zoey, Ria , Hemali, Trisha, Kapil Dev Yadav Sitting – Shruti, Gayathri, Maahnoor, Diksha – John Purchase Oval – 20092025
While on great sides
While it isn’t possible to call-out the best side in our History, how about this to start the debate.
Seniors
The 1951 A1 and B1 sides were standouts. Get a load of the season stats for these two Teams:
| A1 Grade | |||
| Batter | Runs | Bowler | Wickets |
| Laurie Tuckerman | 1361 | Laurie Tuckerman | 59 |
| R Allum | 662 | R Allum | 56 |
| Les Methven | 563 | Rob Bellamy | 33 |
| L Molloy | 375 | ||
| Sid Lee | 345 | ||
| Alb Bellamy | 328 | ||
| Rob Bellamy | 297 | ||
| B1 Grade | |||
| Bowler | Wickets | Bowler | Wickets |
| E Stewart | 569 | Fred Childs | 57 |
| M Maranda | 535 | D Downs | 47 |
| J Methven | 448 | K Smith | 36 |
| R Allum | 441 | ||
| D Downs | 404 | ||
| E Downs | 351 | ||
| Fred Childs | 306 | ||
Juniors Mixed
In 1995/96, our U16s won the Final.
What was amazing about this is that they had won every Final from the U10’s starting in 1990/91!
A little bit more on this Team.
Captained by Daniel Friedrich, this Team went through and won the U10, U11, U12, and U13 Finals. They then skipped the U14s to play U15s and won that Premiership. They then won the U15s the following year and then the U16s in their final season of Junior cricket.
