Round 9 (1-dayer) – 7 January 2023
Points Table (as at Round 9)
A Grade (Cam) – 1st (53 points)
A2 Grade (Campbell) – =1st (23 points)
B1 Red (Birdcage) – 2nd (37 points)
B1 Blue (Shomik) – 6th (22 points)
B2 (Todd) –= 1st (43 points)
C1 (Kapil) – 2nd (36 points)
C2 Red (Indranil) – 6th (30 points)
C2 Blue (Rob) – =3rd (29 points)
C3 Red (Cameron) – 4th (27 points)
C3 Blue (Tarun) – =4th (30 points)
C4 (Hiresh) – 6th (27 points)
D1 Red (Diggers) – 4th (36 points)
D1 Blue (Arun) – = 8th (22 points)
D2 (Ross S) – 2nd (44 points)
Match Reports – Round 9 (1-Dayer)
A1 Grade
WPHC Red (Cam) drew with Berowra Maroon
What a shame – a 1 Vs 2 blockbuster and for the 2nd time this season the boys have been washed out. It is now likely that both Teams will finish in the top 2 meaning that if they make the GF it will be the first time these sides will meet each other.
WPHC Blue (Campbell) drew with Berowra White
With the Greenway pitch under water no play in the last game before the Comp splits into the A1 & A2 Comp.
B1 Grade
WPHC Blue (Shomik) drew with ARL
No play so on to next week.
WPHC Red (Birdcage) drew with Berowra
Another blockbuster with a 2 Vs 3 match-up but no play.
B2 Grade
WPHC (Todd) drew with Kenthurst
No play on a waterlogged Kenthurst 1.
C1 Grade
WPHC (Kapil) 6/129 lost to Sydney Lions 5/131
Match report not received.
C2 Grade
WPHC Blue (Rob) drew with Mt Colah
Another washout at a waterlogged Headen Park.
WPHC Red (Indranil) drew with Thornleigh
You guessed it – another washout this time at Thornleigh Park.
C3 Grade
WPHC Blue (Tarun) 90 lost to WPHC Red (Cameron) 94
After copping a monsoon during the week, the best draining ground in Australia – Campbell Park, set the scene for an enthralling day of cricket.
Big effort by the lads on the blowers & gardening equipment to get the Sheep Stations Trophy game , albeit a reduced overs game , underway.
The boys were dealt a few blows as the key exclusions included opening bowler and certified tail ender Pat Watkins, who was spending time away in the retirement village of Coolum beach as well as Shaq who brought Covid back with him from the states. On the topic of retirement villages, the injured Ron Marsden was a not so key exclusion as well as Michael west who’s been held hostage in Perth the last few weeks.
However fill-in skipper Pete was about as good on the blower as Nick Politis from the Roosters NRL team & he recruited a couple of ring ins which included C4 skipper Hiresh, Peter H from ye olden times and a washed up old cricketer in Dave Collins.
Before the A-Level match analysis begins, I just want to give a huge shoutout to the A grade lads who sacrificed a few brain cells watching the C grade boys have a run around.
The future sports journos in Jamo and Jack began with the new ball, Jamo bowling from the slip and slide end began proceedings, toiling away, however going for runs. However at the other end, Jack had the mullet going in full flow clean bowling the West Penno Red opener for 5, even though it was a peach it’s probably only scraping top 100 balls I’ve ever bowled to be fair 🤷🏼♂️.
Jamo continued doing his best Nathan Ellis impression by consistently stacking and head butting the pitch off the slip and slide run up. Usually when you see a hard fall at C grade level cricket an ambulance would be called due to amount of 60+ year olds like Matt Marsden and fill in skipper Pete, however once you realise it’s Jamo that’s stacked it, a sigh of relief is heard around the ground.
Jack continued carrying the opening bowler’s tandem by taking 2 more wickets which is handy for the bowling average, dismissing another west penno opener and their number 4.
Jamo’s standard of bowling forced an inspired change which saw the return of pace bowler Nathan Watkins who immediately got into his work bowling a few 120km + deliveries (he bowls off-spin ) that were unlucky not to get wickets as he was constantly edged for 4 and the sheer pace of the deliveries saw them head to the boundary. This saw Nathan drop short with a few bouncers that were top edged for more runs. Nathan bamboozled the West Penno Blue batsman with one that gripped and turned into off stump
The over later saw another inspired change as Matt Marsden replaced his nephew Jack.
Matt immediately got to work by taking a wicket first ball which saw Jamo take another heart attack enduring catch as he fumbled the ball almost as hard as he fumbled Ella, however he recovered after about the fifth attempt and took the catch. Wickets began falling consistently as Matt dismissed the in-form batsman in Hari caught behind by Dave who took his first catch in a match in 20+ years.
At the other end Nathan took another quick one leaving West Penno Blue reeling at 71 for 7. Dave Collins finally made an appearance with the ball, however he started nervy as expected, still dusting off a few cobwebs.
By pure miracle, Dave was sent a gift from the heavens in the form of Jacks sledging as he was living in the batsmen’s head rent free, offering him a slab of XXXX if he fit the next ball for six. The bloke must’ve not been a Queenslander as he skied the ball straight to Peter H at extra cover. Matt Marsden then picked up another wicket and the inform man of the moment Dave Collins took a cheeky caught and bowled to finish with figures of 2-5 and Blue’s all out for 94. An easy total to chase right?
I would like to end the match report here , however I will continue as obligated. Lachy and Munish got off to a steady start however Munish was bowled.
Hiresh came in at number 3 but played a frustrating innings eventually skying one straight to mid-off. The team entered the break at 2-50, well in the box seat.
Lach continued to score but eventually copped a peach of a Yorker which sent the Blue’s into pure jubilation. A couple old blokes found themselves at the crease as Skipper Pete was joined by Peter H in the middle. Special mention of Peter H’s bat, a mint condition circa 1990’s Gray Nicholls single scoop.
Both played shaky innings falling for single figures. Still in prime position to win the game, Matt and Jack came to the crease as Bronson played an underwhelming innings that could’ve been anything had he hit it 10cm to the left or right of Happy fielding at point. However Jack absolutely burnt his uncle running him out for 5.
The pressure lied on Jack’s shoulders however he folded getting given out lbw . A couple of washed up former decent bats in Jamo and Dave found themselves in the middle, Jamo falling from grace having opened the batting only 2 seasons ago to finding himself at number 10 and on the other hand Dave who hadn’t faced a ball for 20 years.
As soon as he started getting into his work, Jamo found himself unfortunately run out due to a direct hit. The man, the myth, the legend Nathan, certified number 11 met Dave in the middle playing a classic innings that included french cuts and outside edges as the only shots on the wagon wheel. Dave had the match on his bat with a few class shots get the runs required down to 5 heading into the last over.
Dave glanced the ball straight to square leg however Nathan was eager to be the hero hitting the winning runs, but his heroism was ceased, getting run out to the hands of a direct hit, we had just lost the unloseable game.
C4 Grade
WPHC (Hiresh) Vs Bye
No game this week.
D1 Grade
WPHC Red (Diggers) drew with ARL
No play possible today due to a waterlogged ground.
WPHC Blue (Arun) drew with Normanhurst-Warrawee
No play possible at a flooded Normo Oval.
D2 Grade
WPHC (Ross S) drew with Kissing Point Red
Mimosa Oval unplayable so no play in this 1 Vs 8 game.