A1 Grade

WPHC 135 Vs Berowra 3/53 – this game is a replay of last year’s Grand Final and is in many ways our Grand Final as we need a victory badly. We won the toss and elected to bat. Parklands looked a beauty when we were 2/90. Unfortunately, we had an ashes type collapse to be all out for 135. Jamakin top scoring with a classy 45 was the highlight.

We fought hard in the field and the bowlers were on song with Tim ‘Buckets’ Scoular taking a wicket in the first and Cam ‘Cinnamon Scroll’ McBrien doing the same to have Berowra 2/0. They were under pressure and finished with 3/53. Next week is going to be interesting.

A2 Grade

Blue (Rick) 9/274 Vs Glenorie 0/7 – for reference:

• Rowan Keating = 23
• Chris Williamson = Willy
• Alex Turner = Hooch
• Jules Raffel = Sean Anthony
• Rick Turner = The Flair
• Nick Starr = Ivan
• Jackson Preedy = The Preedofile
• Taki Manolelis = Taki Manolelis
• Justin Edwards = Clive
• Peter Flook = Slender

The Flair continued the good form with the toss and lost, surprisingly we were sent in to bad. 23 (28) got us off to a quick start before he threw the kitchen sink at a straight one. Willy (28) & Hooch (89) continued and batted into the 30 over mark before Willy was undone by the spinner, bowled him top of off.

Sean Anthony (0) had a brief stay in the middle before he was caught and bowled playing a drive. Hooch & The Flair (47) began their 99-run partnership in style and continued to punish the bowling attack. Hooch was sent packing after he suddenly lost 90% of his brain cells and toed a wide to mid-off.

Ivan (27) and the Flair kept the run rate ticking over with Ivan blasting an over for 17. Ivan then fell playing a little too aggressively as he was too keen to meet his missus for the annual Fire Brigade Christmas Party, which for some reason is held in November.

The Flair fell not long after to a screamer of a catch at point, before the Preedofile (28*) and Taki (4) worked the runs around for 7 overs. Taki played the most gorgeous drive through cover and mid-off and snicked off 3 balls later.

Clive had a stunner at the crease and blistered a drive to point and was sent packing for the classiest duck most will see. Slender (4) and The Preedofile scored quick runs toward the end of the innings before Slender continued his good form and was caught at leg slip. Totalling 274 it was a all round great batting performance and a good total.

We had 4 big overs to bowl and we looked dangerous early, The Preedofile found the edge to gully but it was an extremely difficult catch and it wasn’t taken. Needlessly to say it was a great all round performance from the lads and it’ll be a good battle for next week.

A2 Red (Simon) 0/57 Vs Berowra 125 – 3 Vs 2, and a massive game for us. When push comes to shove, Raffa lost the toss. Not sure what else to say.

Berowra made 125, and Costo took 6/23. Diddle’s run out changed the game, and this fielding was as good as a smooth Coles aisle 5 clean up. In other news, Volc should have won the 99/00 bowling award.

We are 0/57, and Yellow Lid McBrien and Pon ‘Finger’ Pon were exquisite with their shot making and defence. This author apologises to Mrs Banner for only giving her 1 vote last week. She was outstanding today.

• 3 votes – Melbourne Bitter
• 2 votes – Mrs Banner
• 1 vote – Snump’s spa

B1 Grade

WPHC 0/1 Vs SKLPS 204 – winning the toss and on the rare occasion electing to bowl first, we sent SKLPS into bat, looking to put the pressure on them early. And that we did!

There were plenty of very close calls with Kristoff O’Meara and Nathaniel Chidgey bowling surpurbly! At the first drinks break we had them 2/48 after 20, on a fast Greenway outfield. Things then got tough, as the SKLPS put on a great partnership though the middle session with a 90 run partnership which we couldn’t break through the whole 2^nd session, going into tea 2/131.

Things looked like they could slip away from us, but the team dug deep on a hot day, and reigned the SKLPS right in, getting the breakthrough and the wickets started to fall! We somehow went from 2/137 to bowling them all out for 204, which was a fantastic effort!

The day ended with us having to face 5 overs, which Aaron Carlini and Matt Watts did successfully, finishing the day on 0/1 after 5 overs.

Best of the bowlers were Nathaniel Chidgey 5/45 off 14, Ravin Wijesuriya 2/22 off 7.5, and Ben Meikle 2/54 off 15. Special mention also to Kristoff O’Meara 0/20 off 13, who was very unlucky not to snare a few wickets with plenty of close calls, even a ball that nicked leg stump but somehow didn’t dislodge the bail!

B2 Grade

Blue (Tim) 7/301 dec Vs Sydney Lions 0/48 – groundhog day again Wortho lost the toss and so we were put into bat. However, what transpired over the next 63 overs was extremely pleasing for team morale. Zac Turner (14) and Tim Worthington (79) put on a valuable 61 off 17 overs for the opening partnership.

Clearly taking the momentum away from SydneyLlions bowlers. Jayson Smart (8) and Wortho put on 19 before Jayson cut one straight to cover. Jayson looks technically brillant a score is just around the corner for this talented batsman.

Wortho batted extremely well, wrestling the momentum away early to set the tone for the rest of the innings. Raghu Chary (50) looked as always “lush” has been batting beautifully all year, superbly supported by quick fire cameos from Ruben Alexander (73) and Napier Gryst (43), with Nikki (1), Matt Rashleigh (4no) and Cameron Bish (17no) all chiming in with crucial stints in the middle to declare 7-301 (63 overs). We sent Lions in to face 9 overs they are 0-48 with plenty to chase next week.

Blue team onward and upward!

Red (Rob) 194 Vs Berowra 0/31 – we lost the toss and were sent in to bat on a poor looking Gilroy. Eric Junkkari (39) and Zac Morris (42) put on a great 57 run opening partnership that set up the innings.

Zac was joined at the crease by Andrew Morris (61) and the pair continued to score freely.

Unfortunately we then collapsed with a Hat trick that saw us fall to 6/157. Andrew and Rob Knapman (16*) then fought hard to consolidate, but eventually the last few wickets fell to see us all out for 194.

There were 8 overs left to bowl at the opposition. We were unable to capitalise on keeping them in the field for the majority of the day. A few boundaries and a dropped catch meant we gave away too many free runs.

With our runs written in the book, we will look to tighten the bowling up, increase the pressure and take early wickets next week!!

C1 Grade

WPHC 163 Vs Berowra 1/42 – the scorching day started with Tarun Lath winning the toss and happily sending us in to bat. Pratah Sinnetamby and Richard ‘Richie’ Hughes were solid openers and played their shots before Pratah fell for 18 and was soon followed by Richard (18).

A few more wickets fell before tea, involving a silly run-out leaving us at 6/95. Ishaan Singh and Alex Chidgey combatted the Berowra attack for a 50 run partnership. Stuart Fiedler later joined Ishaan in the middle and played some amazing shots while Ishaan played a patient game to reach 44* with the team all out for 163.

Our turn to bowl with Ryan Loveridge opening the bowling with some aggression and heat. Raunak Sethi got the first breakthrough after a comical over consisting of a few sundries. Alex and Ryan bowled fantastic spells and were unlucky to not get a wicket. This was backed up by some classic banter by Richie from behind the stumps. The new player Everest Matross showed off his pace but was unlucky in his trek with Ishaan and Nandu finishing off the day with some quality consistent bowling with Berowra reaching a hefty 1/42 after 15 overs thanks to the sundries.

This makes for an interesting week 2 where we need to toil hard and get Berowra all out.

C2 Grade

WPHC 2/63 Vs Hornsby 148 – after not performing well batting first in the last couple of matches, we won the toss and decided to challenge the Opposition by bowling first this week.

A fiery opening spell from Tanay and Scott set the tone early with the opening batsmen weathering an aggressive spell, with both bowlers picking up an early wicket each. A great piece of fielding from Murray Chapman led to a run out to have them 3/20.

Dave Behlevanas entered the attack and did what he is so reliable at doing, bowling a nagging line and length and testing the batsmen to pick up a well deserved 3/41 including an amazing aerial catch from Murray somehow defying gravity and age!

Muzz assures us he hasn’t dropped a catch for 30years! (A true statement, even if he has had 29 years out of the game!) George Everett – our token Pommy import – bowled a testing couple of overs and was unlucky not to get a wicket (but we hope his countrymen have the same luck during the Ashes!).

Tanay and Scott returned to the attack after tea and despite some lower order hitting picked up another wicket each. It was then we turned to the experience of Kishore who took only 1.2 overs to bamboozle the late order hitter and have him stumped to finish the innings at 148.

A special mention to Cody Waters whose ‘keeping was superb today. Cody is a pivotal part of our team and his work behind the stumps is going from strength to strength each match. Today he picked up 4 catches, a run out and a perfect stumping -an outstanding display!

Our turn to bat, and our openers looked good but both fell before the score reached double figures. An excellent partnership then developed between Tanay (27*) and Peter Lees (25*) to put us in a strong position at 2/63 at the close. Still some runs to chase next week, but we are in the box seat to take the win.

C3 Grade

WPHC defeated on forfeit Normanhurst-Warrawee – unfortunately the boys had a forfeit win against 7^th placed Normo. This gives us a guaranteed 6 points and the maximum points for the Round if a Team can get an outright win.

D1 Grade

WPHC 245 Vs Hornsby 0/5 – we won the toss and chose to bat in hot conditions suited for batting. A good start from openers Dylan Bish (24) and Connor Hindmarch (30) set us up for another big total. Although 4 quick wickets for Hornsby saw our convincing score take a hit to 4/89 after 26 overs.

Thanks to gutsy batting, a much needed partnership between Gautum (45) and Agniva (20) got us back on track. A few cameos from Avi (12), Siby (12) and David (10) helped put some much needed runs on the board. Batting at 10, Roshan scored 46 in no time, helping us to a challenging total of 10/245.

Before packing the bags to go, West Pennant Hills had 3 overs at Hornsby. Dylan and Amith had their best crack but couldn’t get a breakthrough early. Hornsby finished with 0/5 at the end of the day.

D2 Grade

WPHC Vs St Ives 7/252 – match report not yet received.