1,000,000 runs – the big day has arrived

A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum. This time last week it looked almost certain that we would pass the 1,000,000^th run scored against us but no…..a combination of an Opposition forfeit and low scores saw us fall just 140 runs short of runs scored against us – 999,860 runs. So this milestone was passed on Saturday.

We are also likely to see, probably next weekend passing the 1,000,000^th run scored by our Teams – Currently on 998,463 runs – just 1,537 runs short of the milestone.

For info, the numbers behind the milestones are:

• 92 years since our Club started in 1930
• 262,000 overs
• Average runs / wicket = 18.2 runs / wicket against us & 18.1 runs / wicket by our Teams
• 484 Senior teams

Reunion

Back at the Sports Club, our great A1 Grade sides from 2011/12 to 2014/15 had their 10 year reunion – a celebration of what was a golden era in our history. They won 4 successive Premierships and delivered our greatest ever A Grade dynasty. This is just a little later than planned due to Covid, illness and players being away.

Over the 4 years of their reign while there were changes in the composition of the side, the accompanying photo was the Team that won our first Rofie Shield in 2011/12. Just 3 players are still playing – who else but James Makin, still playing A1 Grade! Also Daniel Anderson (Grade cricket) and Sol Tomlinson (UK).

The 1^st win was also one of our greatest ever victories. Playing a mighty side (ARL) that was chasing their 6^th consecutive Premiership we were 7/51 at lunch on Day 1 and finished at 153. ARL were then bowled out for 124 in the face of great bowling and equally high quality fielding.

Photo: Our 1^st Rofe Shield Premiers @ Mark Taylor Oval, 25 March 2012

Sol Tomlinson, Simon Smyth (with tie), Peter Stott, James Makin (Captain), Matt Jobson, Scott Henderson, Ranga Ediriwickrama, Tim Rae.

Front row: Sam Baidya, Daniel Anderson, The Rofe Shield, Matt Spalding.

While on the reunion

While on the A1 Reunion, it is worth calling, some of the players have records up there with the best in our history. How about these achievements:

• Simon Smyth – 409 wickets @ 16.4 plus 6^th highest wicket taker in our history + the most dodgy hamstrings in our Club history
• Matt Jobson – 312 wickets (13^th highest) + youngest Premiership winning (A2) Captain in our history (20 years old)
• Tim Rae – 115 wickets @ 22.4 + 2,490 runs @ 15.9
• Ranga Ediriwickrama – 2,403 runs @ 34.1 + Junior Payer of the Year (2005/06)
• James Makin – 6,122 runs (4^th highest) + 370 wickets (8^th highest) + most capped Grand Final appearances (11 wins & 8 losses); equal most capped A1 Captain (8 times)
• Daniel Anderson – youngest Seniors century scorer + Junior Player of the Year (2010/11), + Outstanding Prospect (2009/10) + current ND’s Premier 1^st Grade
• Scott Henderson – 258 wickets @ 14.3 + Player of the Year (2008/09)
• Matt Spalding – 254 wickets @ 15.9
• Peter Stott – 192 wickets @ 15.9 – all A1 Grade
• Sol Tomlinson – 158 wickets @ 10.7 with a best of 7.24 + 1,917 runs @ 28.6 – all in A1 Grade + Player of the Year 2010/11 & 2012/13)

Photo: the A1 boys at the reunion on Saturday night. In the photo is: (left to right) – Simon Smyth, Matt Jobson, Tim Rae, Ranga Ediriwickrama, James Makin (standing), Michael banner, Bill Peterkin, Daniel Anderson (seated), Scott Henderson, Matt Spalding & Peter Stott.

It’s raining 6’s

The D2 boys, sitting in 1^st place, were playing 2^nd placed Kenthurst at Caterson 4 and scored a massive 8/307 declared. This only tells part of the story with the boys hitting 16 x 6’s – just 1 short of the record 17 they scored last season and with 7 players all hitting maximum’s.

A couple of weeks ago we did a story of ‘Ram’ Ramamurthy (D2) scoring his first ton after 2 previous scores of being run-out on 99. He broke the duck on 12 November with his first ton – a great achievement. On to this weekend and Ram scores his 2^nd ton – 100* with 7 x 6’s & 8 x 4’s – 74 runs in boundaries.

Photo: The D1 Blue boys who smashed a combined 17 x 6s in an innings last season. Brahadesh (Ram) Ramamurthy who hit 6 this week is pictured 1^st left  along with Happy Rana; Vikas Goel; Chetan Chandrasekhar & Jags Balakrishnan.

So close

Spare a thought for Michael Banner (B2) who scored a superb 74 before being run-out. What pains about this one and the way of getting out is that Volc is sitting on 6 career tons and is just one short of the record 7 scored by the great Laurie Tuckerman (A1 – 1951-52) with 7. The top century scorers in our Club are:

1. Laurie Tuckerman                              7 (161, 141*, 139*, 122, 109, 103, 111)
2. Matthew Venables                              6 (107, 136, 104, 112, 118*, 131)
3. Alex Connell                                        6 (105*, 102, 104*, 157, 102*, 128)
4. Ranga Ediriwickrama                         6 (107, 123, 110, 109, 140*, 100)
5. Michael Banner                                   6 (118*, 103*, 103, 126, 112, 131)

The interesting fact behind these stats is that Laurie scored all his tons in one season!

With the form that Volc is in this season it can’t be too far off.

Photo: Michael Banner (right) with Simon Smyth at Presentation Night, Dural Country Club – 5 May 2017.

Where are our players on Sunday morning?

It is 6.00 am on Sunday morning so where are our B1 players – watching the World Cup game against Argentina at the live site in Sydney – where else.

Photo: Adam van Saarloos, Bill Gaunt (A1) and who else other than Ray Khamis!