Competition Tables
Table after Round 12, (24/1/2026) is:
PlayHQ link – Draw & Competition Table
- A1 (Cam #25) – 3rd (42 points)
- A2 Blue (Warren) – =6th (32 points)
- B1:
- Prats – 2nd (45 points)
- Red (Todd) – 3rd (43 points)
- B2 (Sparsh) – 1st (43 points)
- C1 (Aniket) – 4th (45 points)
- C2:
- (Indranil) – 7th (35 points)
- Blue (Chintan) –6th (37 points)
- C3: Red (Karl) – 4th (44 points)
- C4:
- Blue (Rob) – 1st (45 points)
- Red (Ravi) – =1st (45 points)
- D1: Note: 1-day competition (Round 9)
- Blue (Roger) – 1st (77 points)
- Red (Diggers) – 5th (49 points)
- D2 (Ross S) – 3rd (42 points)
Match Reports
A1 Grade
WPHC (Cam #25) 173 lost to ARL TBA
A very late happy new year and welcome, welcome, welcome back and into 2026 to our loyal readers.
Unfortunately, no cricket the last two weekends as a result of the heat and then the rain.
To quote a club great “I hate weather”. However, this week we were back playing up against Asquith (Cricket) Rugby League side.
Team news and the Major of Glenorie was back from B grade with Ass making way. Meiks was also missing as he was at home with his new born. Congratulations to him and Emma. I can’t wait to see him beat that team up north and win Rofie in 2045.
Other team news and O was under strict instructions from his Green Shield coach to not bowl, so was a bat only and his brother Jack was in for his bowling.
This made for 3 x Makins in the side which is a very proud moment for both the Club and also arguably the GREATEST WPHCCC player of all time Jamaican.
To celebrate the occasion, Jim got bowled leaving one first ball and then Wu told us a joke about some bloke making his wife go to the Caribbean or something. Not sure as no one was really listening.
Anyway, I’m not going to mention the cricket other than to say you don’t win premierships in January so we’ll see those park crickets again in March.
Until next week, I’m not sure what I’m allowed to call the Public Holiday on Monday these days so I just hope everyone has a great rest of the long weekend ahead.res & Match Report not received.
A2 Grade
A2 Blue (Warren) Vs CHRSL
Hello avid readers.
After it being too hot and then being too wet, we finally have a normal day to play the game we love. No it’s not Clash Royale but actually it’s cricket today.
After a season of ups and downs, the boys had their tails up as our Finals hopes are all but diminished. Playing against the league leaders Castle Hill, we would have to play at our absolute best.
Warren “Kim Jong-il” Schwartzel lost the toss as we were sent into bat, little did Castle Hill know we had a trick up our sleeve.
Out walked was arguably WPHCCCCC most aggressive opening partnership K “is running out of dictators to call Warren” T and Ray “see out the new ball” Khamis.
As you would expect, the boys started positively, Ray unfortunately copped the ball of the day while simultaneously trying to hit the bowler to the top field, out for 5. KT fished at a wide one, out caught behind for 20.
Zach “greatest philosophical mind of the 21st century” Turner tickled one to the keeper out for 10. Brent “hat is more holy than the pope” Larkham and Matty “or is it Dan?” Schwartzel” put on a 79 run partnership, working the ball around Greenway with ease. Brent out for 37 and Matty not out on 65, both putting in a massive effort. They ran 53 singles together. We ended up on 149, maybe around 40 runs under par.
Dan “or is it Matt?” Schwartzel is back from his stint away from home and opened up the bowling with Rob “Burglar” Knapman.
Rob got the opener out bowled clean through the gate, spectators were comparing it to the Gatting ball.
Their former grade player came in at number 3 and bent us over and spanked us around greenway. Who woulda thunk. All of their batters chipped in with 20-30 runs as they got our score 5 down with 5 overs left.
That takes us to 0 wins and 3 losses at Greenway this season. I never thought I’d say this, but can we please go back to The Glade? I also miss playing the other WPH team. I also miss prime Call of Duty Black ops 2, but that’s a story for another day.
Rob finished with 2 wickets and Tanay 1, Diggers 1 and Warren 1.
Big shout-out to Ray, Nathan, Nick and Dan for filling in for us today. Nick actually wasn’t a fill in but he didn’t bowl nor bat and just fielded.
Next game is a two-dayer against 3rd place Glenorie at Les Shore, so if you’re willing to drive 30 minutes out of society and habitability, please come down to support the boys.
B1 Grade
B1 Red (Todd) 173 lost to Beecroft 2/174
Sometimes, it’s just not your day.
For your WPHCCCCCCCC B1 Red team (formerly A2 for those a bit behind), today was that day.
While it could’ve been a lot worse if:
a) our lower order didn’t carry our batting from 6/59 to 7/173 or
b) we were another unnamed team in our Division who got rolled for 36 today, losing by eight wickets in a top of the table clash against Beecroft is not exactly what we were hoping for when we rocked up to Cheltenham Oval.
Todd lost the toss (again) and we were batting, but our top and middle order didn’t get going, with several frankly woeful shots resulting in cheap wickets. Crawley looked good for 31 before he got Joel Davies’d by the bowler with a great return catch, but no one else really got going. At 6/59 after 20 overs on a ground where we thought 200 would be a par total at, an early finish and beers at the Sporto was on some of our minds.
Not for Bish, Dan and Todd, though. After a clinic from our top six in how not to bat, Bish and Dan recovered the innings, before Dan, fresh off a crowd catch at the Sixers game last night, began to hit big and onto the roof of the Cheltenham Oval shed. Unfortunately it couldn’t last, and Dan was stumped for 30 trying to heave a half tracker onto the M2.
At 7/105 with just seven overs left, we were still way short of the mark, with everything resting on Bish. Or so we thought.
But Captain Todd had other ideas, channelling his inner Steve Smith and pummelling the Beecroft bowlers everywhere. With one over to go, we were 7/149. Todd goes 4, 4, 2, 6, 6, 2 to take us to 173, a very defendable total, while also top scoring with 45 off just 25, well supported by Cam’s 38.
From here, unfortunately, it very quickly goes downhill.
Unfortunately, Beecroft had some very good batters up their sleeves and that combined with some wayward bowling gave them a fairly straightforward run chase.
Jack picked up the first of our two wickets with a full toss striking the opener plumb in front, while Todd picked up a consolation for some excellent bowling by getting their number three caught behind with about 30 runs to get.
On a day where everyone else went for at least five an over or more, Todd got 1/23 off his seven, the pick of the bowlers and the batters. Apparently, he’s going to open the batting next week, which after today may well be to our benefit.
Also shout out Az for another incredible game behind the stumps, stopping everything and even picking up a catch.
On to next week and a BIG game against Berowra (yuck) at Greenway.
WPHC Blue (Prats) 4/123 defeated Glenorie 9/121
A warm welcome and hello to all long-term and new readers of the famed B1 match report, sit back relax and enjoy tales of a Hungry Saturday by a team packed with lions & tigers.
Arriving at Dural the outfield was dry, patchy and sandy and for some reason the pitch was covered in duck leftovers…. I’ll let you ponder on what that might actually be
Anyway on to the important stuff
Cricket!
The team was keen as anything this week, fire up messages in the WhatsApp chat had made us frothing at the bit ready to play, shame Captain Prats can’t tell the time and rocked up 30 mins later then he told us… $2 fine
With the toss WON! Prats won a toss who’d have believed miracles could happen, the choice was easy time to bowl and show our strengths….
Less said about the first 18 overs the better with balls getting hit around the slow and sandy Dural Park outfield and we found ourselves up against the wall with Glenorie 3/64 at the turn
After drinks it was time to stick to the boring plan of drying up the runs and tightening the screws at Sahara Park – Dural….
Thankfully the mighty B1 Blue live and breathe the motto – “Wickets in Clumps” and as such we decided to honour our creedence this week by taking 4 for 5 runs through the middle portion of the innings restricting Glenorie to a measly and meager 121 off 35 overs.
Using 6 bowlers – Hot Take Watkins, Stevey Ahmed, Prats The Burgular, Woodsy Bliss, “MT” Mistry and yours truly “Old Boy” Carlin all chipping in with at least 1 wicket each to cap off a true team effort in the field
Now to batting which has been out Achilles heal all season and chasing such a small total surely we do it the easy way….Ohhhhh boy did we ever
A fantastic opening partnership of 42 by Cameron “Woodsy” Bliss and Aden “Ronnie Trinkle” Hanich which swayed the game in our control which we never let slip. Unfortunately we mixed in a little collapse for good measure just for the fun times and memories losing 3-13 at one point but we must never fear because BDR is here.
Woodsy and BDR came together at the crease and made easy work of the dry & sandy outfield with the run rate climbing towards 5 during there 47 run partnership
Both men found the boundary on regular occurrence with BDR clearing the rope with ease for the 2nd time this season, this humble match reporter would like to comment that he’s still got IT!!
To end the game Captain Prats made sure he was out there and chipped of the winning runs with a full bunger clipped through backward point, a dominant and cruisy Saturday had come to an end with the mighty blues chasing the total with 6.2 overs to spare….
A few special shout-outs before we finish
- Cricket is for the entertainment and we live by that rule, we’ve dropped some absolute sitters this season but when there’s a blinder to be taken you better believe we will do it, Stevey and Cement Dunkerley adding to the category today
- The B1 have truly bonded this season and with that nicknames are following left, right and centre….today was a big day in that department added to the list is MT, Tiger, Woodsy, Trinkle, “does it itch” and Sl**py 2nds….
P.S A reminder to Rey “Stevey” Ahmed’s mum to please wash his whites in with his socks and jocks this week, it’s very important for him to look his best in the club’s premier competition – B1
With our rightful 2nd place on the ladder back in our hands, we look forward to the 2-dayers to finish the season and to lock in a spot in the Finals and potentially a minor premiership opportunity
But in the words of Bill Belichick – “We’re on to ARL”
Till Next Week
Viva La Blue!!!
B2 Grade
WPHC (Sparsh) 6/193 defeated CHRSL 133
John Kurian 7fa, Manas Dhargalkar 85*
On a scorching hot day, WPHCCC won the toss and had no hesitation in choosing to bat first on what looked to be a very up-and-down pitch.
Openers Corbs and Rats got the innings off to a brilliant start, negotiating the tricky conditions well and putting the bowlers under early pressure with some fluent stroke play. However, the opening partnership was broken when Corbs fell early, undone by a sharp bouncer that reared up unexpectedly.
Manas then walked in at number three and completely changed the momentum of the innings. Showing great composure and class, he steadied the ship with some stellar stroke play, finding gaps all around the ground and punishing anything loose.
Supported well by Rats at the other end, Manas went on to bring up a very well-deserved first fifty for WPHCCC, a milestone that was met with plenty of applause from the sidelines. He wasn’t done there either, carrying his bat through the innings and finishing on an outstanding 85 not out.
The middle order ensured the momentum never dropped, with Rishab playing a quickfire cameo of 30-odd, injecting some much-needed acceleration late in the innings.
Handy contributions from Harshil and Meet further bolstered the total, as WPHCCC capitalised on a few loose deliveries and some questionable fielding. The innings eventually closed on a very defendable 193, a strong total given the unpredictable nature of the surface.
In reply, WPHCCC came out fired up in the field, with opening bowlers Vishaal and Maz producing an excellent new-ball spell.
Both bowlers were hitting good areas consistently, extracting bounce and movement off the pitch and immediately had the opposition batsmen questioning their decision to get out of bed that morning. Vishaal struck first in spectacular fashion, taking a one-handed caught-and-bowled stunner that set the tone for the rest of the innings.
Tight and disciplined bowling from Rudhra, Manas and Shanks kept the pressure firmly on, with runs hard to come by and wickets always looking likely. With the required run rate climbing and no easy options available, the opposition were forced into playing aggressive shots in search of quick runs.
That’s when the King himself arrived – J Kurian.
In a devastating spell, he tore through the Castle Hill batting line-up, picking up wickets almost at will. One by one, the batsmen fell as J Kurian showcased a lethal mix of spin, accuracy and flight, finishing with an incredible 7/37 – his first-ever five-wicket haul and one that will be talked about for a long time at the Club.
WPHCCC went on to comfortably defeat Castle Hill in a dominant all-round performance.
While the scoreboard showed a comprehensive win, the fielding might need some work, with almost more dropped catches than runs scored on the day — but thankfully, it didn’t matter in the end. A memorable victory, highlighted by Manas’ maiden fifty and J Kurian’s match-winning seven-for.
🏏
C1 Grade
WPHC (Aniket) Vs BYE
Our next game is the Round 13 game against St Ives-Wahroonga
C2 Grade
WPHC Red (Indranil) 7/126 defeated WPHC Blue (Chintan) 125
Campbell Park played host to the always‑anticipated C2s Derby: Indranil’s Reds, fighting from the bottom of the ladder, up against Chintan’s seasoned Blues fresh off their promotion from C3s.
After the obligatory team photos (Ross would’ve been proud), it was time for business.
Blues Bat First – A Promising Start Unravels
The Reds won the toss and sent the Blues in on a warm afternoon. Adi and Suf strode out confidently, but the innings began with drama—Adi was run out on the third ball thanks to a laser throw from Rizul at cover.
Arunava cracked an early boundary but fell soon after trying to lift the scoring rate.
The Blues then steadied through a superb 75‑run stand between Anubhav (20) and Suf, who anchored the innings with a classy 51.
Just before drinks, the Reds turned to Rizul, and the move paid off immediately. A sharp stumping from the skipper removed Anubhav, and at 3/83 the Blues looked well placed. But the second half of the innings never clicked. Wickets tumbled as batters chased quick runs, with only Praneel managing a brief burst of aggression.
For the Reds, Rizul was outstanding with 517 plus a runout, while Saurabh, Kapil and Vishnu chipped in with a wicket each. The fielding was top‑notch—Pravin and Divit held excellent catches in the deep, and both Saurabh and Rizul contributed run‑outs.
Reds’ Chase – Steady, Then Wobbly, Then Steady Again
Chasing 126 at Campbell Park is usually straightforward, but cricket loves a twist. The Blues struck early through Mridul Chadha, removing namesake Mridul Das for a duck.
Oliver Linschoten and Divit rebuilt nicely, with Oly making 17 before falling to a full toss from Pritam. Divit continued to look composed on his way to 36, but partners kept disappearing at the other end.
Enter Pravin.
With the game tightening, he shifted the momentum decisively, finishing unbeaten on 37—including two towering blows that cleared the fielders with ease. His calm presence guided the Reds home with three wickets to spare.
Final Word
The Reds claimed a hard‑fought win, but the real highlight was the spirit in which the match was played—competitive, friendly, and full of laughs. Both sides now sit in a delicate position on the ladder, still alive in the finals race. And in park cricket, you never rule out a miracle.
C3 Grade
WPHC Red (Karl) 117 lost to Hornsby 5/237
One-day match against Hornsby District.
We were significantly down on troops due to the long weekend, but were fortunately bolstered by a strong contingent of C1s, which helped us field a competitive side.
Unfortunately, the day didn’t unfold as planned. While there were periods of solid bowling and general effort in the field, several dropped catches proved costly and allowed Hornsby to build momentum. One batter in particular was given multiple reprieves and went on to make the most of those chances, which had a material impact on their final total.
Set a target in excess of 230, we approached the chase with intent and showed patches of resistance, but early setbacks meant we were always chasing the game.
Despite a willing effort and some positive contributions, we were never quite able to generate the sustained momentum required to seriously threaten the total.
Ultimately, a disappointing result, but one that highlighted clear areas for improvement as we regroup and look ahead to our next must win game
C4 Grade
WPHC Blue (Rob) TBA defeated Mt Colah 173
Final scores and Match Report not received
WPHC Red (Ravi) (Ravi) 142 defeated Thornleigh 133
A bright sunny near-perfect day welcomed players after two weeks of damp squibs. Toss went as usual (read Ravi lost toss) and Reds were sent to bat first.
Vishnu and Sahil were up against some tight and disciplined bowling upfront. After a few edges and Vishnu got bowled with an inswinging delivery, the first time Vishnu got bowled this season. Arindam walked in at number 3 and after a few defences, he played the most un-Arindam shot by playing a good length ball in the air to gift a wicket.
Sahil could not capitalise on the couple of retrieves and got bowled to leave Reds at a precarious 18/3 in 8 overs. Daksh joined the fill-in star Vinod and started building a partnership.
Daksh looked in fine touch and got going with a 6 and 4 to take the attack back to the opposition. Daksh’s cameo came to an end unfortunately.
Waman and Vinod built a partnership with the latter looking rock solid throughout his stay. Waman unleashed some of his trademark cut shots and looked in fine touch as always.
However, he soon fell for 16 and what followed was a period of tight bowling and restless batting. Vinod upped the ante and battled hard but soon Reds were down to 118 for 9 in the 30th over. Anant and Nirav joined hands and built a steady and determined partnership of 24 in the last 5 overs to give Reds a respectable total of 142 in 35 overs.
Thornleigh was given an early jolt with Vinod picking up a wicket in his second over thanks to a well-judged catch by Jassi.
A steady partnership and a couple of dropped catches ensued and nervousness slowly started creeping in for Reds. As things were slipping away Ravi pulled off a blinder of a one-handed catch at short mid wicket to pull the pegs back. Requests are already on to confer the “Sir” title to Ravi, thanks to his repeated moments it brilliances time after time. Thornleigh were 71/3 at drinks, exactly halfway to the target.
The next half was probably one of the most engrossing sessions of play we have had the whole season with momentum shifting both ways.
The first ball after break was from Nirav who snaffled the well set batter. The other leggie Anant picked up his second wicket thanks to another top edge, caught by the same fielder- Arindam.
Then came a steady partnership where the batters grew in confidence against the spinners and shoulders were beginning to droop again.
Until Sir Ravi brought himself back to the attack to bowl one of their set batters. Then Ravi masterminded a brilliant run out by adjusting Vishnu’s field position just before the ball only for Vishnu to shoot a sharp throw and for Ravi to break stumps with batsman well short.
Ravi had his midas touch today with all the bowling and fielding changes working well. Vishnu soon came back to finish his spell and got another key wicket.
Equation came down to 20 runs from 5 overs with one of their key batter going strong.
A special kudos should be given to Vinod who came back at this stage and bowled a 3 over spell which had 2 maidens 1 run and 1 wicket. Once the fast bowlers were done with their part, Nirav came back on and batsman smashed a sweep on the air, which was caught at deep square leg by Waman for a brilliant catch. Reds had one foot in the door with Thornleigh needing 10 off the last 12 balls with 1 wicket to go.
Nirav then bowled a beautiful loopy deliver which was missed by the batman and well stumped by Sahil to gift Reds their first win in over 7 weeks.
It was a tough game of cricket with so many key moments but Reds made sure they capitalised everything and got the result their way this time.
Highlights
- Vinod – 47 and 1 wicket
- Nirav – 3/ 24
D1 Grade
1-Day games
WPHC Red (Diggers) 4/204 lost to WPHC Blue (Roger) 9/208
Another sheep station match that went down to the wire and could have gone either way until the last ball where a six was needed to secure a win and a four to equalise and take us into a super over. What was the outcome? Dear reader you will have to read to the end to find out.
Blues batting first put up 208/9. After a strong start by Cory Brookhouse and Daniel McEwen who put on 33 in 4.3 overs, Shehan Fernando 71 and Vinoth Sambasivam 48 put on 82 for the 4th wicket which was the mainstay of the Blues innings.
Pick of the bowlers was Dean Pinchbeck 3/29, Grant Gerber 4/27, David Larkham 2/34.
In reply the Reds kept the scoreboard ticking on the back of an anchor role by Cliff Greenhalgh 84 n.o who carried his bat through the innings. Angus Greenhalgh 36 and Grant Gerber 29 were the other top scorers.
Wickets and therefore the bowling honours were shared between Bala Raghuraman who was super economical at 7-1-20-2 and Roger Friend 1/26 and Corey Brookhouse 1/21. Roger’s bowling in the middle overs really arrested the scoring rate when Reds were trying to accelerate and were largely succeeding.
The death overs
This really boiled down to the death over battle between the bowlers Bala Raghuraman, Daniel McEwen vs batters Cliff Greenhalgh, Dean Pinchbeck at the crease (after Grant Gerber was dismissed for 29 with a brilliant catch at short mid-off by Roger Friend off the bowling of Bala Raghuraman.
Blues were certainly pleased to see the back of Grant Gerber given his heroics in the previous sheep station nail biter between the same teams.
The last over
Reds required 15 going into the last over and started strong with a 4.
This brings us back to the cliff hanger we left the readers in at the beginning of this report – the last ball that required a six to win and 4 to equalise with NSW bowling star Daniel McEwen steaming in. Alas it was not to be this time for the Reds with the Blues clinching victory by 4 runs.
Final tally
D1 Blue 208/9 beat D1 Red 204/4 by 4 runs
The sheep station tally for 25/26 season now stands 2-1 in the Blues favour in D1 but hopefully this is not the last time these two teams meet in this comp as a Semi Final or a final sheep station clash would be one for the ages.
Most importantly cricket was the winner once again with great sportsmanship displayed from both teams in keeping with the standards expected from two WPHCCC teams playing against each other.
D2 Grade
WPHC (Ross S) 7/148 defeated ARL 7/147
A Sunday game up at Mt Ku-ring-gai against the team in second place with only 2 losses.
The Oval looking lovely, albeit a bit slow. A ground significantly larger than our normal D2 grounds with huge boundaries. extremely warm day with temps forecast to hit 39. Skippers agree a noon start and are greeted by a ground full of soccer players. Common sense prevailing with those guys leaving in time for our start of play. Skipper wins the toss and decides to field first with temps due to climb later in the day.
A tight start by Lachlan M and Sandeep and good fielding. No wickets but only 28 on the board after 8 overs.
First change and some luck.
Raymond catches the batter right in front, appeal turned down, batter takes off not knowing the ball has gone directly to gully. Lachlan M throws down the stumps. First wicket. Next over Jacques on to bowl. 3rd ball plumb LBW, 4th ball new batter misses the ball and Ross takes off the bails. First 12 over drinks break ARL 3/43.
The next 12 overs our bowlers toiled hard in the heat with Jaques picking up another LBW and caught and bowled. At 24 overs ARL 6/79….we are right on top.
After the break our bowling fell away a bit in the tough conditions as the temp hit 37…..ARL putting on 71 with one of their batters hitting us all around the park.
A final wicket to Gihan and only 6 runs off the last 3 overs, keeping the ARL score to 7/147….. pleasing we were able to keep their top run scorer off strike over the last few overs with some tight bowling and good fielding.
Wickets to Jaques 4/14(6), Gihan 1/19(4) and Raymond 1/14(3). Catch to Jaques, run out direct hit to Lachlan M, and stumping to Ross.
Now our turn to chase, with ARL having to field in the hottest part of the day.
An excellent opening partnership between Ramil and Lachlan M. Power hitting by Ramil and Lachlan turning over the strike. But very hard going for both of the guys. At the first 12 overs drinks break 0/56.
At the break Lachlan retires given the heat. Gihan and Ramil take the score to 67 before Ramil is well caught at mid off for 38. We lose Sachin (u14) in the very same way 2 balls later.
After his century just before Christmas, Raymond is out to impress again. His first huge boundary clearing the fence for a maximo….then another rare boundary. He is flying….unfortunately a moment of brilliance at deep mid wicket with a junior taking a 1 handed diving catch on the boundary. Just too good. Raymond gone for 13.
Unfortunately we lose Muthindra in the last over before the second drinks break. At the 24 over mark 4/115. 38 needed off 11 overs.
After the break batting was challenging.
We lose Jaques and Christopher to good deliveries, then Gihan retires for a well-deserved 33. 16 needed off the last 5 overs. Opening bowlers back on. Scoring difficult, but both guys (Sandeep and Lachlan J) relatively fresh running a number of 2s. With 4 runs needed off the last 2 overs we lose Lachlan. Sandeep (17no) and Ross (1no) get us over the line with 4 balls left.
A very important win for us keeping us in 3rd spot, 1 and 3 points respectively ahead of 4th and 5th.
Next game we play the Comp leaders, with a win confirming a 3rd place finish as we have a bye last round. A loss in round 13 and with 4th /5th expected to win against lower place opposition means we would need to rely on last round results to sneak into the semis even with the bye.
Big thanks to our U14s Sachin and Flynn for helping us out today. It was great to be able to rotate our fielders.
Also thanks to Raynaldo from C1 with umpiring.