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) 169 Vs Hornsby 2/38
I’ll start this week with a fun fact.
Did you know Wu has never bowled a no ball in his life.
Speaking of Wu, I have to apologise as he scored a 50 last week and ticked over 4000 runs for the club. Only 3000 behind Jim.
Next, I would like to congratulate O on winning the Green Shield Grand Final last weekend where he defended 7 run in the last over to go back to back.
He was voted MVP of the tournament (by me) and rumour has it that Jamaican was the post-game MVP.
Onto the game and we won the toss and were batting.
Great choice from K to finally win a toss on a 35 degree day. Unfortunately, we turned into the WPHCCC of 2021 and collapsed. 8/98 and not looking good until the cartel stepped up and wagged bringing us to all out for 170.
They then stepped up again to take two late wickets and have Hornsby 2 for not many.
Looking forward to next week and hopefully getting a win and locking in a spot in Semis. Match Report not received.
A2 Grade
A2 Blue (Warren) 8/230 Vs Glenorie
Good morning loyal A2 match report readers and welcome back.
We arrived to Les Shore Reserve on a hot day with perfect batting conditions greeting us. Given how important the toss would be, it was a good thing we had Warren “Paul the Octopus” Schwartzel to do the toss – and like clockwork, Warren called correctly and we chose to bat.
Zac “Ed Sheeran” Turner and Matt “H” Schwartzel went out to open as the team settled in under the air con in the Les Shore pavilion – perhaps the most impressive facilities used by WPHC players since Ross Anderson fought lions barehanded in the colosseum circa 3rd century AD (source: Ross Anderson).
After Zac nicked off early, handy contributions from Matt (18), Riken “Richtofen” Hira (23), Brent “that full toss that bowled me was unplayable” Larkham (13) and Rohan “anyone want to have a hard solo even though it’s 4 overs into the innings” Asija (20) kept the scoreboard ticking to take us through to 5-98 by tea.
Using an obscure heat rating index that seemed like it was written in wingdings, we were then forced into an extended tea, with the team playing French cricket under the air con as Matt “H” Schwartzel did his best to prove our primary school teachers right by leaning back too far in his chair and falling over.
When play resumed, Tanay “clown chair” Hira was a man on a mission, blasting the ball to all parts knowing he had to leave early to make it to the A League game in time. I hope he made it, because there was a goal 40 seconds after the first whistle!
Tanay was joined by Nick “six-seven” Duck, who was keen to extend his contributions to the team beyond bringing bags of lollies and writing match reports far too filthy to be published on the website by actually making some runs, with Tanay ending up making 66 and Nick 67, with Tanay and Nick putting on a partnership of 109 in just 12 overs.
We lost Tanay, Nick and Rohan “Aurora Borealis” Arora late in the day to leave us 8-230 at stumps, with Warren “Idi Amin” Schwartzel selflessly not batting to allow his week 2 player, K “Kyle Townsend” T, to bat next week if we choose to bat on.
Join us again next week as we look to make cricket slightly more bearable with a win.
B1 Grade
B1 Red (Todd) 7/156 defeated on first innings Berowra 87
Well, the second-last round of the season and we were up against the Club everyone wants to beat — Berowra, at the glorious Greenway Park.
On a 35-degree day you’d think batting would be the only option.
Did Todd think that?
We’ll never know, because he lost the toss — the winning streak from the start of the season now feeling like a distant memory. Unsurprisingly, Berowra sent us straight out into the heat, hoping to leave us out in the heat all day.
Our ever-reliable opening partnership of Dan and Todd got us off to the perfect start, applying immediate pressure, picking up an early wicket and keeping the runs tight. Any strategy around managing spells in the heat was completely ignored by Jack (myself), who decided an eight-over spell was the play, apparently believing wickets are only useful if taken late in the spell.
At the other end, Keates tore through their top order, picking up four wickets across two short spells — including an absolute seed of a yorker that put fear into every batter still waiting to come in.
Dan and Todd then returned to clean things up, picking up another one and two wickets respectively, as Berowra were rolled for just 87 off 27 overs.
On the fielding front, Crawley decided to drop a catch (he is currently seeking financial assistance to cover his growing fine tally), continuing his commitment to emulating the English cricket team. You’d think for someone not thrilled about his new nickname he’d stop following in their footsteps — but apparently not.
With Volc and Bish both being week two, it was important that we didn’t lose too many early wickets.
Openers Lachy and Az gave us a solid start, before Lachy unfortunately gloved one through to the keeper (such an English thing to do). Arjun came in at three and may have copped a slightly unlucky decision, although Volc insists it was exactly what he deserved for calling him old.
Shomik and Az then put on a crucial partnership, making 23 and 57 respectively. They showed great temperament — respecting the good ball, punishing the bad — while Shomik channelled his inner Glenn Maxwell and began cramping in both legs.
After a brief collapse, Alec and I were left with 12 overs to see out the day.
During this time Alec transformed into the left-handed Marnus, unveiling a full repertoire of extravagant leaves and elite no run calls. He finished 32 not out, winning best shot of the day with an effortless leg-side flick for six. I ended on 18*, with the team securing a lead of over 60.
With more batting to come next week, hopefully Christmas can arrive 11 months early and we can push on to beat Berowra outright.
WPHC Blue (Prats) 199 Vs ARL
A warm welcome and hello to all long term and new readers of the famed B1 match report, sit back relax and enjoy a short synopsis on a rollercoaster Saturday
Arriving at the Australian Sahara Desert (Dural Park) we again were met with a lush & thickkkkkkk outfield with plenty of sand and soft grass, runs would be at a premium
Hot temperatures dictated that the smart idea was to bat first, we’re quite stupid and all wanted to bowl first to maximise outright chances…. Didn’t matter skipper Prats lost the toss again and time to get the pads on
Mixed results from the top order with Nic “Cashie” Price and Cam “Woodsy” Bliss both falling early but that didn’t last for long with Ben “Cement” Dunkerley and Aden “Ronnie Treacle” Hanich both picking up the slack
Dunks with a hard earned 39 in his typical swashbuckling fashion but all the plaudits go to Ronnie for a well-crafted 91 in some pretty brutal conditions, finding the long boundaries from time to time but a majority of the runs through hard running in the afternoon heat
This humble match reporter knew it was Ronnie’s day on arrival at Dural, Big Mac in hand I felt safety and a calm air of confidence about our opener and he delivered… In the words of Michael Holding “RUUNNSS”
A few small contributions down the order drove our target closer to 175 before unfortunately another famous WPHCCC collapse, god we love to do that and it makes that wall falling down in 89′ look like a very insignificant and boring collapse
9 down for 177 and heading towards a late trundle with the ball, Old Man Carlin and Patty “How’s goods the leave” Watkins combined for a 22 run stand off 10 overs to get the total to 199 and give ARL a mental hurdle of having to chase 200
This humble match reporter DC chipping in with 20 runs, much to the bewilderment of fellow WPHCCC players and greats who were in a few short profanities – F***ing Stunned
It’s amazing how you can score runs when you hit the ball in the middle of the wooden plank in your hands and not the fat edges…. Lessons for all the kids out there who wish to play and represent WPHCCCCCCCCCCC cricket in the future
All-in-all a good day with the bat for the mighty Blues, 199 on an outfield that needs a very good and long mow Council I’m begging don’t mow it this week) seems like 250 and with a bowling attack humming all season the hungry B1 lions are sure to make a very timely appearance next week ROAR!
No Shout-Outs this week, too hot and too sun soaked for the brain to click over and think of any
God it was absolutely roasting at Dural, seriously why do we have to wear helmets now when batting?? #changetherule
Till Next Week!!
Viva La Blue
B2 Grade
WPHC (John K) 4/218 Vs Kissing Point
Day 1 belonged to Harshil Vyas and Rishab Iyer, who produced commanding batting performances to put West Pennant Hills Blue firmly on top before rain ended play at 5:00pm.
After losing the toss and being sent in, West Penno faced early pressure but were steadied by Harshil Vyas, who delivered a high-quality innings of 64, combining patience with authority. Vyas controlled the tempo through the middle overs, punishing anything loose and laying the foundation for a big first-innings total before an unfortunate run out brought his knock to an end.
If Vyas set the platform, Rishab Iyer took complete control. Batting with maturity well beyond the conditions, Iyer compiled a superb 67 not out, anchoring the innings and dictating play as wickets fell around him. His innings was a masterclass in composure, highlighted by crisp stroke play and relentless strike rotation, ensuring West Penno never lost momentum.
Support came from Manas Dhargalkar (27) and Edward Corby (11), while John Koleth (15*) provided calm assistance late in the day as the pair saw West Penno safely to stumps.
Despite disciplined spells from Kissing Point, West Pennant Hills Blue closed Day 1 on a strong 218 for 4 from 54 overs, with 27 extras further adding to the total. The scoring rate remained steady at 4.0 an over, reflecting the control shown by the batting group.
Persistent rain in the afternoon ultimately forced an early close at 5:00pm, denying Iyer the chance to push on further and leaving West Penno with six wickets in hand and a golden opportunity to post a commanding total on Day 2.
With Vyas’ authority and Iyer’s class setting the tone, West Pennant Hills Blue will resume in a position of strength when play recommences.
C1 Grade
WPHC (Aniket) ) 4/29 Vs St Ives Wahroonga 111
After three weeks of frustrations due to cancellations, byes and wet weather the team was eager to finally take to the field under clear skies and relatively calm conditions. Ani won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision that would quickly prove to be the right one.
The opening bowlers, Anand and Ani, set the tone right from the start.
Anand made an immediate impact, claiming a wicket with the very first ball of the innings. By the third over, the pressure mounted further, as another wicket fell, leaving St Ives reeling with both of their openers back in the shed.
The bowlers were relentless, maintaining tight lines and keeping the run rate under control.
With little opportunity for St Ives to settle, confidence began to surge within our camp. Enter Dan, whose rocket arm lived up to its reputation, as he bagged a wicket in his opening over.
While the early breakthroughs were crucial, St Ives’ middle-order batsmen showed patience, managing to steady the ship and eke out runs at a slow pace. At this point, Ani turned to Ravi, who was helping the team today, and the St Ives batsmen had no answer to his loopy spin. Ravi’s spell tied them up in knots, and the pressure mounted with each over.
Though Ravi, Mohan, and Amitava didn’t take wickets, their tight spells kept the batsmen guessing. As they built pressure from one end, Mridul and Saurabh took the wickets from the other, combining for a lethal attack.
Bowling Figures:
- Mridul: 4-19
- Saurabh: 3-10
- Dan: 1-7
- Anand: 1-14
- Ani: 1-14
With the bowling attack working in tandem, St Ives was eventually bowled out for a modest total of 111 in the 46th over.
We had 22 overs left to bat, needing just 1.3 runs per over to be in a comfortable position. However, St Ives had a bowler who had other ideas. He bowled a tight, controlled spell, claiming 4 wickets in his 10-over stint. At stumps, we found ourselves at 4-29 — not the ideal situation, but with plenty of batting still to come.
With Saurabh and Mohan at the crease, we’re confident that we can push on and secure the required runs next week.
The team remains upbeat and with the depth in our batting lineup, we’re looking forward to making a strong recovery next week and chasing down the target.
C2 Grade
WPHC Red (Indranil) 0/101 Vs Normanhurst 164
Key Performers:
- Kapil Sharma – 5/33
- Rizul Gulati – 51*
- Vishnu Raman – 44* Unbeaten 101‑run opening stand between Rizul and Vishnu.
A Hot Start to a Big Day
It was a scorching afternoon at Normanhurst Oval, and the day began with a delay as the Juniors ran overtime. Credit to the council though—the outfield looked quick and well prepared.
The toss finally took place at 12:55 pm, with WPH scrambling early as only six or seven players were present. Thankfully, by the first ball all eleven had arrived, giving the skipper a welcome boost of confidence.
Early Breakthroughs Set the Tone
Vishnu opened the bowling alongside last season’s new-ball partner, Reyhan Ahmed, filling in from B1. Reyhan struck immediately—a wicket with his first ball, brilliantly caught behind by the skipper.
Vishnu followed up soon after, thanks to a sharp catch at second slip by Reyhan. Normanhurst reached drinks at 2/46, but WPH’s fielding intensity stayed high. Excellent catching from Reyhan, Vishnu, and substitute fielder
Bhavya Vora pushed Normo into trouble at 6/94 by tea.
Heat, a Partnership… and Then Kapil Happened
Post‑tea, the heat seemed to sap WPH’s focus, allowing Normanhurst to build a 70‑run partnership. But once Kapil Sharma found his rhythm, the innings collapsed dramatically.
Kapil tore through the lower order, finishing with a superb 5/33, and Normanhurst lost their last four wickets for just 4 runs. Contributions from Vishnu, Dinesh, and Rizul helped close the innings at 164.
A Dominant Opening Stand
With 17 overs left in the day, the plan was simple: survive, stay disciplined, and finish strongly.
Vishnu and Rizul were sent out to open, and Vishnu set the early pace—lofty pulls, crisp late cuts, and 40 runs in the first 10 overs. Rizul played patiently early, waiting for his moment.
Then the fireworks began.
Over the next seven overs, Rizul exploded—big boundaries, including a six on a sizeable ground—and surged to his first 50 for the club this season, reaching the milestone in the final over of the day.
The pair closed on 101 without loss*, marking the highest opening partnership of the season.
Looking Ahead
WPH heads into next week in a commanding position, well placed to secure first‑innings points and push for more.
A big thank‑you to Bhavya Vora for sub‑fielding all day, and to Reyhan Ahmed and Sagnik Datta for stepping up from other grades.
For those keen to witness the recording of the match, see link – Youtube match video
WPHC Blue (Chintan) 9/268 dec Vs Sydney Lions 3/72
Highlights:
Yeah!!!! We won the toss!!!! 😆
– Chintan Shah 61*
– Arunava Chaudhuri 53
The Toss of the Century
Day one kicked off with a rare alignment of the stars: we won the toss. In a move that local historians are still cross-referencing for any precedent in West Pennant Hills folklore, we elected to bat. The Sydney Lions, already feeling the heat, looked visibly shaken by our display of executive decision-making before a single ball was bowled.
The Batting Blitz
While opener Vikrant fell early to an unplayable “jaffa,” the Lions’ joy was short-lived. What followed was a masterclass in aggressive accumulation:
- Chintan Shah (61 retired):* Returning from a long hiatus, Chintan was in brutal touch, peppering the boundary with 9 fours and 1 six
- Arunava Chaudhuri (53 off 51): Arunava went into full “power mode,” punishing anything short and flat with 8 fours and 1 six
Together, they forged a mammoth 122-run partnership that silenced the Lions’ sledging and effectively sapped their energy in the scorching conditions.
The “Mid-Pitch Seminar”
The heat eventually took its toll on Chintan, leading to a brief interruption due to cramps. This sparked a passionate—if unnecessary—debate from the Opposition regarding retirement regulations. After Agniva Chakraborty stepped in to provide a calm reading of the actual playing conditions (saving us all from a tedious rulebook seminar), sense prevailed. Chintan retired, and the Lions were forced to go back to the difficult task of chasing leather.
Maintaining the Pressure
The middle order ensured there was no let-up:
- Anubhav Ghatak (44): Played the anchor role with immense patience.
- Aditya Nair (24): Displayed monk-like focus, frustrating the bowlers and eating up valuable time
- Late Fireworks: Sayantan Sen (16* off 16) and Pritam Dhamija (15 off 6) provided a chaotic finish, pushing the total to a commanding 268/9 declared.
The Bowling Dominance
With a mountain of runs on the board, our bowlers went for the throat. Pritam Dhamija was relentless in his opening burst, while Aditya Nair combined a metronomic line with “friendly” conversation via the occasional short ball.
Then came the highlight of the evening session: Agniva Chakraborty’s spell.
Stats: 3 Overs | 2 Maidens | 1 Run | 1 Wicket
Agniva’s delivery was matched by the lightning-fast hands of Sitabja Basu, who completed a brilliant stumping. Combined with a reflex heavy run-out, the Lions reached stumps reeling at 37/2.
The Verdict: With the Lions already reconsidering their sledging strategy, we head into Day 2 hunting for the outright win.
C3 Grade
WPHC Red (Karl) 112 Vs Kissing Point Blue 3/43
Turramurra was blasted with the dulcet tones of “fake love” by Drake and “bridges burnt” by locofamilia and other Western Sydney trap music care of the Wanderers DJs.
Karl won another toss and elected to bat. Good call- it was a million degrees in the shade.
Kissing Point’s first session was equally as hot – assisted by the massive boundaries. Callum was seeing the balls like watermelons – smashing them left and right but the ball kept fading a few kms short of the ropes – all on plan until a lapse in focus, missing a straight ball on middle stump.
Mick played well for his duck off 30 odd which then resulted in the music from the footballers change room being turned off. Jimmy also started beautifully, playing a lovely Ricky Ponting-esque pull shot before channeling his inner Jake Weatherald and kicking a straight one.
Mick’s dismissal allowed for Isaac to return to the pitch after a week following Les Higgins footsteps. I’ve been told that the macadamias were been on point – much like the catch that saw him exit. Not before seeing out the session with James D.
James D delivered some fielding practice to KP – popping up a straight forward catch to bring in Damo. Wil P joined Damo for a partnership that gave the team a bit of hope. Damo chopped one on to the stumps giving the Skip the opportunity to remind us how to play a two dayer. Wil and Karl also put on a glimmer of a partnership before junior Palmer made way for senior Palmer and a serious odour of Dencorub.
Luke and Karl saw out the second session. Karl’s words “play it straight” were immediately forgotten by Luke when they re-entered.
Alex and Karl continued in the sweltering heat until Karl got trapped by a LBW. Unfortunately, no third umpire review in Turramurra today.
Team Higham dragged us kicking and screaming over the hundred. It was a hard slog. The team in the grandstand cheering them on, hoping not to have to take the field. It was not the case. We ended up with 112.
Entering the field, we were a couple of players down so Matty D volunteered to switch his crocs into sports mode and take the field. Wil and Jimmy were handed the ball to begin our attack. Jimmy took early spoils into the safe hands of the new wickie (K Ermandis – that’s K Snr!)!
Issac and Mick emerged for the second wave of attack. Solid bowling from all had Kissing Point second guessing every ball. Mick picked up two LBWs – excellent start. Kissing Point sitting on 3/43 at the end of play.
C4 Grade
WPHC Blue (Rob) 4/303 Vs Thornleigh
At Campbell Park, the mini home of cricket dreams,
WPHC C4 Blue faced Thornleigh, or so it seems.
Hot, sweaty, sticky—though not forty-degree swelter,
But enough to make fielders and batsmen truly welter.
Thornleigh won the toss, fielded first with a grin,
While Luke and Kamran marched out, game-face locked in.
The day was about the 30’s, a curious tale—
Luke with 32, Jake 35, Zia and Ryan did not fail.
Partnerships blossomed, the score ticked on by,
Wickets kept falling, but spirits stayed high.
Last wicket at six, the total read three-oh-three,
Enough—if we bowl and field well next week, maybe.
But as shadows grew long, and stumps soon in sight,
One zealous dad shattered the calm of twilight.
“Take a run!” he yelled, but alas, what a rout—
A son run out needlessly; cricket’s quirkiest out!
So here’s to the heat, the dads, and the fun,
To scores in the 30’s, and jobs nearly done.
Return next week, with the ball and a grin;
For in cricket, as in life, it’s not always who’ll win!
P.S., Note, or whatever gets your attention – Muditha Dissanayake batted like a true champion in the heat and scored his maiden ton (126 & our 567th ton) A fantastic innings to watch and blazed away through the heat for over 3 hours. A great achievement after many years of cricket!
WPHC Red (Ravi) 2/53 Vs Berowra 89
Reds were upbeat after gaining a much needed win in the last game.
After losing toss and sent to field, Reds were buoyed by the return of their opening bowler Praveg.
Ravi was spot on as usual from the get go and castled their opener in first over. Skipper got the skipper.
Praveg bowled as if he never had any break and was full of heat with pace and accuracy in the opening spell. Ravi continued an unchanged spell of 12 overs in the opening burst and snatched 2 wickets. Praveg smashed the middle stump in the other wicket.
At first drinks Reds were in total control with score reading 31/3 in 14 overs.
Ravi continued his bold calls in the next passage of play by bringing on the pacy Daksh as first change, though he had not bowled in the past 5-6 games. Daksh impressed from ball 1 and set some unorthodox field with a fine leg slip and attacking field on off. It should have played in the batsman’s mind as Daksh got one ball to pitch on seam and smash the off stump.
Daksh was then replaced by Vishnu who continued to keep a lid on scoring rate and picked up two more wickets in his spell of 5 overs. Reds were right on top during od innings break with Berowra reeling at 43/6.
What followed was a frustrating blockathon with no real push for scoring and no wickets falling.
Ravi then brought Amith on and introduced spin with some smart, frequent bowling changes. Wickets soon followed with Amith trapping one of the blockers and Ravi snatching the last 3 wickets.
Ravi rolled back years with an excellent spell of 16-3-26-5.
Probably his most significant performance with the ball considering the need for points and quotient at this stage of the tournament.
Arindam and Rohit walked out to open and saw off the testing initial bowling spell. Rohit timed well and pushed hard for runs but large grounds and slow outfield meant runs were hard to come by. Heat and exhaustion were also catching up with players as there were not many quick runs or 1s converted to 2s.
Rohit unfortunately nicked off to keeper and got out for 6. Praveg was introduced at 3 in a bid to push the scoring rate but was soon caught by keeper and Reds were in a spot of bother at 19/2.
Waman walked out to the chirpy setting with Berowra looking to build pressure. He absorbed the pressure with some aggressive stroke making and built a steady partnership with the rock solid Arindam to end the day at 53/2.
Though the runs may not have flowed as quick as Reds would have wanted, these two have kept their team well on course for a first innings lead and maybe, even a shot at an outright win next weekend.
Highlights
- Ravi – 5/26
D1 Grade
1-Day games
WPHC Red (Diggers) 9/80 lost to Castle Hill RSL 4/182
After a close loss in a local derby last week, we returned to Northholm Grammar to face another of the top teams, Castle Hill.
Diggers won the toss and decided to field first.
In summary, we bowled and fielded quite well but Castle Hill still managed to get to 4/182 off their 35 overs. Best of our bowlers was Munish with 2/17 off 7 with Buzz and Dhaval also picking up a wicket each.
Unfortunately we just didn’t fire in the batting department this week and ended up a long way short of the total.
Thanks again to Dean Pinchbeck from under 15’s and Dhaval Dani from D2’s for filling in today.
Anyway, onto next week
WPHC Blue (Roger) 9/177 lost to St Ives-Wahroonga 6/238
Only our 3rd loss of the season but by a large margin against a team we have beaten twice before which is a bitter pill to swallow. Importantly we have picked up learnings as we go deeper into the competition.
After being put into bat St Ives scored 238/6.
In reply WPHCC scored 177/9 – loss by 61 runs. Sandeep Pathak top scored with 45n.o missing out on a well-deserved 50 and Daniel McEwen scored 32 and Bala Raghuraman 25 which were noteworthy contributions.
We will look to regroup and get back into our winning ways next week against Thornleigh.
D2 Grade
WPHC (Ross S) lost on first innings Beecroft 4/107
With wins over 3rd and 2nd placed side in the last few rounds we came into this game full of confidence against the 1st placed team.
A win confirms a semi-final. With a bye in the last round a loss means that results must go our way to make a semi. So a really important game. Skipper wanted to bat on a hot day and got his wish even though he lost the toss.
Our batting innings was somewhat a disaster on a slow Arcadia ground. Our second lowest score of the year (the lowest was against the same side in round 2).
After losing our first wicket 4th ball of the day, then our second wicket not so long after to a runout when our other opener thought the ball went for 4 and decided to stand in the middle of the pitch….there were very few highlights…Ramil a patient 37, Sundries 21.
The Opposition bowling was good and we just could not absorb the pressure. All out 93 off just 36 overs.
31 overs to bowl and hoping we could restrict the opposition taking the game into the second week. Sandeep and Gihan opened up and bowled exceptionally.
A wicket to Sandeep, caught behind, 2nd ball….Gihans 4th over, short ball off the glove batter hooking through to the keeper. Beecroft 2/14 after 8….
Unfortunately a nuisance partnership, with their skipper hitting some wayward bowling around. A young batter retiring saw a wicket very next ball, Raymond taking out the stumps. 3/66.
Our fielding highlight came in the 21st over. Tossed up ball by Jacques, Beecroft skipper skies a ball toward the deep mid-wicket boundary , Sachin (u14)……running backwards, looking to the sky, sticks out his hand and takes a one handed blinder behind his head, suddenly 4/69. And we are on top.
But, our bowling in the last 10 was very inconsistent , with one batter taking full advantage from us bowling too wide and short. At close of play Beecroft already with first innings points 4/107. Too many sundries from wayward bowling ( 25 so far).
Wickets to Sandeep 1/21(10), Gihan 1/16(6), Jaques 1/10(4). 2 Catches to Ross and 1 to Sachin.
Next week we need to restrict Beecroft to a low score then really need to apply ourselves batting to save a crucial 1 point which may determine if we make the finals.