Competition Tables
As at Round 1 (27/9/2025)
PlayHQ link – Draw & Competition Table
- A1 (Cam #25) – =1st (12 points)
- A2:
- Blue (Warren) – =3rd (7 points)
- Red (Todd) – =7th (2 points)
- B1 (Prats) – =1st (12 points)
- B2 (Sparsh) – =6th (2 points)
- C1 (Aniket) – =6th (2 points)
- C2 (Indranil) – =7th (2 points)
- C3:
- Blue (Chintan) – =1st (12 points)
- Red (Karl) – =6th (2 point)
- C4:
- Blue (Rob) – =2nd (7 points)
- Red (Ravi) – 1st (12 points)
- D1:
- Blue (Roger) – =5th (=2nd points)
- Red (Diggers) – =1st (7 points)
- D2 (Ross S) – =3rd (7 points)
Match Reports
A1 Grade
WPHC (Cam #25) 3/104 defeated Hornsby 100
Well what a wonderful day for cricket, the sun was shining. The birds were chirping and all my God how good was that beautiful weather. What a beautiful day what a wonderful day what an amazing day for cricket oh my god it’s wonderful to be alive, thank you for the memories everybody thank you thank you thank you well oh my god we are here to play and life is great and thank you very much and well thank you for the memories .
Hornsby won the toss and elected to bat.
It was fantastic to see all our young cricket there at the bit to get on there and have a bowl and get to know each other and just really be happy to be around and play wonderful cricket you never never know when it’s gonna be all over so WUs advice to all the young people was and always will be to enjoy every game as it comes because you never know when it’s going to be your last, just look at Jamaican the old war horse he just keeps going and going.
He spent a trip plane trip travelling about 72 hours just to make this game and what a wonderful man he is, he was there for us and fielded like an ox, he ran around and just did everything great for the team and then opened the batting like it was Hey Hey it’s Saturday . What a wonderful old man that he is and what a wonderful person he is in spirit and in life. I just love him so much, now let’s get onto the cricket.
Hornsby batted and in true spirit the Hornsby openers got off to a flyer. They dispatched us to every part of the ground. Big Captain GY JKrang though held his nerve and never had any worries, They were wonderful and amazing team on their day.
We love the way they play. It’s entertaining like an end to end barn burner and we really really enjoy the games now it really started well for them and then it just all fell into a heap like Ks Belly. really after the top order couldn’t get away Tiz bowled an amazing spell and was a pic of our bowlers. He looks fit hungry and Like he hadn’t even had a break even though he is shedding hair. What an unbelievable player is the mystery man.
Sawant was brilliant as always, but we were able to contain joginder and Jaswal. We all know how brilliant they are and they can turn an attack into mincemeat. They are the true spirit of Hornsby cricket and need to be respected by all teams. They are true winners and leaders and legends of their club. Then we were also able to claim the scalp of Alex Southham who is forever dangerous and could also mount and attack or resurrection of their team. After the two big guns were dismissed. Tizzy Wizzy from Fyshwick claimed one of the wickets and Benny beefcake‘s Burroughs claim the other one with some amazing in swingers and leg cutters.
Harry and Wu combined with an unbelievable bowling partnership. They were brilliant as always and they contained the bat and took wickets and finished off the mid order and tail and absolutely annihilated anything that moved. Meiks helped with some fine spin also and kept asking for advice from WU about tweak.
We cleaned them up for 100 and looked like we were a day to finish early unfortunately Hornsby did not apply themselves for the bat and our bowling and fielding was absolutely remarkable, especially Jamaican.
KRANG and Jamaican opened up together and the true redhead pirate ship was amazing where their pubic hair aligned. Cranky Wang Gwangi was dismissed early after an amazing last week where he totally destroyed the opposition. KRANG is going to have some massive massive in this year and he’s really looking after his fitness Record Jackson and also CG combine for a nice partnership but the man of the hour and the legend himself. Jamaican big Jimmy Jamaican was the pic of the crop today where he brought the bacon home and finished off an unbelievable day for West Pennant Hills CC after Jamaican flew all around the world circumnavigated the globe to be here on time.
There was a man named Richard that came and tried to sell us the story of giving and giving him all the Coke cans and beer bottles as he was a scammer and trying to make money off the unfortunate of people less fortunate than him. He did blame some Asian man for stealing his Coke cans and beer bottles and wanted to put a head out on him to try to get him killed.
Woo jumped in and said no that’s not on. We’re all here to share so he gave half the Coke cans and beer bottles to Richard the old Man and shared half of them with the Asian man. Woo has a really soft spot for Asians.
WU was giving great advice at halftime and really inspired the young people with everybody listening and inspired by Woo words woo as a winner and consummate professional and that’s why young people relish in his comments and accomplishments.
Benny beefcake Burrows was very impressed by with comments and commended by Personally Praising woo for his unbelievable and magical comments at halftime.
Benny Burrows honestly believe that without words inspiration he would not of been able to get through the afternoon, even though Benny Burrows did not believe in the old man that actually had a charitable organisation.
A2 Grade
A2 Blue (Warren) 115 lost to Glenorie 5/117
Report not received.
A2 Red (Todd) score TBA lost to Kissing Point 111
Let’s start with a quick look back to the 2011 Table Tennis World Championships, where Zhang Jike came back from 2–0 down and 10–7 match point to beat Ma Long 4–2 — pure resilience, ice-cold composure, and the mental toughness of a monk. Three traits we tried to channel this week… with mixed results.
Well, onto the game — and we’re already off to a flying start compared to last season purely because Todd actually won his second toss of the year. Unheard-of scenes. Some say he even practiced flipping coins midweek. With that miracle Todd and Jack opened beautifully, leaving Kissing Point reeling at 3/24 after 11 overs.
Then it was time to unleash the young guns — Ajun and Dan, both just 15, but bowling like they’ve been doing it since the BBL started. Ajun was as tidy as ever, going for 0/31 off 6, while Dan decided to recreate a highlights reel — 2 wickets in 3 balls, finishing 2/19 off 6.
If those two turned up to an under-15s match, there’d be an ICC investigation. And with Dan standing about two metres tall, he made Lachy and Volc look like they’d just stepped out of The Hobbit.
Willy (1/15) and Shomik (1/11) kept the chokehold on tight, and we wrapped up Kissing Point for 111.
Now, a special mention to Lachy, who put in his first proper fielding performance since under-8s. Maybe it’s no coincidence Ben wasn’t there to distract him, or maybe Lachy’s just finally realised that dropping catches costs money. Fines are expensive.
With spirits high, Lachy (24) and Az (31) opened the chase beautifully, putting on 40 before Lachy got run out (Barbequed). Volc got stitched up by an unfortunate call, but Az and Shomik (19) rebuilt nicely, taking us to 79 and looking in cruise control.
With just 33 runs needed, we decided to conduct a live demonstration of how to collapse. One wicket led to another, then another, and before long we’d chalked up five ducks and rewritten the dictionary definition of “panic.” It was like watching a slow-motion car crash in full colour — painful, but you couldn’t look away.
In the end, we fell just short — but there were plenty of positives: Todd won a toss (miracle), the young guns terrorised their batters, and Lachy remembered how to field. All in all, a solid day out.
Progress is progress — and hey, if Zhang Jike could come back from match point, maybe there’s hope for us next week as we hopefully enter our purple patch… assuming Todd’s coin magic holds up.
B1 Grade
WPHC (Prats) 8/117 defeated ARL 113
A warm welcome and hello to all long-term and new readers of the famed B1 match reports.
As is the tradition for the long weekend the B1’s were ravaged by unavailability and player absence this week, missing 2 senior leaders + 3 more players it was truly back’s up against the wall stuff for this side.
After a week of rumours and scuttlebutt it was time for the toss and the reveal of the B1 skipper for this momentous round 2 fixture
.
With team sheet in hand and after a quick browse to the bottom of the list it had been officially confirmed and after all the years of seniors cricket it was time for the most controversial and shocking captaincy appointment in WPHCCCCCCCCC history…. Had Jamaican and Rosco lost their minds
Dean Carlin – Captain
First port of call was the toss which was called correctly by Captain Carlin for the first time this season, no surprises on the win at the toss – multiple sources have credited Carlin for being a massive tosser for many many years….
With red cherry in hand the example was set by “Hot Take” Watkins and Reyhan “Raymond” Ahmed with 2 fantastic opening spells and some tight bowling and plenty of ENERGY in the field the B1’s had gotten right into the game
2 wickets from Nathan “Natty” Watkins and a maiden seniors wicket off his 1st ball to young gun Daegan Foti had the Magpies of Asquith reeling at 4-40
ARL had once again saved their 2 strongest batters for middle of the innings and the normal ebbs and flows had WPHCCC reeling and Captain Carlin was pulling his hair out looking for a breakthrough…..
Again he needs to never fear with Cam “Krezja” Bliss here chiming in again with a wicket again and calling into question is status as a Part Time “Spinner” and with that it completely broke the game open and started the capitulation to the tune of 6-18.
Hot Take Patty with 2 more wickets for the day, Rey “wait till you see him bat” Ahmed and Captain Carlin knocking over the tail, especially captain Carlin taking 10 and 11 as his only wickets…. A famous wicket-taking robbery of note.
Time to put the pads on and chase a score for 114 and with a quick outfield the B1’s were extremely confident of a swift and dominant victory
That confidence was not misplaced for B1 with our openers Aden “Probably Deaf” Hanich and “Part-Timer” Bliss getting to a lightning 0/21 off 17 balls and this is where the game completely changed….
All of us at B1 take great privilege in fulfilling our tradition & history tests at this mighty club and paying homage to the legends (Not Ross Anderson) that came before us and in our performance with the bat we paid tribute to the time-honoured classic at the WPHCCC that is known simply as the……
COLLAPSE!!!!!
B1 proceeded to lose 6/36 off 12 overs and the carnage had well and truly ensued, Blissy spooned a cut shot straight to point, “Mumma’s Boy” Hanich got bowled by a Jaffa, Will “Try Hard” McLennan paid the ultimate tribute to his Pop Iron-Fist Anderson by missing a straight one on middle & Cement Head Dunkerley got out playing the same shot he got out to last week… Lesson Learnt Now Benny?? + Oli and Young Harjit joined in symphony to add to the fun
Next up was the Double D’s!!!! Not those kind your filthy animals, this is a smut free and family friendly product with mum’s and dad’s reading….
Dean Carlin and Dean Pinchbeck steadied the ship before Captain Carlin was fired after middling one onto his pad, nice to know umpire Aden is not just a Mumma’s boy but also completely deaf….
1800 620 929 – Use this number in future when deciding which one of your teammates is fit to umpire
However, this proved to be a Captaincy masterstroke from Carlin with his tactical wicket resulting in Reyhan Ahmed strolling to the crease with zero faith, belief and most importantly expectations on him as it turned into a famous, famous innings
Rey Gilchrist decided to turn it on and nail the Asquith bowling attack all over the park with drivers on the nearby M1 in imminent and ever looming danger as Gilchrist and new man to the crease Daegan taking chunks out of the run total leaving just a measly 3 of the last over needed
A perfectly placed sky ball dropping over the ‘keepers head and then a beautiful slog to deep midwicket had the game won and done and Rey had pulled off the miraculous come back and win against all the odds
What a win and a perfect way to cap off a perfect 2/2 start to begin this season and with a fill in Captain to boot…. All those in B1 would like to confirm that Mr Cricket Prats has the full confidence of the board and will remain in the full-time captaincy position for the foreseeable future
Zero Captaincy Controversy here
A final special shout-out is required and reserved for our 3 U/15 fill-ins – Daegan Foti, Dean Pinchbeck and Harjit Sairam Athulya Visakan, all 3 young guns stepped on short notice and put fantastic efforts all round and all played a significant hand to play in getting the team over the line come stumps for the day.
A true reflection of the culture at the greatest Club in the world WPHCCC and the next generation is well and truly going great guns at the mighty WPHCCC.
Next week we return to the Sandpit, The GCG, Greenway but in my humble opinion it’s known as the 8th wonder of the world…
The Home of Cricket
Till Next Week!!!
B2 Grade
WPHC (Sparsh) 130 lost to Kissing Point 4/130
It was a picture-perfect day for cricket as West Pennant Hills (WPH) took the field to face Kissing Point under clear blue skies and ideal playing conditions. With the sun out and the pitch looking good for batting, WPH won the toss and chose to set a target.
Harshil and Ratul were tasked with opening the innings. While the intent was positive, the start wasn’t ideal, Harshil unfortunately mistimed a shot early and was caught after scoring 1. That early wicket put some pressure on the top order, but Ratul remained composed and dug in.
With wickets tumbling around him, Ratul played a vital anchor role through the middle overs. His shot selection was measured, and he rotated the strike smartly while punishing the loose deliveries. On a day when the top order struggled to find rhythm, Ratul’s innings in the 40s was the backbone of the WPH effort, steady, focused, and full of grit.
He was well-supported by Sparsh (12) and Corby (15), who both played useful cameos. Their contributions helped maintain momentum in patches, but it was Michael’s knock late in the innings that proved to be a game-changer.
Returning to the side after a long gap from the game, Michael looked like he hadn’t missed a beat. He came out with clear intent, taking on the bowling with confidence and aggression. His quickfire 29 injected much-needed urgency into the innings, lifting the run rate and giving WPH a strong finish.
Thanks to these collective efforts, WPH posted a competitive total of 130, a score that seemed slightly under par but defendable with disciplined bowling and sharp fielding.
With the target set, the WPH bowlers came out with fire. John and Michael took the new ball and bowled outstanding spells up front. They maintained relentless accuracy and built scoreboard pressure from the first over. After 10 overs, Kissing Point were stuck at just 20 runs without loss, a remarkable effort by the opening bowlers to keep things so tight without conceding boundaries.
Although the breakthrough didn’t come early, the pressure clearly took a toll, and it wasn’t long before the batters started taking more risks. As the innings moved into the middle overs, the Kissing Point batters began to find some rhythm. They started rotating the strike and kept the scoreboard ticking over at around 5 runs per over, slowly chipping away at the target.
Despite this, the WPH fielders kept the intensity high, and the game remained on a knife’s edge heading into the final overs. With 4 runs required off the final over, the stage was set for a dramatic finish.
Here’s how the final over unfolded:
- Ball 1: Skied high… a chance! But it went down — nerves were clearly setting in.
- Ball 2: Another mistimed shot into the air… another dropped catch. Tension mounting.
- Ball 3: Dot ball — brilliant delivery under pressure! The game still wide open.
- Ball 4: Single taken — now 3 runs needed, scores nearly level.
- Ball 5: WICKET! A huge moment as WPH finally broke through. A mix-up led to a dismissal — scores now tied.
- Ball 6: The batter swung and missed. A scampered single followed, but the throw narrowly missed the stumps. The match slipped away by the smallest of margins.
Kissing Point managed to scrape home by the barest of margins, clinching a dramatic win on the final ball with the scores level.
While the result didn’t go WPH’s way, the performance was full of heart, discipline, and commitment. There were many positives to take from the match — especially the tight bowling up front and the way the team fought until the very last delivery.
Special mention goes to Ratul, who not only played a superb knock under pressure but also contributed with a strong bowling performance, keeping things tight and building pressure.
C1 Grade
WPHC (Aniket) 73 lost to St Ives-Wahroonga 1/77
It was a beautiful day with perfect weather and the team was eager to bounce back from last week’s result. Ani won the toss once again and chose to bat first.
However, disciplined bowling from St Ives saw us lose our first wicket without a run on the board and their tight line and length continued to pile on the pressure. Struggling to rotate the strike and build momentum, we lost wickets at regular intervals and were unable to form any significant partnerships. Eventually, we were bowled out in the 25th over for just 73 runs.
Despite the low total, the team remained determined to put up a fight and learn from last week’s mistakes. Vinod provided a breakthrough with the first and only wicket, but St Ives’ batters were in strong form and chased down the target comfortably in the 11th over.
The past two games have been tough, but they’ve given us plenty to reflect on. The team is determined to take these lessons on board, improve, and come back stronger in the next match.
C2 Grade
WPHC (Indranil) 7/128 lost to Normanhurst 3/129
On a sunny October afternoon, the toss sent the C2s into bat first.
The boys battled hard to post 7/128 from 32 overs in a spirited display. After an early setback, Vishnu dug in to steady things before the skipper Indranil lifted the tempo with a brilliant 42 from 44 balls, striking freely and leading from the front.
Pravin (19) added valuable middle-order runs, while Jaydev (25 retired)* anchored the innings with a few boundaries each. Lower-order contributions from Hriday, Aarush and Advay ensured the team pushed to 128, showing depth and resilience.
Normanhurst took the crease to chase down the total on a large ground. After the openers were quick to swing the willow, Vishnu took the first scalp with a tough catch to Kapil mid-off. Kapil later returned the favour by giving Vishnu a catch at a shorter mid-off to have the home team 2 wickets down.
From there the Normanhurst first and second drop scored 45 runs each to push to the target with Aarush claiming a scalp to halt their momentum.
With only 14 runs to win and 12 overs remaining, Normanhurst eventually cruised to victory with 53 balls remaining.
It was a gritty all-round effort from the C2s with plenty of positives to build on for the next game.
C3 Grade
WPHC Blue (Chintan) 7/180 defeated WPHC Blue (Karl) 73
The WPHCCC Blues clashed against the mighty WPHCCC Reds in the first “sheep station” fixture of C3!
*The Great Escape: Blues’ Batting Blitz*
The day started under ominous skies for the Blues. Reds’ captain won the toss and sent them in to bat on what seemed like a good wicket. “Seemed” is the key word here. The Blues’ top order suffered a seismic collapse that would make an insurance adjuster weep.
The first two balls of the season saw Vikrant clean bowled and Arun caught behind—two wickets down without a run on the board! It was pure chaos. Chintan managed to get the scoreboard ticking with a couple of nice strikes but was soon snaffled at Gully, leaving the Blues at a miserable 10 for 3. The slow, painful procession continued as the careful approaches of Anubhav and Sufyan proved futile, falling in quick succession to leave the score reeling at 37 for 5 with 12 overs bowled! The game looked over for the Blues!
*The Sitabja & Sayan Revival*
Enter Sitabja and Sayan, who treated the middle overs like a surgical operation. They started with respect for the good balls, but like two seasoned criminals, they were meticulous in punishing the bad ones. The scoreboard began to tick, then trot, then canter. Boundaries were found, and when the field was pushed back, the quick singles started to flow. For the first time, the Reds looked clueless.
The 100-run mark was reached in the 22nd over, signalling a brilliant recovery. However, the partnership was broken soon after when Sayan was run out attempting a risky quick single. Blues were 100 for 6 with 10 overs left, but the foundation was now set.
In walked Adi, who formed a new, devastating alliance with Sitabja. Quick singles were turned into doubles with ruthless efficiency at the slightest fumble from the fielders. They started scoring at a risk-free 7-8 runs an over.
Then came the delivery of the innings—a magician’s trick that Sitabja will be talking about for years. A deceptive back-of-the-hand slower ball hung in the air, never arrived, and found the stumps after Sitabja played three phantom shots at it! He was agonizingly dismissed for 45 runs, just five shy of a maiden half-century but not before he architected the incredible comeback for the Blues!
The late innings assault was completed by Adi and Pritam, who came in and clubbed the opposition all over the park. The unbeaten 8th-wicket partnership between Adi and Pritam smashed 49 runs in the last 5 overs, rocketing the Blues’ total to a very respectable 180!
*Reds Collapse Under Blues’ Firepower*
Chasing 181, the Reds came out with intent, clobbering two boundaries in the first two overs. But Manraj, the Blues’ opening bowler, is not one to be intimidated. He had a master plan! He sent down a delicious slower ball outside off-stump to send the Reds captain back to the shed with a catch at mid-on. The other opener, Mick, soon followed, bowled by a now-in-form Manraj, who is quickly developing a habit of ripping through the top order in his first spell.
From there, the wickets fell like dominoes. The Blues bowling unit was relentless and varied, ensuring no partnership took root. Manraj, Pritam, and Sufyan all grabbed two wickets each, with Agniva, Sayan, and Anubhav (his maiden wicket for WPHCCC) taking one a piece to share the spoils.
Some magnificent catching by the Blues meant there were not letups! Couple of brilliant catches at slip by Chintan, a sliding catch at mid-off by Adi, a stunning backwards running catch by Anubhav, a sharp runout by Sufyan and a couple of straightforward chances behind the wicket saw the Reds’ innings draw to a close for a mere 73 runs, sealing the massive 107-run victory for the Blues! The first sheep station of C3 is done and dusted with a decisive win, proving that even the shakiest of starts can lead to a magnificent finish!
P.S.: A massive call out and huge congratulations to Praneel Singh from Blues team, on reaching the milestone of 100th wicket for WPHCCC! He achieved this feat last week (27th September 2025) while playing against Sydney Lions! What a milestone! Onwards and upwards!!
C4 Grade
WPHC Blue (Rob) 9/96 lost to Thornleigh 4/102
It was a day when the weather gods couldn’t make up their mind — a bit of sun, a lot of clouds, and enough slipperiness to make a bar of soap feel grippy. The Blues learned this the hard way, as several very catchable cricket balls transformed into slippery suckers and slithered their way to the turf.
The Thornleigh lads clearly came prepared. They not only had a brand-new pitch to play on, but also a brave experimental strategy: bowl as close to the edge of the cut strip as humanly possible. It wasn’t so much “hit the top of off” as “let’s find out if the ball will even bounce from there.” Science in action.
Adding to the drama were two brush turkeys who wandered in as curious spectators. Sadly, their stint in the crowd didn’t last long — chased off by a combination of loud appeals and one particularly threatening forward defence.
Meanwhile, Thornleigh showed early nerves. Nothing screams pressure cricket quite like cracking open the beers while you’re still batting. Perhaps to steady the hands. Perhaps to steady the nerves. Their secret weapon, however, was a fill-in umpire — whose relaxed decision-making style kept everyone guessing, not least the batters.
The real highlight came when Thornleigh, instead of waiting for the game to finish, simply waited for a wicket to fall before gleefully announcing: “Oh yeah, by the way, we’ve already won.” Innovative, confident, and just a little bit confusing.
In the end, the scoreboard may have said one thing, but the true winners were:
1. The brush turkeys (for escaping intact).
2. The weather (for its comedic timing).
3. The fielders (for proving that gravity always wins)
Final result: Thornleigh claimed the points, but cricket itself had a great time!
WPHC Red (Ravi) 4/159 defeated Berowra 3/156
Reds’ woes with the toss continued as they were put to field on a beautiful spring day at Campbell Park.
Berowra’s opener channelised his inner Gilchrist and walked off after nicking one to keeper.
It was a brilliant catch down the leg from Sahil after moving well with the swinging ball.
Though Reds kept it tight, wickets eluded us for the rest of the first half. The scoring rate was always in check as they scored only 81 in the first half on a smallish ground.
The run rate pressure meant Berowra’s batsmen took a few chances which resulted in a couple of stumpings. Nirav continued his form from last round with a chance of grabbing his first hat trick after claiming last 2 wkts in Round 1, Though unlucky in getting first ball wicket he brilliantly squeezed Berowra with his wily leg spin mixed with some change ups, and eventually Berowra finished with 156/3 in their 32 overs.
It was a below par total considering their wickets in hand and the ground conditions. Special mention to Mark Adams who notched up a 100 off 98 balls and stated unbeaten.
Reds started cautiously and scored the odd boundaries to give a positive start. Great steady contributions from everyone in the top order meant Reds were never in a spot of bother. Score at break was around 99/3.
Daksh and Jassi upped the ante after the break, punishing anything loose and respecting when lights were right.
Overall, Reds romped home with the loss of only 4 wickets and with over 7 overs to spare.
Yes another commanding win with great contributions from almost everyone who stepped on to the field today.
Onwards and upwards 😎
D1 Grade
WPHC Blue (Roger) 3/140 defeated WPHC Red (Diggers) 139
Much awaited D1 Sheep station trophy / Derby also referred to as a blockbuster and Round 2 show case fixture took place on the hallowed grounds of Campbell park.
Diggers Captain of the Reds won the toss and decide to have a bat.
Reds got off to a steady start with Diggers and Cliff keeping the scoreboard moving until Tej (2nd change bowler ) picked up a wicket with his first ball. Zac scored a quick fire 20 and looked threatening until a catch in the deep by Pankaj off David’s bowling ended his innings. Gus 28 and Buzz 29 enabled Reds to set a target of 139. Main wicket takers were Tej 3 for 25, Majesh S 3 for 18 and Bala 2 for 13.
The Blues had a shaky start with opener Majesh K dismissed early.
It is at this point Bala strode to the middle and continued where is he left off last week to craft a well-deserved 2nd 50 of the season. He was supported mainly by Mahesh S 27, Malinda Dharmadasa 25, and Shehan Fernando 15 N.O. The leading wicket taker was Lance 2/20
The Blues scored the winning runs in the 31st over.
Final tally:
WPHCCC Reds 139 all out
WPHCCC Blues 140/3 , 30.2 overs
Thanks to the many who dropped in to watch the match from the other teams.
D2 Grade
WPHC (Ross S) 81 lost to Beecroft 5/83
After a first up win last week, we were confident of doing it again in Round 2.
Some changes to the side with Flynn Di Pietro (U14) and Vedha Visakan (U14) both playing their first Seniors games and Daniel McEwen (D1 Blue).
Greenup Park looking very fast and with hot conditions skipper had no issue batting after winning the toss. A second week in a row.
After only losing 4 wickets last week, a change up to ensure everyone got an opportunity batting this week. Unfortunately things did not work out well for us.
Jaques and Jake both got brute of deliveries from the Beecroft opening bowler, dismissed with balls lifting off a length to chin level… caught behind the wicket, not troubling the scorers.
Things did not get any better. After a few great shots, Gihan was caught behind off an inside edge. Suddenly 3/9…Vedha joining Muthindra with hopes that a partnership could build. Vedha playing confidently, taking his first seniors run, before their opening bowler delivered another unplayable delivery clipping the bails. Vedha gone.
Muthindra a few balls later surprised by yet another rearing delivery also caught in the slips. We are 5/10 off just 5 overs and in deep trouble. Pitch with demons, Beecroft opening bowler just too fast, and deadly destroying our top order.
Some respite with changes to the bowling, Raymond taking charge, well supported by Lachlan. Small but important partnerships with Lachlan then young Flynn moving us along. Unfortunately losing both just when they were looking comfortable 7/44…off 13 overs. Big trouble. Flynn out to a catch D2 players are not supposed to take very unfortunate.
Ross and Raymond at the crease to survive to Drinks. Raymond pummelling the ball around the ground, whilst Ross watches. Drinks break 7/71…..with hopes of a recovery.
Not to be , first ball after drinks, dangerous quick opening bowler back into the attack castles Raymond. A hugely important 43 (3*6 ,5*4). Raymond’s highest score. A really confident innings. Ross and Sandeep looking to now bat to the end, but again just when we look comfortable, first ball of the next over Ross drives and is caught one handed in the covers, then a few overs later Sandeep is deceived by another great ball. All out for 81 off just 20 overs. Not a great score, but a couple of the Beecroft bowlers were too good for us, and the Beecroft fielding exceptional.
Our turn to bowl and we went out with confidence we could do well. Unfortunately the opening batters made us pay for some loose bowling, quickly moving to 37 off just 3 overs.
Some good bowling in the 4th over with Gihan (2/9) taking 2 consecutive wickets. An LBW and then knocking over the stumps. Unfortunately no hat-trick. Beecroft 2/38 off 4.
We needed wickets and fast.
A change in bowling with young Vedha coming on with his deceptive off breaks. Immediately the batters are thinking young one… attack. First ball a beauty, big swoosh lucky boundary, second ball just misses the stumps, third ball bails fly. Vedha’s first seniors wicket. Muthindra (1/8) then comes on from the other end further bamboozling the batters, a wonderful catch to Lachlan, next over another wicket to Vedha (2/9) juggling catch by Raymond..suddenly Beecroft 5/57 and we are on top. Vedha bowling a spell far beyond his years.
Things could have been so much better though. Young Flynn comes onto bowl….first ball snick dropped in the slips, juggled about 6 times before going to ground, next ball a big snick, keeper goes for it and it does not stick……Flynn so unlucky. Again a great spell without luck.
A couple of final boundaries, saw Beecroft chase our score 5/83 in just 14 overs.
An unfortunate loss, but its great that everyone got some type of opportunity this game and we had a chance to see some of the exceptional talent coming through from juniors .Whilst some catching let us down, our batting was more problematic, with Raymond a standout, although kudos to the Beecroft opening bowler 4/9, who destroyed us.
Now to 2 day games and a chance to test our patience.
A big thanks to Daniel McEwen from D1 and our U14 juniors Vedha and Flynn for playing with us today. Im sure they we will have some further guest appearances with us in the future.
