4th Grade Celebrate '536' With a Win
4th November 2019
An improved performance across the grades saw 2nd to 5th grade all record victories, while 1sts were close but not good enough for the win once again on Saturday. The C5s had a close loss in a high scoring encounter, and the D2s got another win.
After a 1 wicket loss at Kahibah oval last week, 1sts traveled to Pasterfield to take on Cardiff. Cardiff won the toss and batted first on a good surface, and apart from an early wicket to Ben Crebert, they rarely looked fazed as they cruised to 1/160. Good death bowling from Jonty Durrheim (2/37) and Crebert who ended up with a haul of 5/50 ensured we restricted them to a total of 208 when 230 was in reach. Well done Crebs on your first wicket for the club, and first 1st Grade 5-for!
Waratah were in the game throughout the batting innings but couldn't get a match winning partnership going, eventually bowled out for 181. Lachy Taylor (37) and Durrheim (32) were the top scorers.
2nds batted first and set a strong total of 3/216. Josh Payne, freshly promoted from 3rds top scored with 79* and there were good contributions from Olivier Koehn (58) and Blake Morley (38*). We started very well with the ball to reduce Cardiff to 6/40, with David Sutherland (2/22) leading the way. The spinners got the job done in the end with Liam Wilson finishing with 3/28 on return from injury and Morley (2/27) ending Cardiff's innings at 170.
3rd Grade were even more impressive with the bat, with a great team performance getting them to 230 from their 40 overs, despite no individual getting to 50. Jack Bills (32), Jono Burke (41) and Jack Dundas (46) did the bulk of the scoring through the middle order an Barry Davis (49*) put on the finishing touches. Cardiff were never in the game with the bat as Robert Redpath (2/14 off 8) and Davis (3/37) restricted them to 6/166 from their 40.
4th Grade had the top billing for the round and turned out to be the match of the round. Steve Christie's record breaking 536th game for Waratah became a record-equaling feat on the morning of the game as Ian 'Reds' Liddell got the last minute call up. Bowling first, Ryan Moorcroft's 4/18 was the best performance, but there were highlights from debutant Brendan Cunningham (2/14), and Reds who took his 800th wicket for the club. Those efforts saw Cardiff bowled out for 133, which seemed an easy chase with Matt Onslow (38) and Sam Jones (32) at the crease, but a collapse from 3/97 to 9/129 put the celebrations in jeopardy before Reds finished it off in trademark style.
After some hurried work and phone calls on Saturday morning we managed to cobble together a 5th Grade side, and they were more than up to the task against Toronto. Bowling first, Tom Davies (4/15) was the best of the bowlers as Toronto were held to 69. Taine Barker (26*) top scored as they chased it down inside 10 overs.
