Rams prevail in thriller

CRICKET

TDCA

STAFF WRITERS

AN interesting round of cricket is over for the TDCA and as results went according to plan it was how those results came about which left many asking questions.

IMPERIALS and Toongabbie have played off in an absolute thriller as a last wicket stand of 16 got Toongabbie over the line at Catterick Crescent.

Imperials were sent in by Toongabbie after the Catterick Crescent wicket had to sit under covers for the majority of the week.

The Rams got to work early as they dismissed opening batsman Brad Sizeland for a duck and

Tuan Abdeen for five.

Ryan Morley (39) and Dean Jones (2) followed quickly behind to have Imperials in trouble at 4/57, but it was David Pryde and Joel Randall who were able to steady the ship in the middle order.

It was slow going though as the Rams bowling was very disciplined and didn’t give the Imperials batsmen much to score off. Scott Aitken finished off the Imps innings nicely with 17 not out for the home team to end up with a total of 9/129.

Toongabbie’s bowlers were great as a unit with young gun Matt Barry finishing with the best return of 3/25 while Kev Stoddart and Keenan Hughes both claimed two wickets each.

Toongabbie then set about the task of chasing down Imps total and the Rams got off to a great start with Rob Wheildon (19) and Michael Dunn (51) getting off to an opening partnership of 47 before Wheildon was dismissed.

Tim Dunn then joined his older brother and added another 30 runs to the score and when both Dunns and Zac Russell (10) were dismissed with the score on 4/104 it still looked as if the Rams would cruise to victory.

Enter Brad Sizeland and Ross Williams who then flipped the script and from a comfortable 4/104 the Rams then found themselves in the precarious position of 9/116 as they tried their best to chase the bonus point on offer.

It then came down to Matt Barry and Brady Hood to fix the mess that the more senior Rams put the young players into and no doubt there were nerves showing on both sides.

The young Toongabbie batsmen held their nerve the best though as some extras didn’t help

Imperials cause and then with the score on 128 and after such a pulsating crescendo the match finished somewhat anti-climatic as four wides were bowled by Scott Aitken to finish the match in the 45th over and hand Toongabbie the win.

As mentioned before Michael Dunn was the best batsman for the Rams making a good 51 opening the innings while for Imps Brad Sizeland finished with figures of 4/20 and Ross Williams claimed 2/17.

GORMANDALE will be wondering where it all went wrong after winning the toss and bowling at home.

It looked to be a masterstroke as Yarram were in big trouble early at 4/17, but then a magnificent partnership of 119 between Ant Scott and opening batsman Daniel O’Keefe turned the game back in Yarram’s favour.

Gormandale’s bowlers had no answer for the hard hitting Scott who plundered 79 from just 83 balls and when he was finally dismissed his support act in O’Keefe then got to work himself and was unlucky not to go on and get a hundred as he was dismissed in the 47th over for 83.

The Pelicans ended up being dismissed in the 50th over for a commanding 213, but the wicket was flat and very good to bat on once a batsman was set so the Tigers were confident they could push the Pelicans and take the game deep.

It wasn’t to be though as Gormandale just never found their groove with wickets falling steadily as they were bundled out for just 103 in reply.

Nat Campbell opening the batting was the only Tiger to show some resistance as he hit 39 from 22 balls with the next best being 11 in what was a disappointing display.

Scott completed a magnificent match claiming 3/6 from six overs while the Griffiths duo (Kelly and Taylen) also claimed three wickets each to set up the season for the Pelicans.

IN THE final match of the round Rovers won the toss and batted against Ex Students and showed some great fight against their much more fancied opponent.

This was led by Ewan Williams who crafted a very good 62 batting at three, but with only three other batsmen being able to score double figures it meant Rovers were only able to make 137 and not take their score up over 150 which would genuinely push the Sharks batsmen.

An in-form Michael Warne was the best bowler for the Sharks with 3/25 while the evergreen Andy Matthews took 2/14 with the new ball.

The Sharks then went about chasing down Rovers total and after getting off to a good start it was relatively easy going for the men in purple.

Lee Stockdale, opening the batting, guided his team through making a fine 66 not out while

Jackson McMahon was the other big scorer with 43.

Dougal Williams was the best of the Rovers bowlers taking 2/18 while Ewan was the only other wickettaker with 1/19.

THIS will be the match of the round. Both teams have a quality batting line-ups, and this will make for a very interesting match between the two.

If Jackson McMahon can get going, along with a few of his teammates and post a big score, this will be hard for Toongabbie to chase down.

So, it will be up to Toongabbie to keep Ex Students at a minimum, as they can rush their overs, and see that 10 overs have gone by and the run rate spiked.

One to watch: Matt Barry will be one to keep an eye on, as he keeps on taking wickets with his left arm orthodox bowling that beats many people in the air, giving him the ability to take lots of wickets.

Prediction: This game is too close to call and will come down to the side that bowls out the other, because if both bat the 50, the second team batting are more than likely going to win.

IMPERIALS are off to a good start this season, although they face a Yarram & District side in great touch after comfortably beating Gormandale at the weekend.

This game will be close if Imperials are able to get Anthony Scott and Daniel O’Keefe out early on, however, their experience in cricket will help them to stay grounded and hopefully post a good score for their bowling line-up to defend.

One to watch: Daniel O’Keefe is in some good form and will be one to keep an eye on.

Prediction: Imperials have the home ground advantage, however, Yarram will prove too strong and take home the win.

THIS will be an interesting game for Rovers and Glengarry, having both beaten each other last season to have the score one-all going into this.

The key to Rovers success in their last win against Glengarry was Ewan Williams, taking 5/31 off his 18 overs, and Mitchell Floyd taking 4/45 off his 16 overs, who no longer plays for Rovers.

The seamer friendly wicket of Fred King Oval will test all the batters in both sides. The side

who bats their 50 overs will more than likely take home the win.

One to watch: Frank Marks, coming off 75, will be feeling very confident.

Prediction: This will be a close game between the two, but the experience of the Glengarry team will help them get over the line.