The amazing run of exciting closely contested games continued last Saturday. Colts defeated Cambridge with 9 balls remaining. Bowling Club defeated Parkes Hotel Pythons on the last ball of the game. Reedy Creek Green defeated Parkes Hotel Galahs by 2 wickets. Star Hotel defeated Cambridge Beefeaters by 2 runs. Some outstanding individual performances were recorded with Pythons captain Joe Van Opynen leading the way by scoring 134 against Bowling Club. This was Joe's second century of the season only just topping his 133 against Reedy Creek Green.
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At Woodward:
Cambridge Cats 7/145 in 40 overs (Clinton Hawke 54, Jonah Ruzgas 20, Anthony Riach 18, Brent Tucker 3/39 of 10, Koby Johnstone 2/24 off 7 and Phil Dunford 1/14 off 8) lost to Colts 5/147 in 39.3 overs (Peter Yelland 47no, Brent Tucker 27, Myles Smith 32, Blake Smith 15, Phil Dunford 12 & Anthony Riach 4/41 off 10) by 5 wickets, Colts (4pts) and Cambridge (1pt).
This was a desperately close match that saw Colts gain the winning runs with 9 balls remaining. It took a determined knock by Peter Yelland to guide his side to victory against a spirited Cambridge team. Batting first Cambridge was in trouble after being 3/28.
It took a valuable 71 run partnership between Clinton Hawke and youngster Jonah Ruzgas to restore their innings. Anthony Riach added useful runs at the end of the innings. Brent Tucker and Koby Johnstone were the leading wicket takers for Colts while Phil Dunford and Myles Smith were particularly economical with their bowling.
In reply, Myles Smith and Brent Tucker were dominating the scoring early in the Colt's innings before Peter Yelland displayed a strong batting performance to earn his side victory over a gallant Cambridge side.
Anthony Riach completed a fine all-round game by taking 4/41 off 10 overs.
At Northparkes:
Reedy Creek Gold 10/187 in 34.1 overs (Mark Coombs 41, Matt Searl 31, Jock Wright 27, Brad Watt 23, Joe Spicer 4/18, Brad Simpson 2/37 off 5 & James Mackenzie 2/48 off 7) defeated Rusty Buckets 10/105 in 24 overs (Jake Magill 31, Nick Mackenzie 21, Brad Fletcher 3/18 off 6, Jock Wright 2/4 off 3 & Jackson Glasheen 2/1 off 2) by 82 runs, Reedy Gold (4pts) and Rusty Buckets (1pt).
Batting first Reedy Gold totalled 10/187 in 34.1 overs as the young Rusty Buckets under the guidance of Joe Spicer did well to gain a bonus point by taking all 10 wickets. Mark Coombs led the way for Golds while Matt Searl and Brad Watt added useful runs. Youngster Nick Mackenzie bowled very well to take 1/17 off 7, while Joe Spicer demonstrated the virtues of line and length bowling to capture 4/18 off 3.1 overs.
In reply Gold's opening bowler Brad Fletcher produced some splendid bowling that brought about the early dismissals of several Buckets' players. A determined 4th wicket partnership between Jake Magill and Nick Mackenzie blunted the Gold's bowling attack, before the Gold's achieved a tail end batting collapse by the Buckets to eventually record a comfortable 82 run victory.
At Spicer Oval:
Parkes Hotel Galahs 10/125 in 29.4 overs (Ben Bartlett 53, Adam Parker 22no, Mitch Hutchings 20, Ryan Dunn 4/34 off 6, Josh Drabsch 2/2 off 1.4 & Scott Knights 1/1 off 6 including 5 maidens) lost to Reedy Green 8/129 in 27.5 overs (Stuart Milne 35, John Crisp 20, Cody Crisp 14, Brad Parker 2/20 off 6 overs & Adam Parker 2/21 off 6 overs) by 2 wickets, Reedy Green (5pts) and Galahs (0pts).
Some very accurate and economical bowling by Scott Knights and Cody Crisp made runs hard to come by at the beginning of the Galahs innings. However, the in-form Ben Bartlett led the way for Galahs to have them almost bat out their allocated overs. Adam Parker and Mitch Hutchings added useful runs while Ryan Dunn and Josh Drabsch were the key wicket takers for the Greens. In reply the capable Stuart Milne led the way for the Greens before late order platers Scott Knights and Grant Dunn steered the Greens to victory in a well contested match.
At Harrison Field:
Railway Pitbulls 3/265 in 30 overs (David Hansen 80no, Jake Brown 68, Shane Jones 56no, Tim Allen 27, Nick Parker 24, Nathan Gaidzionis 1/17 off 3) defeated Honey Badgers 5/211 off 30 overs (Chris Orr 85, Hamish Orr 34, Mal Bruce 28, Dan Gordon 28no & Nick Parker 2/36 off 5 overs). Pitbulls (5pts) defeated Honey Badgers (0pts) by 54 runs.
The Pitbulls were able to post an impressive 265 runs off their allocated 30 overs after Tim Allen, Jake Brown, Nick Parker, David Hansen and Shane Jones launched an unmerciful attack upon the bowlers. In reply the Honey Badgers gave a spirited response as Chris Orr continued his recent good form to smash 13 boundaries on his way to score 85. Mal Bruce, Hamish Orr and Dan Gordon made sure the Pitbulls had to earn their victory points by batting well.
At Keast 1:
Star Hotel 10/285 in 26.5 overs (Ben Coultas 86, Dylan Morgan 70, Tyson Spence 38, Zach Hodges 24, Jacob Hutchings 2/19 off 3.5 and Dan Wilson 2/37 off 6) defeated Beefeaters 8/283 in 30 overs (Dan Wilson 81, Max Keith 55, Matt Spedding 44, Aaron Thorne 32 & Ben Coultas 3/33 off 6). Star Hotel (4pts) defeated Beefeaters (1pt) by 2 runs.
Star Hotel smashed 285 runs in 26.5 overs with Ben Coultas, Dylan Morgan and Tyson Spence preforming strongly with the bat and they should have been well satisfied with their big total. The Beefeaters then launched a most aggressive response as capable players such as Dan Wilson and Max Keith scored rapid runs before Matt Spedding almost gained victory for his side. Ben Coultas played a major role for the Star by backing up his good batting to take 3/33 off 6 overs.
At Keast 2:
Pythons 9/231 in 30 overs (Joe Van Opynen 134, Brent Skinner 32, Mick Dunn 21, Matt Swindle 3/38 off 4 & Adam Parker 2/35 off 6) lost to Bowling Club 9/236 off 30 overs (Brad Gardiner 64, Alec Bateson 44no, Adam Parker 35, Nathan Hessel 22, Shaun Bateson 15no, Tom Jackson 2/25 off 6 & Mick Dunn 2/42 off 6). Bowling Club (4pts) defeated Pythons (1pt) by 1 wicket.
After Joe Van Opynen smashed a stunning 134 for the Pythons before victory seemed likely when Bowling Club score stood at 4/31 in response. Brad Gardiner continued his recent good form while he received good support from Nathan Hessel and Adam Parker. Alec Bateson followed up a good bowling spell to score a match winning 44 runs and Shaun Bateson joined his brother as they chased the required runs for a jubilant Bowling Club over the ever gallant Pythons.
Pointscores: After games played on 18/2/2017; (number of matches played in brackets).
Division 1: Colts 52 (15), Cambridge 47 (15), Reedy Gold 53 (15), Reedy Green 50 (15), Rusty Buckets 35 (15) and Galahs 25 (15).
Division 2: Bowling Club 32 (15), Pitbulls 32 (15), Honey Badgers 30 (16), Star Hotel 25 (15), Pythons 24 (16) & Beefeaters 11 (15)
Draw: 25/2/2017
Reedy Gold v Colts at Woodward, Reedy Green v Cambridge at Northparkes, Rusty Buckets v Galahs at Spicer, Bowling Club v Beefeaters at Keast 2, Star v Pitbulls at Keast 1.
Super 8s draw: 24/2/2017
Pool 1: Pelicans v Star at Spicer, Honey Badgers v Jonesy's Jokers at Armstrong, Rusty Buckets v Railway Bowling Club at Keast 2.
Pool 2: McCommercials v Central West Sheds at Keast 1, Mrs Cusack's Boys v Cherry Pickers at Harrison, Meat Pies v Onnies Coffee at Greg Morrissey Field.
Results: 17/2/2017
Pool 1: Jonesy's Jokers 124 defeated Star Hotel 52, Honey Badgers 229 defeated Rusty Buckets 154, Pelicans 113 defeated Railway 112.
Pool 2: Meat Pies 167 defeated McCommercials 58, Onnies Coffee 197 defeated Mrs Cusack's Boys 101, Cherry Pickers v Central West Sheds - No match sheet received.