Behind the Stumps: The bowlers take the spoils

From the Convenor of Cricket, John McCallum

Round-up from the Grounds

Last Saturday saw the ball dominate the bat across most of the competitive games played against St Aloysius. Waverley’s bowlers were greatly supported by some improved fielding, especially in the way fieldsman are attacking the ball and also creating run-out opportunities. A team effort highlight came in the 9C game, where Waverley bowled out Sydney Grammar for just 41 runs – with wickets shared and strong batting to win by almost 100 runs.  Individually, 1^st XI captain Ryan Connolly collected 7 wickets for 61 from 28 overs in the 1sts win over St Aloysius. These are personal best figures and reflect the many hours of dedicated work Ryan devotes to the subtle improvements in his leg-spin. A full 1^st report appears later, as the team prepares for Cranbrook on Saturday, then a Twenty20 showdown on Melbourne Cup afternoon against reigning Premiers Trinity.

The bowling side certainly had the measure at Queens Park 1, with 26 wickets falling over the day’s play. Sadly, 25 of these were dismissing the batsman of our 10A and 2^nd XI sides, as St Aloysius were rewarded for their consistent line of bowling. Waverley’s batsmen had periods where we worked the ball into gaps and begun partnerships, but too often a lack of concentration and poor shot selection cost the team opportunities to build the scores required.

The Year 8 teams all had wins, with more improvement evident. The 8As posted a solid 122, including 40 to Ed Regan. They defended this with great hunger to St Aloysius out for 77, with excellent fast bowling by Daniel McSweeney taking 4 for 10, and 2 wickets to Ed Regan. The bowlers in the 8Bs produced a controlled performance to bowl out St Aloysius for 143, including 2 wickets apiece to Patrick Healy and Noah Gilmore, while man-of-the-match Luca Derbyshire took a fantastic 4 wickets for 23 runs. Luca then scored 28 runs to chase this total, largely thanks also to a huge opening partnership of 100 from Carl Waterson with another fabulous score of 62, with Vince Santamaria hammering a great 41 runs.

1^st XI day 2 v St Aloysius:  Coaches Mr J Boyd and Mr G Elliott

SAC started the day at 0 for 15 requiring a total of 319 for victory, with Waverley requiring 10 wickets. SAC was off to a brisk start racing past 50 in the first 20 minutes on an excellent batting wicket and a lightning fast outfield. At the first drinks break the total had progressed to 0 for 86 and all knew it was going to be very long day in the field for the Waverley team. After the break and with 94 on the board, skipper Ryan Connolly made the breakthrough with an excellent catch being accepted by Harry Whiteman at short mid-wicket. Waverley only had to wait a further two overs for the next wicket when an excellent piece of fielding by Harry Whitaker at mid-off found the batsman short of his ground, which became 3 for 101 when Alex Ferrara induced a false shot to accept a catch off his own bowling. At lunch SAC had moved the total to 3 for 138 to have the game very evenly poised.

After the lunch break Benjamin Scarf almost pulled off what would have been the catch of the season. Lachlan Forrest, whose 16 controlled overs didn’t produce a wicket but were vital to the cause, had the batter looking to hit over the fence in front of square. Benjamin Scarf ran around the boundary to intercept and catch the ball only for him to be about to step over the boundary line. He threw the ball in the air, keeping it in the field of play. He then dived back into the field and came within a bobble of holding the catch. SAC again dug in and no wicket was to fall in the hour after lunch and the score had reached 195 when Ryan Connolly made the much needed breakthrough as Benjamin Scarf took the catch diving forward at mid-wicket. Just a few overs later with 205 on the board and the same bowler accepted a return catch. This should have been followed with a further wicket just 2 balls later but the catch was spilled at mid-off. This allowed another small rally from the SAC batsmen until on 228 that man Ryan Connolly bowled the slider which hit middle stump.

Just before the tea break Alex Ferrara’s safe hands picked up the 7^th wicket at long-on to give Ryan Connolly his first 5 wicket haul in the 1^st XI in his 3^rd season. SAC went to the tea break at 7 for 243 and still very much in the game but after the break it was the skipper who picked up the next 2 wickets, one a catch to Jack Hardwicke-Owen and the second an lbw to have victory in sight at 9 for 260 and give him a 7 wicket haul. Alex Ferrara finished the innings as Reid McNamara took a good catch diving forward behind square to give Waverley victory by 54 runs and move to the top of the table after 2 rounds. Ryan Connolly was man of the match with the figures of 28 overs, 7 maidens, 7 for 61. He was very well supported by Lachlan Forrest 16 overs, 0 for 39 and Alex Ferrara 16.1 overs, 2 for 35. Waverley still has some work to do on their fielding before moving into round 3 v Cranbrook at Queens Park over the next two Saturdays if they wish to remain at the top of the table.