From Behind the Stumps – Moises Henriques to join cricket awards

FROM MR JOHN MCCALLUM, CONVENOR OF CRICKET

Two huge final rounds remain for our Senior School teams, and 3 for our Year 5 and 6 cricketers before stumps are drawn for the summer.  Strong performances and momentum continue to build across the age-groups, and boys should strive towards achieving their season-best performance in the coming weeks.

Next Saturday evening – March 10 will be the Cricket Presentation Evening from 7-9pm, with all cricketers and families from Years 5-12 warmly invited and encouraged to join in celebrating the achievements and friendships of the cricket Community. Special guest will be Australian all-rounder and NSW Captain Moises Henriques to speak and present awards.  I thank the fabulous Cricket Supporter Group for their preparations in what will be a fun evening for all – including a BBQ dinner, season highlights and awards.  All Year 5 and 7 cricketers will also be receiving a special Waverley cricket training shirt, supplied by the Supporter Group at the presentation, while there will also be drinks available to purchase at the bar and an amazing raffle to win one of four major prizes.

1^st Prize is a night’s accommodation at the for 2 at the Darling Hotel Star City, including a $250 restaurant voucher and valet parking; 2^nd Prize is a round of golf for 4 people at St Michaels Golf Club. Presentation tickets are $10 per person, and raffle tickets are $10 each of 3 for $20.

Please book tickets to the presentation and monster raffle with payment at:  https://www.trybooking.com/UJVM

Last week’s matches involved a number of stirring performances by some of Waverley’s sides in the field with the 2nds, 9As, 9Bs, 9Cs and 7Bs all bowling out the opposition for less than 85 runs to take victories. It was Charley Howell with 5/16 taking the rapid wickets in the 2^nd XI, which backed up improved resolve in the batting with a great recovery led by Darcy Mullins with 50 runs. Daniel Di Francesco was rewarded for his accuracy to take 5/13 in the 8B match where all bowlers maintained rhythm to dismiss Cranbrook for 47 and have this chased efficiently.

Some great individual and team batting displays were also achieved by a number of teams, including the 9As in an improved batting performance of 181 – including a elegant 44 to Conor Boyd-Boland. The 9Bs amassed 1/229 in just 20 overs, though still enabled 7 boys to bat as 4 Waverley boys retired with impressive innings: Peter Reeves 57, Jesse Sonego 55, James Hoggett 38 all unbeaten. Cooper O’Donnell did likewise in the 9Cs victory with 50 not out from 31 balls – special thanks and well played to Jonty Booy, James Garrop and Felix Ransom-O’Byrne who played up from the 8Cs and helped the Knox team when short of players.

Other impressive individual performances came from Sebastian Rasmussen who scored 50 in the 3^rd XI, and Hirav Gandhi who was left 38 not out and Scott Swinburn 22 in a narrow 8-run loss in the 7As. The Waverley bowling and fielding were excellent in the 7As, restricting scoring in batting-friendly conditions; Carter Steyn very hard to negotiate in his 2/8 from 5 overs. Ben Scarf had fine allrounder’s match in the 1^st XI, taking 3 wickets and instigating a fightback with 77 runs in their defeat, with coaches report following.

1^st XI V SAC Round 8 Report

Coaches John Boyd and Greg Elliott

Waverley lost the toss and Cranbrook elected to bat. Waverley made a promising start with two maiden overs with many near misses. Jack Hardwicke-Owen came into the attack and claimed the first wicket with 32 on the board, Ridley Owens taking his first catch in the 1^st XI. Spin accounted for the next 3 wickets, one a very good catch to Benjamin Scarf on the Boundary, however catching was to again be our downfall as Waverley floored 4 chances, one very controversial. Some good bowling in the final 6 overs saw Waverley pick up a further 4 wickets, 3 to Benjamin Scarf who was on a hat-trick. Unfortunately, during this time our number 4 batsman and CAS rep player Jack Hardwicke-Owen tweaked a knee and had to leave the field. At the conclusion of the 50^th overs Cranbrook had posted a very respectable total of 8 for 212.

After the lunch break Waverley was off to the worst possible start with Rory Doyle out in the 2^nd over caught at deep fine leg from a half hit hook shot. Lachlan Forrest, promoted to the top of the order, was next to go when a ball was chipped to mid-wicket, 2 for 13. Only a further two runs had been added when number 3, Ridley Owens struck a firm drive towards extra cover, immediately called yes and set off , looking to be a certain few runs. The left handed fielder managed to knock the ball down with a great piece of fielding, then with just one stump to aim at and in a knee on the ground, threw down the stumps with the batsman just short of his ground.

Reid McNamara and Jacob Tomasiello followed with consecutive balls. The injured Jack Hardwicke-Owen now entered the field with runner in tow but edged one through to the keeper. This left Waverley looking at a very embarrassing early finish at 6 for 32.  Ryan Connolly joined Alex Ferrara and this pair moved the total to 56 before Ryan Connolly missed an arm ball to be bowled. Enter Benjamin Scarf, who was very lucky not to be out without facing a ball as the umpire at the bowler’s end was jumping for cover from an Alex Ferrara’s straight drive as the ball appeared to touch the bowlers hand and cannon into the stumps. The umpire being unsighted had to say not out. This was to prove the turning point, almost, as these two batsmen moved the total to 177 and looked to be bringing the side home when in the 44^th over Alex Ferrara looked to chip one down the ground only to be caught and bowled. Benjamin Scarf and Harry Whiteman had the score at 184 in the 46^th over when Benjamin Scarf looked to clear the longer square boundary only to find the deep mid-wicket fielder to be out for 78. When Harry Whiteman skied a ball in the 48^th over, Waverley was all out for 188 giving Cranbrook victory.