Behind the Stumps: The time arrives for big scores

From the Convenor of Cricket, John McCallum

Developing large individual and team scores is the theme of the past week for all our Waverley Cricketers, in seeking to begin the season positively. A strong approach to batting does wonders for gaining positive momentum within a team, and many teams have already indicated this intent in recent weeks. This week serves as another opportunity for all our boys to seek to work in partnerships to post the highest team totals possible.

Over 30 boys are eight weeks into a ten week Batting Club – a voluntary group where boys have dedicated small group batting sessions before school in order to work towards specific batting goals and skill development. We have already had 15 individual scores over 50, and 6 scores over 80 in games so far – though we need to keep working hard at all areas of the game with the mindset of continual improvement.

Three 1^st XI players who are setting the standard for consistent run-scoring through their hard work piled on more runs this week in the 1^st XI’s huge total of 4/322 declared:  Oliver Ruse with a fantastic 98, Alex Ferrara with a stylish 82, and Jack Hardwicke-Owen with 40. A full report appears below after a strong start on Day 1 against St Aloysius. The 1st XI midweek Twenty20 Series also began with a close 4-run win against I Zingari. Waverley posted a quick 4/189 with Alex Ferrara scoring his third score of 80 plus.

All other 2-day teams were in the field Day 1 against Aloysius, with a variety of outcomes possible this week. The 9As did a great job to bowl SAC out for 127, and are 0/17 in pursuit, thanks to 3 wickets a-piece to Pat Hoggett and Murray Shearer. The 10As will require a focussed team approach to score the required 275 runs, while the 2nds need 190 for victory this week after an excellent team approach in the field – Stephen Davies grabbing 4 wickets with his controlled off-spin.

There were plenty of exciting and close games across many of the younger age groups, and boys were displaying great enthusiasm and sportsmanship in these matches. Highlights include Gabriel Kidston scoring a fluent 64 and Jack Sweetman 3 wickets in a narrow loss by 8 runs in the 9Cs. Nick Quinn scored a fantastic 50 not out, including a 6 from the final ball, in the 9Bs, while Carl Waterson in the 8Bs produced a similarly spectacular 50 runs. The 8A and 8C teams put in huge efforts in their games against Knox at Queens Park, with Sam Hodgson was rewarded with 3 wickets for his efforts.

Best wishes for all teams this weekend.

 

1^st XI Report, Coaches Mr John Boyd and Mr Greg Elliott

Coming off the fantastic win against Knox in round 1, Waverley arrived at a pristine St Aloysius College Oval and won the toss on a wicket that resembled the runway at Kingsford-Smith and electing to have a bat. Openers Rory Doyle and Ben Scarf knew the first hour was crucial, and dented the shine off the new ball with deliveries being dispatched to the boundary with ease. Rory was caught down the leg side on 18 after looking very confident at the crease, hitting the ball well off the bat. Into the wicket entered Oliver Ruse to face the first ball of what was to be 228 deliveries.

Two overs later, Ben Scarf middled one only to be caught and bowled by a reflex action that stuck in the bowler’s mitt. Coming off 90 from the match before, Jack Hardwicke-Owen strutted out to the crease with a presence that demanded respect. Seeing the ball very well, Ruse and Hardwicke-Owen started to build a 51 run partnership with some good rotation of strike and putting the bad ball away when required.

Jack Hardwicke-Owen was caught on a respectable 40 off a ball that was reminiscent of something that could be purchased from the bakery. Alex Ferrara walked out to the crease itching to get a good score on the board and consolidate on the hard work that the previous partnership built. This was the start of a 140 run partnership with Oliver Ruse that lasted 34 overs. The lads were able to put the team in a commanding position. Once Ferrara hit the 50 mark it didn’t take him long to catch Ruse’s total and be going run for run until Alex was caught for 82 on the boundary.

Oliver continued to toil hard and with great determination and mental strength worked the ball around and kept the scoreboard ticking over. Unfortunately, his innings came to an end just shy of triple figures on 98. An exceptional innings that demonstrated great poise at the crease and exactly what a team needs batting at number 3.

With half an hour to play, a declaration was imminent. St Aloysius’ were able to fight off the 7 overs of play to be 0-25 at stumps.

Day two is going to be a big day and early wickets the key to secure a first innings win.