Behind The Stumps: Waverley Cricket Report

FROM THE CONVENOR OF CRICKET, JOHN MCCALLUM

Waverley’s bowlers in the groove

All Waverley Cricketer’s met the exciting first round of the school year with great energy, and it was a positive start in the limited-overs format. It was especially rewarding for all Year 5 and 7 students, and they can be congratulated in the way they have embraced their new team mates and made a fantastic start.

Boys from Years 5-12 this term are playing a variety of short-form cricket formats ranging from 16-25 overs for Junior school boys, into 20-32 overs for Senior School boys. A high emphasis is placed on increasing inclusiveness, fun and maximizing involvement of all boys, which we hope only develops throughout the term.

The 1^st XI play 50-over one-day games this term, and a full report of their tense 3-run victory over Knox from proud coaches Mr Boyd and Mr Elliott appears later in the report. Congratulations to both Ryan Connolly and Jack Hardwick-Owen from the 1^st XI in their selection in the CAS side to play the other NSW Schools rep sides. Both Ryan and Jack also performed strongly in the NSW CIS trials and are ready to help the 1^st XI challenge for the CAS premiership in coming weeks.

Some team highlights came from very impressive bowling performances from the 9Bs and the 7As in their debut games. The 7As bowled Knox out for just 69 runs, and safely chased this only losing 3 wickets. There was action galore including a team hat trick, with exceptional fielding the showpiece. This was backed up by controlled and consistent bowling, with Andrew Maloney taking 1 for 7, Hirav Ghandi 2 for 12, Conor Andrews 2 for 4, and Carter Steyne 1 for 8 and a direct run out. Opening batsman Liam Wood scored a valuable 27 runs, before Scott Swinburn plundered 20 runs from 23 balls to seal a strong win. Sam Lodge took 2 early wickets in the 9B match and all bowlers kept the screws tight restricting Knox to 77. Waverley attacked the chase, successfully getting the runs with 4 wickets and many overs to spare.

Around the grounds there were some excellent batting partnerships and some individual scores – though often there was only the one partnership of size leaving Waverley teams well short of the runs we are capable of. Darcy Mullins batted strongly in the 2^nd XI with 30, Sebastian Rasmussen 30 and Zane Zilich 26 in the 3^rd XI, while Leo Carr and Peter Fragias shared a strong 40 run partnership in the 7Cs.  To start a partnership and not loose wickets in pairs or groups, each Waverley batmen must work hard in their first few balls and overs to get their feet moving more decisively, and be more proactive in trying to take more singles. Looking for these gaps and quick calling and running between the wickets are the best ways to get momentum in a new partnership – with this a key focus for this week in training. Best of luck to all our teams for this week.

1^st XI v Knox Round 6

Fromm coaches Mr. J Boyd and Mr. G Elliott

In the first of the one day rounds, Knox won the toss and asked Waverley to bat. Openers Rory Doyle and Reid McNamara looked solid and had Waverley off to a positive start with 29 on the board in the 8^th over when Rory Doyle played outside one to lose his off stump. 41 was the total when Reid McNamara played across one to be adjudged lbw. Jack Hardwicke-Owen followed on the same score when he smashed a full toss toward cover only to see the Knox captain drive full length to his right and have the ball stick in the palm.

Oliver Ruse followed with the score on 65, Ryan Connolly with the score 73 and Jacob Tomasiello on 76, which left Waverley at 6 for 76 in only the 26^th over. Lachlan Forrest joined Alex Ferrara and this pair moved the total to 106 before Lachlan Forrest attempted to flick one to leg only to find the back of the bat and sky the ball to mid-off. Benjamin Scarf and Alex Ferrara then combined in a partnership which yielded 83 runs with Alex Ferrara finally out in the 47^th over for 57. Benjamin Scarf followed in the same over for 44. Cameron Shearer was the final man out, first ball of the 48^th over leaving the Waverley total at a now respectable 190.

After the lunch break Cameron Shearer and Benjamin Scarf shared the new ball. Both bowled extremely well with Benjamin Scarf claiming an early wicket, followed by Cameron Shearer claiming 2, to have Knox in trouble at 3 for 15. This could have been improved upon however two grassed catches both from the Knox best bat and captain were to prove very costly as he began to form partnerships. Harry Whiteman broke the first of these partnerships with the total on 44, however the next partnership carried the total to 149 before Alex Ferrara induced a slog to cow corner for Cameron Shearer to take the catch. This became 6 for 151 in the 40^th when in his next over Alex Ferrara accepted a catch off his own bowling. Cameron Shearer was back into the attack and the 7^th wicket fell when he deceived the batsman getting one through to hit middle stump.

The Knox captain meanwhile had been chipping away at the total passing 50 in the process. At 7 for 170 in the 46^th over Waverley knew they were back in the game however the 48^th over looked to have sealed it for Knox when a couple of streaky shots moved the total to 185. Jack Hardwicke-Owen had other ideas and with the first ball of the 49^th over had the Knox batsman caught at point by Cameron Shearer. A further 2 runs had been added, when with the final delivery of this 49th over the batsman hit a catch to Harry Whiteman at mid-off. The tension was now evident on faces of the players, coaches and parents positioned around the Knox field. The Knox captain was now on strike with 76 to his name and ready to face the final over to be bowled by Benjamin Scarf needing just 4 runs for victory.

Skipper Ryan Connolly patiently set his field assisted by bowler and vice-captain. Benjamin Scarf started his approach, the Knox captain made solid contact to an off drive, lofted, which travelled in an arch only a metre or two off the ground. The loud shouts of CATCH could be heard from the Waverley fielders as the ball travelled in the direction of Jacob Tomasiello. He had no time to think and positioned himself perfectly to accept the catch as the other 10 Waverley players sprinted towards him with arms in the air in celebration as Waverley had pulled off another nail-biting win, the second against Knox this season this time by 3 runs. Other results for the round meant that Waverley have now jumped back into 2^nd position. This week has the team at Queens Park against SAC who had a very convincing win over Barker.