Wanderers v Toowoomba Grammar School
24 November 2020
Mills Oval
As always, a beautifully prepared ground greeted the visiting Wanderers at TGS. Jacarandas were in full bloom and it looked to be a great day for cricket.
After just 6 overs, a great day might have been a short one as Wanderers slumped to 3/15. Opener, Will Nason, and Flynn Thomasson, then set about restoring some respectability to the score. 40 cautious runs were added by drinks without any further loss of wickets. After drinks, Thomasson became more expansive. Nason took the cue from his partner and also started to play shots, in the 26th over, with the score on 96, Nason was finally out for a fine 42; the partnership realizing 81 from 116 balls.
The aggressive batting continued as an energetic Byron Gale joined Thomasson to add 69 in just 8.4 overs to the second drinks break and then another 36 in 3 overs after drinks, to take the score to 201 when Gale was out for 45.
After the Thomasson/Gale onslaught, the 17 runs from the next 4 overs seemed sedate in comparison. Then, in the 42nd over, Thomasson broke the shackles and heaved one for six to bring up a century from 94 balls. He celebrated with three consecutive sixes to end the over. Thomasson’s retirement came at the end of the 44th over on 121 from 99 balls.
A quick wicket via a return catch in the 46th over was just reward to opening bowler, Jem Ryan, who toiled hard for 2/35 from his 10.
A 23-ball, 40 run partnership between Grigg and Joey Pratt at the death, steered Wanderers to an imposing 318 from the 50 overs.
Lunch was taken in the serene surroundings of the Jacaranda room, before the resumption of “hostilities” at 2.00pm.
The TGS innings started with a bang as Harry Meiklejohn slapped a couple of boundaries in the first over. Unfortunately, his opening partner fell victim to a Joey Pratt special to be trapped in front in the second over. Meiklejohn continued to find boundaries in an aggressive innings before Pratt claimed him as well in the 10th over.
The thunderstorm arrived at 2.48pm with the score on 2/46. When play resumed at 3.35pm, the revised target was 293 from 42 overs. The par score at 15 overs jumped from 90 to 106 when Callum Galvin was bowled by Grigg in the 15th over with score on 59.
TGS skipper, Sam Anderson and Taj Glenn allowed themselves a couple of overs to consolidate, but with the threat of more rain, launched themselves at the bowling. Glenn took 21 from 18th and then another 14 from the 19th to take the score to 111, before the drizzle turned into more and the umpires called a halt to play for the day. With the par score at 122 from 19 overs, the final margin was just 11 runs!
Wanderers stalwart, Patrick Carty, conveyed appreciation to the TGS players, staff and supporters for their excellent hospitality and continued support of Wanderers’ fixtures.
Well done everyone.
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