Wanderers v St Patrick’s College
03/12/2020
Curlew Park
Match 3 of “Cricket Week” took Wanderers to Sandgate and a beautifully prepared Curlew Park.
As possums scurried around in the roof and walls of the clubhouse, the Wanderers top order were being scuttled by a rampant St Pat’s bowling attack. Hayden Vickers claimed the first wicket in the 4th over with the score on 20. A freakish rebound off second slip into the hands of Joel Heinrich at first, gave Bailey Reed his first in the seventh over. The incoming batsmen departed next ball, bowled and guess what? The batsman after that did the same! A hat trick to Bailey Reed. Wanderers teetering at 4/27.
From that point the St Pat’s lads dominated, snuffing out each partnership, just as it threatened. Harry Clench picked up four wickets in a tight 10 over spell and Joel Heinrich picked up two. The bowling was backed up by excellent fielding and catching; Heinrich and Clench taking return catches, Brayden Volker tidy with the gloves, taking a couple and skipper, Charles Moore grabbing one at mid-on to dismiss the dangerous Byron Gale.
The highlight for Wanderers was a stubborn, final wicket partnership between legend Matthew ‘Willo’ Williamson and Brad Ilott. The pair defied the bowling for 17 overs, adding 49 runs and some respectability to the Wanderers eventual total of 156.
St Patrick’s was equally competent in the chase. Charles Moore and Harry Clench negotiated the dual spin opening attack of Zanden Jeh and Matthew Grant to lay a solid platform with a 49 run opening stand. The departure of Clench, falling to Zanden in the 13th was followed by wickets in the 15th, a catch by Matthew Grant off Jeh and 19th via a Brad Ilott run-out.
Throughout, Charles Moore continued to attack the bowling, bringing up 50 from 48 balls during a 46 run 4th wicket partnership with Cooper Allan.
While Brad Ilott tied up one end in a miserly 10 over spell for 25 runs, old boy, Jack Doyle picked up the wicket of Allan from the other, with the score on 120. A quickfire 12 from 13 balls by Chris Marshall was brought to an end by a Luke Stutter boundary catch off Frederick Lee Watts and a fine innings by Charles Moore finally ended on 105 from 97 balls, just 8 runs short of victory, when Doyle held one off Watts at short mid-wicket. Blucher and Reed shepherded St Patrick’s to a comprehensive 5 wicket victory in the 39th over.
Brad Murphy and Lee Watts were effusive in their praise of the St Patrick’s performance and the quality of Curlew Park facilities. Br. Chris Pritchard and Ken Laxton did a fine job as umpires for the day and the hospitality was superb.
Thank you and well done to all.
