Gold Coast v Wynnum Manly
Men’s First Grade Round 14 - 2 Day
4 & 11 February 2023 at Bill Pippen Oval
Conditions could not have been more different from Day 1 to Day 2 at Bill Pippen Oval. Overcast, rainy and no play possible until 3:30 on Day 1. Hot, Humid, Sunny and a full day’s play - plus an hour - on Day 2. Unfortunately for the Sea Eagles, the worst of the conditions were reserved for them. 😒
On Day One, with persistent rain falling in the morning, the square boundaries on the clubhouse side of the oval were moved in to avoid the water which had pooled on the practice wickets. Wynnum were unable to glean any significant advantage from the shorter boundaries with wickets falling at regular intervals and runs hard to come by thanks to some tight, aggressive bowling by Jackson Smith and Kane Hurley. Jordan Kingdon, Reuben Burger and Brad Radford were all back in the clubhouse before drinks were taken after the 17th over with the score on 39. After drinks Caleb Ziebell picked up 3/9 from six overs and when Smith picked up his third in the 27th, Wynnum had crumpled to 7/57. Josh Fraser and Jackson Plumb then dug in to take Wynnum to 7/81 from 40 overs including a curious last over bowled after 6.00pm.
On Day Two, Plumb and Fraser continued to frustrate the Gold Coast bowling attack. A hot and dry week meant that Bill Pippen was lightning fast and the pitch was a road. The partnership was 42 from 141 balls before Fraser’s stubborn 70 ball innings came to an end off the bowling of Ziebell in the 10th over of the morning. Cameron Steinhardt took up the “stubbornness” enabling Plumb to reach a valuable 50 from 108 balls. Ziebell claimed his 5th wicket when Plumb hooked one in the air to Hurley in the 18th over of the day and the innings finished an over later on 129.
A wicket in the first over to Josh Fraser, got the visitors off to a good start, but Hugo Burdon and Ashton Gumm then plundered the attack; taking 7 fours and a six off the next six overs before Brad Radford had Burdon caught at backward square leg by Cameron Steinhardt. Jehan Daniel then got the edge of skipper, Callum Taylor's bat for Reuben Burger to complete behind the stumps; 3/51. Despite the two quick wickets, Gumm continued to play his shots, taking full advantage of the shorter boundary on the clubhouse side and guiding Gold Coast to lunch at 3/71.
Five boundaries in nine balls to Gumm immediately after lunch brought up his 50 from just 42 balls. Another couple of boundaries to Caleb Ziebell brought up the Gold Coast 100 and the 50 partnership in the 15th over. The 100 partnership was registered 10 overs later and at drinks, Gold Coast were 3/161; 90 runs in advance of the lunch score! Gumm’s 100 came in the 33rd over from exactly 100 balls including 15 fours and 3 sixes. Ziebell’s 50 (80 balls), the 150 partnership (171 balls) and Gold Coast 200 were all registered in the same ball of the 36th over.
The Sea Eagles bowlers fought back to claim 6/68 over the next 14 overs. An injury to Radford saw Ryan Poole take the field as substitute; winding the clock back with some athletic saves at mid-wicket.
Gumm’s two and a half hour stay at the crease ended on 117 from 114 balls (18 fours and 3 sixes) when he tried to cut Steinhardt off middle and was bowled. A sharp slips catch by Grayson Jones off Fraser ended Ziebell’s innings a few overs later. Then Jones took the ball in the last over before tea, was promptly belted for six then clean bowled Maladay. Gold Coast 6/230 at Tea. Jones picked up a second just after Tea when Brad Munro also capitulated immediately after a boundary; edging to Burger. Emmaus Benn and Jackson Smith continued at almost a run-a-ball in a partnership of 29 before Daniel scattered Smith’s stumps - again immediately after he had struck a boundary! Daniel picked up his 3rd two overs later when Benn lofted to Eyley; Gold Coast 9/278. In contrast to what had come before, the next 9 overs were relatively sedate with just 22 runs conceded. Hurley then launched into action, belting 48 from just 14 balls to bring up a 50 and the Gold Coast 350. With no more bonus points on offer, Gold Coast promptly declared at 4:25.
Wynnum racked up 71 for the loss of 3 wickets before consecutive sixes into the creek at cow corner, by Corey Hunter prompted stumps to be called three balls early.
The final two matches for the Sea Eagles are at home v 4th place Norths and 2nd place University. See you there!
