Marburg/Mt Crosby Thunder v Wanderers

5 December 2023 at Les Titmarsh Oval Fernvale

A “Tale of Two Batsmen” unfolded in the 30-over, evening clash between Wanderers and the Marburg/Mt Crosby Thunder. The match was played under lights at Les Titmarsh Oval, Fernvale and the only thing bigger than the occasion were the local mozzies!! 😁

The Thunder struck early with youngster Cohen Munt picking up two wickets in the third over thanks to catches by Nick Raine and Brayden Armstrong. Darren Collis joined veteran Michael Cook to steady the ship. There was nothing steady about Collis’ innings though. Aggressive from the outset, he contributed 50 of the 66-run 3rd wicket partnership with Cook, then a further 43 of the 65 run 4th wicket partnership with Matt Warner. Collis went on to 105 from 81 balls including 9 fours and 4 sixes before retiring in the 24th over. Cohen Munt picked up another double strike in the penultimate over to collect 4/25 from his six overs. Braydon Armstrong picked up three catches behind the stumps.

The chase was a carbon copy of the Wanderers innings. Zane Newton made the most of three dropped catches by Wanderers to power on to 117 from 67 balls with 5 fours and 9 sixes. Support came from Jed Turner who contributed a stubborn 8 in an 89-run, 6th wicket partnership. Newton finally came unstuck trying to ramp the first ball of Jack Gardner’s second spell; the ball crashing into the stumps. At 8/166, the Thunder needed 18 more with 41 balls remaining, but a rampant Gardner crashed into the stumps again at the end of the over to make it 9/168.

Dom Morgan had already collected 2/4 from his previous two overs and was keen to make it 3fa, but it was not to be as Thomas Armstrong and Cohen Munt held on, picking up 6 from the over to reduce the task to 10 from the remaining five overs. It was Gardner again in the 26th. A thunderbolt somehow missed the stumps first ball, but did not on the second. Three wickets in 8 balls to Gardner and Wanderers were home with just 9runs to spare.

An exciting finish to a lovely evening in the Brisbane Valley. Thank you to the Thunder and Fernvalers for their gracious hospitality. Thanks also to the very talented Doug O’Neill who braved the mozzies to take some fabulous photos of the event. A selection of these are included below.

Let’s hope there is a return event next year.