Wanderers v Matthew Flinders Anglican College
17 November 2021 at Forrester Fields, Buderim
Wanderers first match of the season was at the picturesque Matthew Flinders Anglican College. Luckily, the deluge encountered on the Bruce Highway en route, stayed away and a full day/night of cricket was possible.
As is their wont, Wanderers batted first with Gators, Luke Joel and Jack Doyle opening. Some good bowling by Josh Elms early, had the batsmen playing and missing and in the case of Doyle, edging to the safe gloves of Nate Walldon. Local, Kai Jankowiak, joined Joel in a partnership of 73 from just 64 balls, before Joel retired on 67 at drinks (15 overs).
Cade Horan joined Jankowiak, the pair adding a run-a-ball 30 before Jankowiak put the foot down to bring up his 50 with a flurry of boundaries. After a partnership of 55 from 36 balls, a beautifully-judged catch on the boundary by Harry Kavanagh, off skipper, Tom Cain saw the end of Jankowiak and brought Josh Moody to the crease. Horan and Moody had added 56 from 35 balls and brought up the visitors’ 200 in the 27th over. A couple of balls later, Horan’s attempt to hit Mohammad Rana over the boundary found Kavanagh’s safe hands again. Tim Agapow joined Moody to take Wanderers to drinks (30 overs) at 3/225; Moody retiring on 48 from 28.
With 15 overs remaining, incoming batsman, Harry Carroll, wasted no time in an explosive 36 from 16 balls, but he too, met his demise at the hands of Harry Kavanagh on the boundary; Hunter Peters taking the wicket. Josh Durkin entered the fray, smashing two sixes and a four from his first four balls. Joshua Williams had a wicket with his first ball when, evergreen Rodney Davidson, took a very sharp catch at short mid-wicket to dismiss Agapow. Two overs later, Josh had another, when he snuck one through Robin Liney’s defences; Wanderers 6/300.
Rodney Davidson brought himself into the attack with immediate success; Durkin adjudged LBW from the last ball of one over, then Josh Gittens caught by Aryan Sanjay on the last ball of the next, to make it 8/308. With Wanderers skipper, Sheldon Stackpoole, cleverly rotating the strike, the last four overs saw some blistering batting by the returning Luke Joel. Joel clubbed 47 from 17 balls, brought up a ton and catapulted Wanderers to 8/362 from 45 overs.
After a quick dinner break, the lights came on and the chase began. With Wanderers short a keeper, MFAC parent, Chris Peters donned the gloves and pads for the visitors. Wanderers opening bowlers, Akula Ram (Loganholme) and Josh Gittens (Valley) made life difficult for Logan Buetel and Aryan Sanjay; restricting them to just 24 from the first ten overs. A couple of good overs just before drinks improved the hosts’ position to 0/47 at the short break.
Shortly after drinks, Sanjay was well caught by Harry Carroll in Robin Liney’s first over, to make it 1/64. The incoming batsman was skipper, Tom Cain, who blasted 26 from 14 before Tim Agapow, thrust out a left hand, running backwards at mid-on to take a cracker for Liney’s second wicket; MFAC 2/103.
The next 40 minutes was all about Logan Buetel and Hunter Peters. A run-a-ball 80 run partnership featured some aggressive running between wickets and well-placed hitting. It was Josh Durkin who broke the partnership in the 34th over when an edge by Peters, came off his Dad’s (keeper Chris’) gloves and into the hands of Josh Moody at first slip. Buetel brought up a century in his next over, then retired an over later with MFAC on 3/197 after 36 overs.
Wickets fell in the 39th, 41st and 43rd overs. Kai Jankowiak picked up the first two; the second with the assistance of a Harry Carroll catch and Luke Joel the third from a return catch. Despite the loss of wickets, Zoe Valencic was finding the boundary regularly in a nice cameo innings. MFAC reached 6/238 after 45 overs; 124 runs adrift of the Wanderers total. Wanderers getting through the 45 overs in an astonishing 140 minutes.
Play continued after the 45th. Jack Doyle was on a hat-trick in the 48th over when Josh Moody picked up two catches in the exact same spot; a top-edge at cover to remove the left-handed, Valencic and a pull to mid-wicket to remove right-hander, Nate Walldon. Two overs later, skipper, Sheldon Stackpoole hung onto one at mid-off in a Josh Gittens wicket-maiden; MFAC going on to 9/274 when stumps were called at 53 overs, just before 8.00pm.
Well done to the Wanderers lads for continuing play to give the young people a chance to bat. Thank you to all players who made the trip from Brisbane.
A big Thank You to Chris for wicket-keeping the whole 53 overs for Wanderers. Massive effort. We hope you wear the Wanderers cap with pride.
Thanks to Rodney Davison and his team of helpers for their hospitality as always.
