Wanderers v Toowoomba Grammar School
A win to Mother Nature at TGS.
23 November 2021 at Mills Field, TGS
Miraculously, play got underway on time, despite the threatening rain. After two towering sixes by Byron Gale, two beautiful boundaries through mid-wicket by Sam Healy and 14 minutes of play, rain forced a stoppage. Players had barely left the field before the rain stopped and the umpires ordered play to resume. The third gigantic six, by Gale into Mary St, must have got on a bus and headed back to Brisbane, because it could not be found. There was a delay as a new ball was supplied, then, just as the rain started again, Gale hit one straight to Paarth Menon at cover off the bowling of Wihan Kruger; Wanderers 1/34 from 3.2. Players left the field again.
This time, it was 14 minutes before play resumed. Robin Liney joined Sam Healy for a 27 run partnership from 32 balls. Healy continued to punish any wayward bowling. Cooper Webster, however, settled on to a good length with his offies, allowing just two scoring shots from his first two overs. He was rewarded in his third over when Liney lofted a drive back to the bowler for a fine return catch. Six balls later, TGS’ Gurnoor Rhandawa, filling in for the visitors, got a beauty from Jem Ryan which took the edge to keeper Harry Tzannes and Wanderers were 3/65.
Sheldon Stackpoole and Sam Healy had to “dig in” in the face of some very tight bowling from Ryan and Webster; just two runs coming from the next 20 balls. A bowling change in the 14th, just as the rain started again, brought about the wicket of Healy, chasing one outside off only to get the edge to Tzannes off Jude Brocherie.
Josh Durkin started the walk down the stairs at 11:21, but the heavens opened and that was that!
A sumptuous lunch was provided as is always the case at TGS. Wanderers veteran, Pat Carty, contributed some sage advice and invited players and umpires to recount some of their experiences. TGS skipper, Callum Galvin was eloquent in expressing his appreciation of the Wanderers/TGS tradition.
