Wynnum Manly v Redlands
Brisbane Over 40s
29 June 2025 at Ron Field Oval
It was a dreary day at Redlands. Rain threatened, but mercifully held off until play was complete at around 2:45
A fine opening partnership of 38 from 48 between Sudath Jayaweera and Bobby Nair got Redlands off to a good start. The spirit of cricket was “in the house”; an LBW appeal retracted by Wynnum Manly when bat was clearly involved. Ironically, Nair was eventually out LBW to Andrew Monley in the 8th over. Steven Page and Sudath added a further 21 to the score before Sudath spooned Manoj Fernando’s second ball to Rhys Mudford at Mid-off in the 14th; 2/65. Manoj struck again a few overs later accepting a return catch off an aggressive Page.
The bowling tightened and wickets started to fall regularly. Musk snuck one through Matt McLeod in the 23rd and after being dropped at mid-on the ball before, John Barrett was run out by a fine boundary throw by Ryan Broad in the 25th. Coming on to switch ends for Mark Musk in the 28th, Justin Poole picked up a wicket from the last ball of his over when Andrew Monley pouched one at backward point. Deciding to give himself another over, Poole picked up wickets from the first and second ball of his next over to complete a Hat-Trick; brother Ryan, picking up a stumping and a catch to complete the dismissals. From 8/118, Redlands did well to reach 145 thanks to a an innings-high 32 from 34 by Jamie Geraghty.
Geraghty took the new ball for Redlands and started in the best possible fashion - a wicket maiden; Ryan Broad smacking a short one to the deep square leg boundary where Chris Coop took a good catch. Eight balls later, Geraghty picked up Scott Read who lofted one to mid-off into the hands of Dom Cassell. The two Pooles steadied the ship in a 7 over partnership of 37, but then disaster! Three wickets in six balls; 5/50. Justin Poole and Simon Milton consolidated with 28 from 42 balls; Wynnum 5/78 at Drinks.
Redlands skippper, Shane Beu, introduced himself after drinks and immediately trapped Poole in front to end a fine knock of 41 from 46. Simon Milton and Roy Heath cleverly pushed singles in an important partnership of 19 for the 7th wicket, until Milton edged one to Barrett to make it 7/97. Heath then combined with Rhys Mudford for another 19 run partnership. A double strike to Beu in the 28th claimed Heath and Mudford, leaving Wynnum 29 to get from the last 7 overs with just one wicket in hand.
Mark Musk and Manoj Fernando set about picking off runs…4 off the 29th; 4 off the 30th; 5 off the 31st; 16 to get off 24. Tight overs by Sudath and Coop conceded just two runs off the next 12 balls; 14 from 12. A boundary in the next to Musk and it was 9/139 with an over to go. A dot 😬, then 3 to Manoj…4 to get off 4 balls. A single…3 off 3! A single, but what? A no ball for a fielding infringement! Scores level. Still 3 balls to go. Free hit! A swing by Musk into the outfield… a win to Wynnum by 1 wicket with 2 balls to spare. The final partnership 29 from 41.