Wynnum Manly v South Brisbane

Third Grade Trial

Saturday 9 September 2023 at Bill Albury Oval

Another sparkling spring day at Bill Albury Oval for the third grade trial between Wynnum Manly and Souths. Souths skipper, Matt Taviani, won the toss and elected to bat.

Wynnum opening bowlers Dylan Henderson and Lachlan Bragger were miserly in their opening spells; conceding just 11 runs in the first 7 overs. Austin Billing capitalised nabbing the first wicket of the innings in his first over. Incoming batsman, Dan Gray, survived a chance to slip third ball and one to the keeper a couple of overs later and when Martin Love was trapped LBW by Will Aspeling in the 14th, Souths were in trouble at 2/20. Matt Taviani and Dan Gray dug in to take Wynnum to 59 before Taviani took to the air once too often and was caught at long off from the bowling of Bodie Richardson. With just 15 overs to go, Souths were way below par and in more trouble five overs later when Dan Gray was caught behind. Aaron Joby and Indy Ranatunga collared the bowling for 36 from 43, before a double strike by Austin Billing in the 37th reduced Wynnum to 6/114. Joby and Umhar Samsudeen took 26 from the last three to guide Souths to an unlikely 141 given the 2/44 score line at the halfway mark.

In the chase, Souths bowlers Eddie Leslie and Will Storrs were equally economical. Just 14 came from the first nine overs including the first wicket to Leslie. The introduction of spin paid off almost immediately. Om Bhikadiya picked up two in two balls in his second over; Louis Henderson getting under one and Dan Gray taking a sharp chance to make it 3/20 from 13. From that point, it was all Wynnum. Nick Boller and opener Bilal Zaidi added 96 from 131 before Om Bhikadiya picked up his third wicket via an Eddie Leslie catch at Long On. Bilal capitalised on a dropped chance in the 3rd over to go on and record 69 not out, guiding Wynnum to victory with 7 balls to spare.