Wynnum Manly v University
Men’s First Grade Round 16 - 2 Day
4 & 11 March 2023 at Bill Albury Oval
The Final match of the season got under way in warm conditions but with a nice breeze to cool things down. Corey Hunter won his 9th toss in 11 games and decided to have a crack at extracting something from greenish Bill Albury track.
It was not to be though. After the early loss of skipper, Nick Sale via a Dakota Rodgers catch at 3rd slip off Liam Guthrie, Angus Lovell and Tom Kelaart dug in to guide University to 1/109 at lunch. Lovell brought up a 50 off 71 balls shortly after drinks and went into the break having contributed the lion share of the 79 run partnership.
After lunch, the tide turned a little in favour of the hosts with 3/30 falling in the hour to drinks. Jehan Daniel removed the stubborn Kelaart via a catch to Reuben Burger and Guthrie nabbed his second and third in successive overs, scattering the stumps with both. Lovell remained unbeaten on 87. The tight bowling continued after drinks and eventually led to the demise of Harry Walker, caught by Hunter at mid-off from the bowling of Steinhardt. Three balls later, after a second 50 which took 122 balls, Lovell brought up a century from 193 balls and Uni went to Tea at 5/188.
The pace picked up after Tea with Jano Coetzee joining Lovell to add 58 from 85 balls before Sukhveer Singh held onto a good catch at mid-on off Steinhardt to dismiss Coetzee for 31. Lovell found another willing Partner in Matt Willans; the pair registering the 3rd 50 partnership of the innings before Lovell reached his 150 (from 287 balls) with his second six of the innings. That was it for Lovell though, trapped in front the very next ball by Guthrie. Four balls later, Guthrie picked up his 5th via Grayson Jones 24th catch of the season and two balls later, Josh Fraser picked up a wicket via another very good Jed Wilson catch on the boundary. This prompted a declaration at 9/281 with a minimum four overs to bowl. Unfortunately, there was one “casualty” before stumps; Wynnum ending the day on 1/8.
Day 2 loomed with rain threatening. In the end, it was pretty remarkable that so much play was possible. Dakota Rodgers and Sukhveer Singh held out impressively for nearly an hour before Suhkveer was out LBW shouldering arms to Bryce Street just before drinks and Rodgers out in identical fashion three overs after drinks; Wynnum 3/47. Corey Hunter and Reuben Burger added 30 but could not make it to lunch, Hunter playing a short one onto his stumps just seven minutes before the break; 4/77.
Disaster struck four balls after the lunch break when Willans had Grayson Jones edging to Street at slip then Burger edging to keeper, Harry Walker in his next over; 6/83. Jehan Daniel rode his luck in a typically aggressive 43 from 36 balls; but three wickets in 12 balls brought the innings to a close on 136 (Guthrie not available to bat) in the 52nd over.
The gloomy and wet conditions were perfect for University to enforce the follow on and improve their position in the top 4. With one team having everything to gain, the other nothing to lose, drizzle about, light fading… the cricket was bizarre. Wynnum added 155 from 37 overs, but capitulated to be all out for that score at 4:28pm. Then, with Uni requiring just 10 runs for an outright win, the rain came down, the covers came out and that was that. Reuben Burger made his second 30 of the match; Grayson Jones smacked four sixes in two overs on his way to 52 from 26 balls. Nick Sale picked up 6/55 from 13 overs to go with 3fa in the first innings. Congratulations to University who with this win and bonus points, catapulted to the top of the 2 Day ladder.
A big thanks from the writer for a great season and a special thanks to our fantastic Sea Eagles canteen staff who have taken excellent care of both scorers and umpires throughout the season.
Back again next year!
