Three Thunder teams in semi-finals

Lewis Waugh carrying his bat through the Thunder’s innings to remain 67 not out against Maroochydore. Picture: CHRIS WRIGHT

Randall Woodley

After the last fixture matches of the season were completed last Saturday, the Tewantin-Noosa Thunder Cricket Club will have three senior teams playing in the competition’s semi-finals next weekend.

The three teams are last year’s premiers, the First Graders, Third Grade and the perennial finalists the Sixes. The Fifth Grade team missed out by only a few points to join their mates in these games.

FIRSTS: Playing Maroochydore Swans in the last scheduled match of the season there was not a lot to play for on Day 2. The boys had already secured first innings points on Day 1 dismissing the Swans for 103 and resumed batting at 4 for 128. Opener Lewis Waugh brought up his 50 on his birthday with the first run and then wickets began to tumble and the team was soon 7 for 131. The tailenders added a few runs, but the score ended on 171 with Waugh carrying his bat to be not out on 67. It was another display of patient and classy batting from Waugh on a pitch that pretty well everyone else struggled on.

Maroochydore batted again and were in trouble at 4 for 16 with young tear-away Tom Stewart taking 3-8 off his six overs. Soon after a couple of dropped catches which would have seen them 5-20, the skipper put the three frontline bowlers on ice for the semi-final next weekend. Maroochydore played some shots and batted well to get to 150 before the teams shook hands just before tea.

It was another really good regular season for the team finishing in third spot on the ladder and they will be playing Maroochydore again next Saturday and Sunday to decide who will go through to the grand final the following weekends. It is hoped that the boys will be supported next weekend by other club players and supporters. The match starts Saturday at 10am at Buderim.

SECONDS: In their final match this season, the team went down in a close game to Coolum who scored 170 in their first innings. Top wicket takers for Thunder were Ben Potter with four wickets and Tryon De Kauwe and T Crowley with two each. In reply Thunder were bowled out for 155.

THIRDS: Starting Day 2 on 1-52 chasing 128 for first innings points, Thunder was cruising at 1-88 with Brendan Wright (44) and Nigel Webster (50) looking good. Then, as often happens in cricket, the team found themselves at 4-89 and then 6-104. However, the Wilson family duo, father, Ben and son Ollie were both at the crease with Nambour bowling well and their tails up, keen to end Thunder’s season with an upset win. The two dug in and carefully guided the team to first innings points in a mature partnership that was great to watch. Once the points were secured, more free flowing stroke play produced runs quickly, and the goal of 180 achieved.

The next goal was to take as many wickets as possible and seven were snagged before time ran out. All the bowlers performed well, and the fielding was far better than the previous week. Best bowling figures- Luke Anstey 2-13 and Ethan Slaney 3-14. It was great to see the team play in the manner they did with guys taking responsibility on their shoulders when the cards were not in their favour.

This win will see the team playing in the semi-finals next weekend, but their opponents and venue are still to be announced as of Monday morning.

FIFTHS: After being dismissed early on Day 2 for 251, the team had to dismiss Cooroy-Eumundi and win the match on the first innings to guarantee a finals berth. Cooroy started well but Farran Cooke and Ian Brundell dismissed both openers to see Cooroy 2-50. Then two of Cooroy’s batters then put on a very impressive 190 run partnership for most of the afternoon and evening. Everyone bowled really well but luck evaded the boys. The team never gave up and a further late two quick wickets in the end to Farran Cooke (4-40) saw Cooroy finish on 5-249 for a draw. Unfortunately the team missed out on being in the semi-finals with a very close result in another game not going Thunder’s way. Disappointed not to get through to the semis, but overall a pretty good season for a group of players who came together for the first time, with a first-time captain and four juniors playing their first full season of seniors, who were all nothing short of exceptional. A big thanks also to the more seasoned players in the side who were instrumental in guiding these young players in the right way.

SIXTHS: After scoring 211 on Day 1 the team were in the field last Saturday with Landsborough resuming on 0-5. The day started well with Justin Latimer bowling their opener with his first ball of the his day and with things going well for the team he picked up another two wickets and Tom Avery snagged another two. Having them 5 down for not many at drinks the teams confidence was high.

However, Landsborough settled for a period after drinks and made the team work hard for the win. Graham Chaplin picked us 2 wicket and Wayne Moore took one for himself to have them 8 down for about 100. Latimer and Avery cane back on and bowled well again with Latimer picking up the final two wickets to finish Landsborough off and seal a good win going into the semis next week.

It was all over early, and the boys enjoyed an early finish to the final round game.

Latimer best of the bowlers with 5-24 with his first five-wicket haul of the season. The semi-final next weekend will be against the Caboolture Snakes at their ground.