Taita was welcomed by Millzy’s arch nemesis Big Blue at Garlic Nairnville on Saturday. After being sent into bowl, the opposition were doing anything but going on the slow. Taita’s resident gamer, Tony Cliff, executed his throw with deadly accuracy to finish Fletcher with a fantastic run out. A flurry of wickets followed as Larsen was banished from the kitchen as he was unable to handle Andrew Sturt’s heat. The next Batsman was burnt to a Chrisp and he was ordered out of the kitchen by Chef Sturt not soon after. Onslow ordered something to cool them down and that was exactly what ice cool Khan provided. He steadied the ship with a fast 75 off 83 balls, finally submitting to Sullivan’s offers of a Lusty pizza. Onslow finished the innings with a steady 202 all out with the bowlers sharing the wickets around.
The stage was set and seats were warm as Onslow’s Old Timers Day was in full swing. Taita had a troubled start losing two wickets in the first over of the innings, sending the old men into raptures. Crowley and Houghton showed true Taita spirit by holding off a fired up Onslow bowling line-up and produced a gutsy 136 run stand. The game looked in control, but as Taita approached the finish line the wheels began to wobble. Fortunately cool heads prevailed as Blomfield put a Tasty blow onto the bank and it looked like Onslow were thin and Chrispy. The game was far from over as Millzy strolled out to the crease with Taita needing three from the final over. Millzy lobbed one over mid-off and the boys scampered the runs to send Taita to second place on the table and leave Onslow lingering around the bottom half. Check out the scorecard
Written by Christopher Tait
"We didn't want to win anyway" - North City Opening Bowler
The Premier Reserve team took on the challenge from North's, for our first home game of the summer. After one win, and one loss nothing less than a bonus point victory against North's would keep us in the hunt for the top 4, due to other results.
Jason decided to keep up our trend/ tactics of batting first, although this did not start in the best way for us. We slowly lost wickets at regular intervals, with three of the top four failing to trouble the scorers. With the exception of last season’s ‘find of the summer’, Sam Bourne, who had a clear ultimatum and gutsed out a very valuable 32 of 87 balls. When he departed we were 83/7, we all thought a ‘Taita collapse‘ was on the way. A quick fire 19 (14 balls) from Kevin McComb set the tone for the game inspiring a partnership between Smithers (39) and Sultan (42), somehow we managed to set North's 209 for the win.
Pat Smith again, came to cricket prepared, so a trip to subway wasn't required at the half. This meant for another disciplined performance from the spearhead. Wickets to Kevin (3) and Pepper (2) were the chief destroyers, with spinners Flake and Shaun taking a wicket a piece.
The return to form with the bat, spurred on one of Taita’s ‘nicest guys’ Matthew Pepper to have an outstanding day in the field. With an early run out, Matthew played a part in all of the first five wickets to fall. Including a miracle caught and bowled.
My highlight of the day was a return to the bowling crease for brother of Sam and Grace, Declan ‘Furbie’ Outtrim. The once famous net destroyer, with first class wickets (Mark Houghton and Henry Walsh) to his name; this was bound to be exciting. This change was greeted with some significant turf kicking from Flake Johnstone at deep cover (very similar to the way Furbie’s elder sibling used to). The over almost started with a bang, a ball that pitched half way down and surprised the batsman, unfortunately the catch was shelled at square leg.
Smithers knocked over the last Keisha-castle, to secure our ninth wicket (North's last batsman was too sore to come out of the sheds) with the score at 147, we claimed the goal of the bonus point victory. Check out the scorecard
Written by Shaun Gillespie