Welcome to Cricket Season 23/24
And what a beautiful day it was on Saturday to be playing cricket – Sunshine, fresh air – what more could you ask for!
3 wins and 3 losses for Summer Hill to start the round - Read on for Match Reports for all the wins below.
It was great to see so many of you at Pre-Season training during August, and to see a good number of new players coming through too. A very warm welcome to the following players, who all played their first game for Summer Hill on the weekend : Micah Edwards, Francis Gracias Flor, Sam Machlouche, Grant Murphy, Jeet Solanki, Don Stewart and Hayden Storey. Welcome!
Saturday Morning Cricket
There are a few more players who would like to join Summer Hill, and we’re looking at entering a team in the Sydney Morning Cricket Association (SMCA). Play is on Saturday mornings starting at 9am, concluding at 12:30pm.
All matches are 2 day games, so you would need to commit to playing 2 consecutive weekends. If there are any players who would like an extra match on a Saturday, please contact me as soon as you can. Competition starts October 19th.
Wide Brim Hats
Interested in a Summer Hill CC Wide Brim Hat?
Available for pre-order online. Orders close 13 October. Delivery just before Christmas. Check your size with the sizing guide online. Check it out here
Fantasy Cricket
And our Fantasy Cricket Competition is in full swing – how great is it selecting your team from Summer Hill players – such a great initiative of Div 2 Captain, Jay Karim. It is not too late to join – sign up for free online here:
Batting and Bowling highlights
Batting:
66 Phil Tarbox Div 5
62 Luca Agius Div 5
55 Madushan Bandara Div 2
58 Hamza Malik Div 6 Blue
Bowling
4/22 Lachie Schreuder Div 5
Top 5 Fantasy Players
245 Lachlan Schreuder
210 Hamza Malik
189 Hasan Mustafa Tarique
185 Michael Lee
184 Gourav Tripathi
Club Milestones:
Runs
2500 Phil Tarbox Div 5
500 Chetan Kondur Div 6 Blue
Matches
200 Khurram Mahmood Div 1
150 Dharmin Thakkar Div 6 Blue
50 Michael Lee Div 7
Training
When: Thursday’s, starting October 3rd.
Where: Lees Park - Harmony St, Ashbury (Park in Crieff St and walk down the alley)
When: From 5:30pm until dusk – and there may be a few there earlier too
Enjoy your Cricket!
Phil
Phil – President
m 0417 234 761
1st Division
Round 1: Summer Hill 140 def by Brighton Lakes 170
Best Batting:
46 Cameron Pyne
29 David Greenhalgh
29 Savio Gracias Flor
Best Bowling
3/22 Francis Gracias Flor
2/22 Cameron Pyne
2/18 Daniel Lopes
2nd Division
Round 7: Summer Hill 4/161 def by Kingsgrove Cricket Club 2/165
Best Batting
55 Madushan Bandara
31 Umer Aijaz
5th Division Match Report – Simon Davies
Round 1: Summer Hill 6/179 def Dobroyd Point CC 7/175
The sun was shining and the weather bode well for a great game of cricket. The 1st game of the season was unchartered waters for a Summer Hill team stepping up multiple divisions from Div 8 to Div 5.
Fantasy cricket, specifically which Summer Hill players would score big points and represent value dominated the pre-match conversation…no doubt an attempt to calm the nerves before taking the field and venturing into the cut and thrust of Div 5. Shout out to some non-Div 5 players Madushan, Tushar & Jim Bandas…I am counting on you guys to have big seasons (and rack up points for my fantasy team).
The match started inauspiciously as the warm up featured more drops than catches. Predictions were that we would likely drop 3 or 4 in field. Phil then proceeded to lose the toss and we were put in to field. Things went from bad to worse as we dropped the opening bat in the 1st over. Maybe it was shaking off the off season rust…maybe it was the nerves of stepping up divisions. The drops and fielding gaffs kept coming. Rohan was very unlucky to finish with no wickets given multiple drops off his bowling. Lachie and Leo decided the best way to deal with the fielding ineptitude was either get them to hit it to Phil’s reliable hands or to bowl batters. Together they progressively dismantled the DPCC top & middle order for 4 and 2 wickets respectively.
Despite the drops we managed to keep the scoring rate down – DPCC 7/126 off 26 overs. The allotted innings time was up, however, DPCC offered us more time to bowl out the last 4 overs – what a generous bunch of guys! Over the next 4 overs DPCC proceeded to tee off against our hapless bowling scoring 49 runs (12.25/over) and taking out 2 of our players. Leo (patient) and Asher (driver) were off to hospital after Leo had split open and broken a thumb trying to take a catch (5th drop for the day….the pre match estimates proved conservative with a few missed run outs tossed in for good measure). After the final 4 overs of carnage DPCC finished on 7/175 and Summer Hill heads dropped a little wondering what had just happened.
It was daunting chase made worse knowing we were going to be 2 batters down with Asher and Leo off to hospital. Luca delivered the team a pep talk, clawing back some of the lost confidence. Albeit didn’t take long for the rediscovered confidence to start to drain away as Summer Hill was 1/1 after the 1st over.
Enter Phil to join Luca at the crease to attempt to lead us to victory…or at very least dignity. Together, they picked up where they had left off in season 2023/24 with the step up to Div 5 seemingly no hindrance to their run scoring abilities. Both passed 50 at a good clip with Summer Hill now firmly back in the game and DPCC looking nervous.
Luca was first to go slashing at a wide one and getting the toe end of the bat, caught behind for a well made 62. Phil and Jud carried on the momentum before Jud’s dismissal (9) early in the 25th over precipitated a familiar mini batting collapse…3 wickets falling in the 25th over including Phil for 66.
Summer Hill was now looking shaking at 5/144 and still chasing another 32 from 30 balls with the remaining batting stocks starting to look thin. Pleasingly Summer Hill managed to hold its nerve with some hard running and timely boundaries – Sid (10no) and Lachie (6no) at the crease as the winning runs were hit. Summer Hill 6/179 with 2 balls to spare! A match played in good spirits and a great team win kick off life in the new division.
Best Batting
66 Phil Tarbox
62 Luca Agius
Best Bowling
4/22 Lachie Schreuder
2/31 Leo Tarbox
6th Division Blue Match Report: Dharmin Thakkar
Round 1: Summer Hill Blue 193 def Marrickville CC 131
The first match of the season saw some changes to the team with the addition of new players, bringing a fresh energy as we returned to the turf for another exciting summer competition. After losing the toss, we were sent in to bat first.
Our innings began with a flying start, helped by numerous wides and no-balls
bowled by Marrickville in the opening 10 overs. Although we lost our first wicket at 42 with Dharmin's departure, Hamza took charge of the innings. He displayed a dominant and ruthless performance, quickly reaching his half-century, becoming his first from our team in the summer competition. Hamza continued his aggressive batting, dismissed for 58. Following Hamza's lead, Gourav, batting in the lower middle order, maintained the momentum, contributing a quick-fire 44 runs. Thanks to their efforts, we set a formidable target of 193 runs, well above par.
Our bowling unit started cautiously, with Prabhu, Ben, and Dharmin bowling economically but unable to take early wickets. However, Gourav then stepped up, claiming two crucial wickets in his spell. Muniraj and Umer followed suit, taking two wickets each in quick succession. This consistent pressure from our bowlers restricted Marrickville to just 131 runs, handing us a convincing 62-run victory.
Our fielding was a standout feature of the match, with several catches taken, showcasing commitment of how as a team we want to play cricket this year. Special thanks to Micah for his valuable contribution, including taking a wicket and displaying great fielding skills.
Best Batting
58 Hamza Malik
44 Gourav Tripathi
Best Bowling
2/8 Muhammed Umer Altaf
2/9 Muniraj Mahajan
2/28 Gourav Tripathi
6th Division Gold
Round 1: Summer Hill Gold 7/135 def by Panania East Hills RSL 7/163
Best Batting
37 Connor Bennett
Best Bowling
3/10 Hasan Mustafa Tarique
3/35 Andy Manchester
7th Division Gold Match Report: Pat Cullen
Round 1: Summer Hill 3/81 def Summer Hill Seniors 80
The start of the season heralded a period of total revolution at the former Goldies, now Lucky 7's. With multiple players departing after the disappointment of last season for higher grades and rival sides, your author was feeling distinctly unsure about the 7's ability to take poles and make runs. However, an injection of youth and the addition of a few classically enthusiastic old heads has the future looking bright following a first-up win over the old enemy - Summer Hill Seniors.
Rob won the toss and we elected to bowl. When you have a Bandas, stick to your strengths! Rob's faith in the 7's stalwart pacer immediately showed dividends with Jimmy removing their opener with his fourth ball! Ably supported by new addition Declan Cohen, who, at age of 16, bowled with the pace and accuracy of a man far beyond his years, picking up 2/4 off 6 overs both clean bowled, and a got a run out to boot! Patty Cullen also combined with 'keeper Michael Metry for a classic slow ball stumping which delighted the 7s fans, and dismayed their opposition. While we couldn't quite bowl them out, 9/80 felt very achievable.
Michael Lee and Don Stewart got things off to a great start. Don had been lightning in the field. Despite not playing cricket since the '90s, he hit a couple of lusty blows before departing for 8. Lee and Dave Ward combined beautifully for a near 50 run partnership to steer the 7s home, a special mention for Extras too coming in with a solid 20. The ending of the game was somewhat underwhelming - Kaustav having smashed a 4 to get scores level, attempted to play the same shot the next ball and somehow be freakishly caught out, leaving new youngster Connor to hit the winning run. As the bowler came in and bowled he spitefully decided to bowl a no-ball. 7s win in slightly uninspiring fashion.
But look, we will take it! A great start, particularly for the young fellas and excellent to see the seasoned veterans making headway! There will be much sterner tests this year but, safe to say the early beers at the club tasted just like victory!
Best Batting
24* Dave Ward
23 Michael Lee
Best Bowling
2/3 Michael Lee
2/4 Delan Cohen (3 maidens from 6 overs)
2/20 Pat Cullen
Best fielding: Mike Metry with a great stumping off a quick!
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