With 2 and bit Rounds to go, it’s great to see some players finding form at the right end of the season. Centuries have been few and far between this season, so well done to Kavit Parekh on scoring 110 in 6 Gold’s rousing win over local rivals, Summer Hill Seniors. How many more tons and 5 for’s can we see before season’s end?
Training is on this Thursday – we have had the bowling machine out the last few weeks and had all 4 nets operating. Come and join if you can.
Speaking of Seasons end, our Presentation Night is locked in for Friday April 6th at Magpies Sports, Croydon Park. With 7 teams this season, we have plenty to celebrate in each team, and recognise outstanding performances across the Club all Season, the Finals, and our Champion Player.
And for the first time, a Guest Speaker – Claire Polosak – International Umpire and Trailblazer
Claire umpired the Final of the 2024 Womens T20 World Cup, the 24/25 Women's Ashes, along with Sheffield Shield, WBBL, BBL and countless Sydney Premier Cricket Matches. Ticking off many firsts, Claire has stories to share, and may have an umpiring question or two for us as well. Howzat!
Presentation Night Details:
Where: Magpies Sports – 46 Hampton St, Croydon Park
When: Friday 4th April
Time: 6:30pm for 7pm start
Cost: $20 – for a big feed – call me with any questions
Tickets: Online here Menu Overview at Ticket page
Batting and Bowling highlights
Batting:
110* Kavit Parekh Div 6 Gold
77 Asher Tarbox Div 5
70* Mads Bandara Div 2
59 Phil Tarbox Div 5
53 Arup Saha Div 2
Club Milestones
Matches
100 Tushar Gupta Div 6 Gold
100 Zameer Bhinde Div 6 Gold
50 Asher Tarbox Div 5
Runs
500 Umer Aijaz Div 2
500 Simon Davies Div 5
500 Gourav Tripathi Div 6 Blue
Wickets
150 PJ Div 7
Training
When: Every Thursday
Where: Lees Park - Harmony St, Ashbury (Park in Crieff St, access via 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
5th Division Match Report
Asher Tarbox
Round 12: Summer Hill 208 def Rangers CC (CBOB) 82 & 2/66
Day 1
With the end of their first season in 5ths in sight, the boys were itching for a strong finish in their last two games, both two-dayers. The bowlers were excited for some long spells and the batsmen excited for an opportunity to dig in.
As Agius Jnr won the toss and elected to bat, this seemed his goal. Our new opening pair, feeling like Konstas (Agius Jnr) and Ussie (Rayhan Islam), looked to continue their recent fast starts to get us ahead of the game.
Unfortunately, both Agius Jnr and Agius Jnr decided to not bother the scorers and departed for two second ball ducks. Not the start we had hoped for, but hopes were high Phil (our leading run scorer) coming to the crease to join Rayhan.
We only had to wait until the fourth over before clapping off another batsman as Rayhan attempted to flick a straight one to the leg side and lost his middle stump. 3/6, certainly not our best effort.
Grant strolled out without a helmet to steady the ship, and things looked good as the score board started to tick over. After a much-needed partnership worth 40, Grant departed for a well-made 14.
Now, before this report proceeds, some words must be afforded to describe that day’s playing conditions. Rangers had fronted up short and only fielded 8 (including the keeper). You may be thinking, only 8! There must be so many runs! You would be right dear reader, if it was not the case that the outfield was slower than your grandmother in stilettos! Even the most sweetly timed shot would pull up well short of the boundary. As Agius Snr put it, the gaps were well balanced by the ground’s slowness. Despite these excuses, it must be said that 4/46 really wasn’t on par.
Now, where were we. Right, Phil stood sullenly as his batter trudged back to the bleachers and looked worried as who else but his son, Asher, walked to the middle. Who would have guessed it? Another father son duo at the crease. Would the same misfortune that befell the Agius pair skittle the Tarboxs?
In his 50th game for the club, Asher looked skittish in his first few balls, losing his head and swiping at a couple outside off stump. His level-headed old man beseeched him to calm his farm with a well-timed gesture. How pivotal that advice proved to be.
The scoreboard began ticking over nicely, and Rangers decided it was time to bring part timers on, or as well call it, ‘Judball’. Seeing the similarities to his good mate (Jud), Phil struck a glorious 6 over the leg side boundary in the last over before drinks. A cold brew began to look even more tempting. But the very next ball hardly bounced and Phil (59) got trapped on the crease, the second last ball before drinks! An end to a very good partnership worth 55. Well done Tarboxs, you outlasted the Agius boys! The team was now at 5/101 after 27 overs, a much more respectable position.
With more work to be done, Asher and Simon Davies (18) put on a partnership worth 53. Now it must be said, Asher has batted moderately well in the past but had consistently played second fiddle. Now was his time to shine. Simon (18) was then dismissed by the same part-timer who dismissed Phil, and a similar non-bouncing delivery.
Imran Khan (no relation, probably) came to the crease and looked to make his first run of the season. For one of the best nets batters Summer Hill has ever seen, Imran has had an impressive run of ducks in his first season. True to his tale, he attempted to slog his second ball over cow corner and was caught on the boundary.
Not that he knew it, Asher, now on 48*, had surpassed his highest score and was closing in on his maiden 50! A few balls later, the crowd cheered and A Tarbox jubilantly raised his bat for the first time. What a moment, what a player! From 3/6 to 5/143, an innings saving score (with of course a handy contribution from Phil).
It is at this time that I will inform you, the reader, if you are not already aware, that Asher has the pleasure to be writing this report for you.
Now the bowlers began coming in, but Asher continued to lift the teams score with a uniquely leg side dominated innings. He even hit a 6! Never mind it was a top edge that was kindly picked up by the wind and deposited over square leg.
Eventually, he attempted a sweep shot (the first instance of that shot in his innings) and was caught at deep mid-wicket. A career high 77, and a maiden 50 in his 50th game! Lachie (18) contributed some lower order runs, all via cut shots, and Summer Hill were bowled out for 208, a mile ahead of where the team had thought we’d end up.
Summer Hill then had 3 overs to bowl to Ranger’s opening pair, one of which was not available the next week. They made 20 runs, and that fellow departed caught at cow corner on the last ball of day’s play.
Day 2
Now time for a shorter summary of day 2.
Luca and Asher (after his fantastic effort on day 1) opened the bowling and looked dangerous from ball one. Each picked up two wickets in their first spells. At one point, Asher even said to Luca, ‘Let’s finish this in the first spell’. This proved not to be the case, but both bowled with great control and grit.
Having picked up the young opener’s wicket in their previous entanglement, Asher new A Mitchell would fall for a straight one and be caught LBW. His first delivery to him could not have been a better ball. Starting on middle and swinging to just over off stump, Mitchell could not have been further from it as he tried to turn it down the leg side.
The highlight of our bowling innings was Leo Tarbox, who has not bowled in a match since dislocating his thumb at the start of the season, clean up the stumps with a beautiful in-swinging yorker first pill. Remarkable, and the batsman could have not looked dirtier.
A docile innings from Rangers saw Luca finish with 3/11 off 10, Asher with 2/14 off 9, Leo with 2/6 off 5.2 and Owen with 1/16 off 6. A commanding first innings win from Summer Hill, with both strong batting and bowling performances.
Summer Hill elected to bowl again to try and edge a bonus point and thought they had achieved it when the Rangers captain retired hurt, but the rule book got in the way. Summer ended up taking 2 wickets, picked up by Luca (with an amazing piece of strategic and controlled bowling) and Rayhan.
Overall, a convincing win and a strong performance across the team. Well done, boys!
Best Batting
77 Asher Tarbox
59 Phil Tarbox
Best Bowling
3/18 Luca Agius
2/6 Leo Tarbox
2/14 Asher Tarbox