Southern cricket - Round 15

Southern Cricket Association
Round 15
Derwent Valley matches 

FIRST GRADE - Saturday
New Norfolk I went down to Sorell at Sorell by 25 runs. The home side won the toss and batting first made 7 for 207 from its 50 overs. Ashley Morgan was the best of the Red Caps bowlers taking 2-46 from 10 overs. Jamie Maddox also tried hard with 1-20 from 8. In reply New Norfolk gave it their all, but just missed out being bowled out for 182 from 47.4 overs. After claiming two wickets, Ashley Morgan batted very well at number seven for a well-made 55, hitting five well-struck fours. Richard Graham made 30 with 5 fours. Opener and captain Rohan Heron got 28 (1x6). Josh Dykes made 17 while Jamie Maddox got 15 (1x4).

SECOND GRADE - Saturday
In temperatures of 34 degrees plus, and with only three roster matches remaining, Molesworth I got back on the winners list by defeating second-placed Sorell at Boyer Oval by four wickets. The home side won the toss and sent Sorell in to bat. In no time at all the visitors were all out for 77.  The damage was caused mainly by the experienced Dean King who finished with the excellent figures of 10 overs (five maidens) 4-13. All the other bowlers also did very well, Nathan Eiszele 2-12 (7), Martyn Evans 2-13 (6), Brad Coppleman 1-12 (7) and Josh Ransley opened the bowling taking 1-22 from 5. In reply Molesworth made hard work of it, losing six wickets before getting the win it was after. Wicket-keeper Cody Neads top-scored with 36 (2x4s), while young Josh Ransley at number eight did well remaining 17 not out.

At Sandford, Gretna I kept its winning run intact and climbed into the top five with a 50-run victory over Sandford. Winning the toss and batting first, Gretna made the good total of 198 from 41.5 overs. Captain Ben Rainbird opened the batting with a very good 64 which included (7x4s and 2x6s). Corey Ransley did his usual thing with a quickfire 32 hitting 2x4s and three very big sixes). Jack Gregson got 28 with 4x4s while brother Tom chipped in with 26 (3x4s and 1x6) and Todd Jarvis made 18. In reply Sandford was bowled out for 148. Rhys Browning was the main wicket taker, claiming some late wickets taking 4-14 off 3.4 overs. Corey Ransley again bowled well finishing 2-18 from 10 as did Daniel Browning 2-22 from 8. Aaron Maddox and Craig Cunningham finished with a wicket each. Well done to young Ryan Browning who was 12th man. He did a great job and took an excellent catch low down to dismiss the last batsman. Congratulations to Mathew Burns on playing his 250th match for Gretna I.

THIRD GRADE - Sunday
Bushy Park was completely outplayed in the battle for top spot, going down to Derwent by nine wickets at New Town. Bushy Park won the toss and elected to bat, but was skittled for just 106. Nathan Grant top-scored with 27 while Damien Madden got 22. Shaun Fenton made 15 and Troy Smith 12. Chasing the runs, Derwent was never in trouble, losing just the one wicket which went to Mitchell Crosswell 1-42 off 6. Bushy Park is now 3rd on the ladder but should bounce back against St Annes this weekend.

In the other Third Grade match, Gretna II went down to Runnymede by 99 runs at Gretna. Having first hit, the visitors made 9 for 187 from its 50 overs. Jackson Ackerly bowled well taking 3-35 from 10 including a very good caught and bowled. Brodie Gleeson showed good signs taking 3-48 from 10 while Darren Lennox and Tom Allcock claimed one wicket each. In the run chase, Gretna never really got going and was dismissed for 88. Brian Smith again to-scored with 26 (4x4s) while Zac Crosswell 12 (2x4s) and brother Luke 10 were the only others to score double figures. Wade Gleeson was out LBW for a golden duck on a hat-trick ball. You can't win them all.
 
FOURTH GRADE - Saturday
New Norfolk II suffered a 243-run loss to Hobart at Tynwald Park. The visitors won the toss and had first hit, knocking up the big total of 5 for 314 of 50 overs. Captain Josh Walsh tried hard for his team and finished with 3-57 from his 10 overs. Walsh had bowled Hobart's opener J. White for two runs, but the bails failed to come off and White went onto make 123. Nathan Rice 1-33 (6) and Brad Kemmler 1-35 (10) were the other wicket takers. Well done to Cody Morgan-Coleman and L. Dootson for bowling their first overs in senior cricket. In reply to the huge total, New Norfolk was bowled out for 71. Brad Kemmler top-scored with 19 while Nathan Rice again showed good signs remaining 11 not out. With nine players under the age of 21 in the team and four under the age of 14, this team showed great fight and spirit and has a very bright future ahead.
 
FIFTH GRADE - Sunday
Playing some great cricket of late, Molesworth II made it three wins on the trot by defeating Derwent by five wickets at Boyer Oval. Derwent had first knock, making 10 for 110 off 38.5 overs. This small total was due to the excellent bowling by all the Molesworth bowlers, in particular captain Brayden Hodge 4-26 (10) and Azza Triffitt 3-34 (10). The pair skittled the Derwent batsmen with little fuss. Chris Slater also did well with 1-15 from six while the other two wickets were runouts to keeper Tyson Gray and Jack Evans. In reply Molesworth finished 5 for 113 off 30.4 overs. Jye County top-scored with 32. Jacksyn Mann also did well with 24, while Jack Evans made 10. With this win and just three matches remaining before finals, Molesworth II looks to have all but sewn up a finals spot.