Southern cricket kicks off

Southern Cricket Association
Round 1 - Derwent Valley games

FIRST GRADE
Saturday
IN a very close and high-scoring encounter at Tynwald Park, New Norfolk I went down to Wellington by seven runs. The visitors won the toss and hit up the good score of 9-238 off its 50 overs. In reply the Red Caps gave the target a real shake which was due to assistant coach John Ferguson who belted a 122 in his first knock for his new club. Ferguson came to the crease with the score at 1-14 and was dismissed with score at 197 hitting 14-4s and 4-6s. Josh Rowlands 26 and coach Todd Rusher 12 then put their heads down and got the team close, but it wasn't to be and the Red Caps ran out of overs. Aaron Drew 14 also did well down the order. Josh Rowlands 3-37 (10) and Josh Walsh 2-26 (6) were the best of the New Norfolk bowlers while John Ferguson took 2-41 (10).

In the first match for Molesworth I in first grade, the visitors went down to St Virgils by five wickets. Winning the toss and batting, Molesworth hit up the good score of 10 for 193 off 35.1 overs. Daniel Adams opened the batting making 14, but it was the young gun wicket keeper/batsman Cody Neads who played a very good innings of 67. Neads struck seven boundaries in a positive start to the season. Neads was well supported by Nathan Eiszele who also got amongst the runs making 64 (5-4s, 5-6s). The pair put on 102 for the fifth wicket, taking the score to 160. Josh Ransley then made 14 helping the score to nearly 200. In reply, the home team lost just the five wickets chasing down the total to finish 5-198 off 30.1 overs. Having a good match, Nathan Eiszele was the main wicket taker, finishing with 2-32 off 6.3. The match could easily have finished in Molesworth's favour, but six catches went down and as they say "catches win matches". Next week boys.


SECOND GRADE
Saturday
Gretna I had the bye.

THIRD GRADE
Saturday
Playing at home, Bushy Park got on the winners list early by defeating Runnymede in a relatively close match. Bushy won the toss and had first hit, making the modest total of 10-158 off 35 overs. In reply the visitors who had just the 10 players nearly spoilt the party falling just 20 runs shy. Opener Troy Smith topped scored with 48 while keeper Shaun Fenton made 32 and Dylan Grant 13. Young Blake Howlett was the pick of Bushy Park's bowlers taking 3-18 (5). Mitch Crosswell took 2-1 (2) while Nathan Grant 1-14 (7.3) and new player Aaron Triffitt got 1-20 (3).

In the other third grade match, playing at home, Gretna II went down to a very polished Knights outfit by nine wickets. Winning the toss and batting, Gretna was bowled out for just 87 off 40.4 overs. Corey Ransley top-scored with 26 (4-4s) and Jackson Ackerly 13 (2-4s). In reply, the Knights made light work of the run chase finishing 9-91 off just 17.3 overs. Corey Ransley finishing with 1-21 (4). Congratulations to Adam Browning for playing his 100th game for Gretna.
 
FOURTH GRADE
Sunday
Playing its debut match in the SCA, the Bothwell Cricket Club sent a big message to the other fourth grade teams with a big 161-run win over New Norfolk II at Tynwald Park. Winning the toss and opting to bat, Bothwell made the excellent score of 7-247 off its 50 overs. This was thanks to its vice captain and opener Craig Davey who made a terrific 106. Davey remained at the crease until he was out with the score on 7-206. Matthew Eyles 38, while Brock Nichols remained 22 not out. Tyler White made 17 and Nathan Eyles 12. The wicket takers for the Red Caps were young guns Mitch Rice 2-28 (7), Will Banks 2-8 (2) and Rhys Franklin 1-28 (5). While Nathan Heron got 1-63 (10).
In reply New Norfolk was bowled out for 86. Nathan Heron and Nathon Rice top-scored with 16 runs each and Jye Bearman scored 10. For the Bucks, Matthew Eyles had a great game taking 4-19 (6). Peter Hanch did very well 3-11 (5) while Nathan White 2-17 (6) and Nathan Eyles 1-13 (5).

In the other fourth grade match, Molesworth II went down to Rokeby at Bushy Park by two wickets. Molesworth won the toss and having first hit made 10 for 126 off 27.4 overs. Batting at number seven, Martyn Evans made a very handy 44 (5-4s). Jake Foster made 18, captain Sam Triffitt 15. Nick Wakefield did very well making 13 and Brad Ransley 12. In the run chase, Rokeby reached the target off 38.5 overs, but only had two wickets remaining. Martyn Evans had a good day taking 2-12 (6) while Jake Bearman got 2-15 (7). Sam Triffitt and Brad Ransley got two each.

SIXTH GRADE
Sunday
In a good match, New Norfolk III went down to Derwent at Shoobridge Park by 36 runs. Winning the toss, the Red Caps sent the home side in who hit up the good score of 10-210 off 47.5 overs. In a total family affair the Kemmler boys cleaned up. Coby Kemmler was the main destroyer for the visitors bagging a excellent 4-15 (5) while brother Blake took 2-37 (10) and father and captain Brad Kemmler took 2-40 (10). In reply the Red Caps got fairly close but were bowled out for 174 off 35.5 overs. And again the Kemmler boys showed their talent, with opener Blake making 44 (4-4s), Brad 22 and Coby 12. However it was Lachlan Dootson at number nine who made a very valuable and top-score of 45 (5-4s, 1-6). Up the order for you next match Lachlan! Brenton Nichols made 10.

Due to lack of players, Molesworth III has pulled out of the roster.