New Norfolk at top of cricket ladder after 11 rounds

Aaron Maddox was man-of-the-match in last
weekend's Ben Eyles Memorial game.

Southern Cricket Association 
Men’s 50-over matches (Derwent Valley games)
Round 11

FIRST GRADE: New Norfolk I climbed into top spot of the First Grade ladder when it scored its second win in a row, defeating Montagu Bay by a comfortable 76 runs at Geilston Bay. Winning the toss and batting, the Red Caps made the excellent score of 6/300 off their allotted 50 overs. The big score was due to a very good knock from Seb Wishart who made 73 from 117 deliveries. The opener (who in his last two hits has made 159 runs) put on 56 with captain Matthew Bowden, 36 runs, and 91 with the in-form Jordan Banks-Smith who made a very good 70 from just 62 balls. Banks-Smith hit 88 in Round 9 and 83 last week in the bushfire appeal match hit four fours and three nice sixes in a great display of batting. Jason Rigby smacked 39 from just 23 with two 4s and three 6s. Thomas Briscoe was also up to the task, belting 39 from a measly 17, hitting two 4s and four 6s. Opener Aaron Drew made 22 from 15 (three 4s). In reply the home side reached 9/224 from its 50 overs. Opener Thomas Briscoe made it a double, taking 4-22 (9) in a great spell while Jordan Banks-Smith took 1-32 (7).

Brian Smith played his 350th game for Gretna last weekend
and team-mate Corey Ransley played his 250th. 

SECOND GRADE: Gretna I made it three wins on the trot when it defeated Molesworth I by 48 runs for the Ben Eyles Memorial at Boyer Oval. Winning the toss and batting, the home side had Gretna in big trouble at 7/88, but then a rescue mission from Aron Maddox - who has been in great form - made a valuable 59 not out (five 4s). Maddox, who made 51no last week, put on 56 with the reliable Marc Worldon, 19, and then 48 with Corey Ransley, 18, from just 15 (one four, one six). Gretna was all out for 192 from 49 overs. Molesworth opening bowler Jeremy Nichols did very well with the ball,  removing both Gretna openers and finishing with 4/36 off 9. Brayden Hodge was tight with 2-25 (10) as was Brad Coppleman with 1-28 (10) including four maidens. In reply, Molesworth was going along nicely at 4/131, but then lost its captain and top-scorer Brad Coppleman for 45 (four 4s, two 6s). Things didn’t go to plan from there and with this wicket lost 6-13 to be all out for 144 from 42.5 overs. Nick Piuselli made 24 and put on a 50-run stand with his captain. Gretna needed some tight bowling for its fightback and this was delivered by captain Ben Rainbird who took 3-8 off just five overs and Aaron Maddox - who continues to play some great cricket - took 3-16 off 4.5 overs. Mathew Burns and Craig Cunningham took 1-26 (10) and 1-26 (9) respectively, while Trent Grant took 1-21 (5) and Corey Ransley 1-44 (8). Gretna has now won the Ben Eyles Memorial match for the past three seasons and its great to see both clubs keeping this event going in memory of Ben who was such a great cricketer with Ouse and later Molesworth. Congratulations to Corey Ransley who played his 250th club match for Gretna. He has played 221 for Gretna I and 29 for Gretna II. Being still relatively young, this total will only extend to bigger milestone. Well done mate.

New Norfolk II remains on top of the Second Grade ladder with its win over the Knights in a close one by 14 runs. Playing at home, the Red Caps won the toss and elected to bat, making 10/190 off 45.1 overs. In reply, the visitors put in a gallant effort to knock off the leading team, but fell just short, finishing all out for 176 off 45.2 overs. With the bat for New Norfolk it was opener Rohan Heron who top-scored making 49 from 78 deliveries with six 4s. Richard Graham made a very handy 37 from 43, hitting two 4s and two 6s. Graham put on 69 for the sixth wicket with Mitch Crosswell who made 32 from just 38, hitting three 4s and one 6. Stewart Rice made 27 from 25. With the ball, Bradley Chaplin, who has now taken 12 wickets from five matches, bowled very well taking 4-25 from 9.2 overs. Stewart Rice was tight with 2-22 (10) as was Mitch Crosswell who took 1-17 (7).

FOURTH GRADE: A vintage effort by veteran Joey Eyles guided the in-form Bothwell I to its sixth consecutive win when it defeated Montagu Bay by four wickets at home on Saturday. After winning the toss and batting, the visitors were bowled out for 140 off 37.4 overs. Keeping it to the low score was Joey Eyles who snared 31 off 6 overs while his son and team captain Cody Eyles took 3-30 (8). Matty Eyles was tight as usual taking 1-9 (4) and opener Brock Nichols 1-20 (5.4). In reply, the Bucks chased down the target with 10.3 overs to spare finishing 6/141. Opening the batting, Joey Eyles showed his experience and patience with a very good 49 from 103 deliveries. Eyles occupied the crease for 132 minutes striking eight fours and sharing a 52-run stand with Adam Clark who held his own with 19no (two 4s). Matthew Eyles made 14 while Nathan Eyles remained not out (one four, one six).

FIFTH GRADE: A superb double hat-trick to Nathan Heron for New Norfolk III surprisingly wasn’t enough for the Red Caps to get over the line in their match against Claremont at Abbotsfield Park on Saturday. Winning the toss and batting, Claremont was sailing at 4/138 and then in comes spinner Nathan Heron who bamboozled the Magpies, taking five wickets to have the home side 9/138. But Heron wasn’t done, and claimed the last wicket with Claremont finishing 10/153 off 40.3 overs and the Red Caps captain finishing with unbelievable figures of 6-18 off 7.3 overs with two maidens. Heron’s double hat trick was even more impressive considering his team was two players short with his wickets being three caught, two bowled and one LBW which was his fifth wicket. In reply, New Norfolk - being the two short - was bowled out for 97 off 30 overs. This club's first SCA double hat-trick. The top-scorer was last man Tejas Patel who made 23no. Nathan Heron got amongst it all, making 21. Chris Hall made 12 and Brad Smith 10.

Gretna II made it three wins in a row, when it thrashed Derwent by the big margin of nine wickets at Gretna. Winning the toss, Gretna sent in the visitors and dismissed them for the low total of 54 off 26.2 overs. Opener Josh Whitford bowled extremely well sending down 10 overs to take 3-14. Captain Ross Langford showed the way doing just as well, taking 3-15 from 8 including three maidens. Opener Adam Browning brought tight bowling to a new level when he sent down five over taking 2 for just 8 runs. Bailey Wheeler needed just two balls to take the last wicket, taking 1-1. With the bat, Zac Crosswell didn’t muck about making 32 from 31, hitting three 4s and one 6. Ross Langford remained 13no and Todd Jarvis 5no. Gretna finished the match early on 1/56 from 10.3 overs. Congratulations to evergreen Brian Smith who in this game racked up his 350th club match for Gretna. Smith, 57, continues to come back every season and still wicket-keeps. He has now played 125 matches for Gretna I and 225 for Gretna II. I reckon their is another 50 matches left in him yet, for 400 with Gretna and around 700 matches with all clubs since his debut with Westerway/Maydena in season 1981/82 when they won the flag. He needs just two matches to overtake Micky Rainbird for the most Gretna II games on 226. Congratulations also to Jake Campbell who played his 50th match for Gretna II.

SEVENTH GRADE: In the rain-affected match at Geilston Bay on Sunday, Molesworth II went down to Derwent by seven wickets. After being sent in, Molesworth made 4/156 off its allotted 37 overs. In reply Derwent nearly ran out of overs chasing down the target, finishing 3/159 off 34.1 overs. With the bat for Molesworth, captain Jack Evans made 46no, hitting four 4s. Nick Wakefield made 37 while his brother Nathan made 32 with both hitting one 4 each. Anthony Murray 11. Molesworth used nine bowlers, with Tye Benson the wicket taker with 2-11 (2) and there was one run-out.

The match between Bothwell II and Old Beach at Cloak Oval was a washout.

WADE GLEESON

NEXT GAMES
Round 12, to be played on February 8-9. All matches start at 10:30am.

FIRST GRADE
Saturday: New Norfolk I v Sorell at Sorell Oval No.1.

SECOND GRADE
Saturday: Gretna I v Richmond/Cambridge at Richmond Oval; Molesworth I v Derwent at Boyer Oval; New Norfolk II v MacKillop at Tynwald Park.

FOURTH GRADE
Sunday: Bothwell I v Hobart at Wentworth Park.

FIFTH GRADE
Saturday: Gretna II v Lindisfarne at Lindisfarne Oval No.2; New Norfolk III v Sorell at Campania.

SEVENTH GRADE
Sunday: Bothwell II v St Virgil’s at Bothwell; Molesworth II v Claremont at Abbotsfield Park.