Kookaburra Southern Cricket Association T20 Super Bash men’s Round 2.

WITH the weather still playing havoc with the cricket rosters, thankfully we got some T20 matches played during the week and weekend, although some matches were still washed out.

I can’t recall a season like it with so many weeks in a row without any cricket, but the weather does look like it’s improving somewhat.

The T20 roster is now completed with finals to be played in January.

This weekend the Men’s 50 and 40-over rosters begin and Round 1 of the Women’s roster will start on Sunday.

The last of the rosters in the Hurricanes Junior League Stage One Girls begin this Friday evening.

Let’s take a look at what T20 matches were completed.

FIRST GRADE
ON Sunday at Tynwald Park, New Norfolk I went down to the Knights by 26 runs.
After being sent into bat, the Knights made the good score of 4/148 from their allotted 20 overs, and in reply the Redcaps finished 7/122.
Thomas Briscoe topped scored with a quick-fire 32 from just 17 deliveries, hitting two fours and three sixes.
In his debut first-grade match for New Norfolk, Josh Farrow at number eight made 30 from 26 balls (one six).
Blake Kemmler 19 (30) one six and Seb Wishart 16 (19) two fours were next best.
Of the bowlers for the home team, Brandon Kopper was the main wicket taker with 2-27 (4) while Josh Rowlands took 1-20 (3) and Josh Farrow 1-31 (3).
New Norfolk finished second in Pool B and will play off in the semi finals.
And a big congratulations to the popular Josh Rowlands who played his 200th club game for the Redcaps.
Josh who is just 25 years of age has plenty of cricket to offer his beloved club and has already won six grand finals along the way.
Josh’s family have been fine contributors with both his parents, Adrian and Wendy, and his uncle Snowy Rowlands all life members.

SECOND GRADE
AT Boyer Oval on Saturday, Molesworth I booked themselves into a semi-final when they easily defeated St Virgil’s by 7 wickets.
Winning the toss and sending the visitors in, the Saints made 7/129 from their 20 overs.
Stepping up with the ball for Molesworth was Jayden Wilton who had a great spell taking 4 for just 9 runs from his four overs. Wilton collected the top four Knights batsman.
Captain Daniel Coppleman took 2-34 (4) and Kye Tomkinson 1-22 (3).
In the run chase Molesworth got the job done with little fuss finishing 3/130 from just 14.4 overs.
Doing the damage with the bat were the Coppleman brothers who between them made 109 runs and put on a 71-run stand.
Daniel Coppleman hit five fours and six sixes during his 76 not out from just 41 balls while Brad made 33 from 25 and hitting four sixes.
The other game on Saturday between Gretna I and St Aidans at Gretna, the rain gods were looking over the home team.
After being sent into bat, Gretna were bowled out for probably its lowest total in a very long time for just 24.
Lasting just 10.3 overs for the dismal total, no Gretna batsmen made double figures and six of the 11 made ducks (two golden and one diamond).
However, after having the visitors at 2-9 from one over, the heavens opened and the thunder rolled putting an end to the match. Aaron Maddox was the wicket taker with 2-7 (1).
On Sunday at Tynwald Park, New Norfolk had a convincing nine-wicket win over Sorell.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bat making the small total of 9/78 from its 20 overs.
In reply the Redcaps chased down the target from just 6.5 overs finishing 1/80.
Opener Aaron Drew didn’t muck around making 45 not out from just 24 balls, 40 of his runs coming in boundaries, hitting seven fours and two sixes.
Jason Rigby also didn’t waste time belting 31 not out from just 17 deliveries, hitting one four and three sixes.
The pair putting on a very good 51 together.
Earlier all six bowlers used took wickets.
David Mitchelmore sent down his four overs to finish with 2-13 while opener Jack Evans took 2-16 from his four overs.
Aaron Drew did well with both bat and ball taking 1-11 (4), Stewart Rice 1-17 (4), Jason Rigby 1-4 (2) and Troy Smith 1-16 (2) were the other wicket takers.

FOURTH GRADE
ON Sunday at Bothwell, the home team went down by 18 runs.
Winning the toss and batting first, Old Beach we’re kept to 8/91 from their 20 overs.
Doing the damage for the Bucks was veteran Matthew Eyles who sent down four overs to capture 5-7 in a terrific spell of bowling. Blake Rogers snared 2-14 from three overs and new player Josh Nichols was tidy taking 1-9 (3).
In the run chase, Bothwell lost regular wickets finishing 10/73 from 18.4 overs.
Josh Nichols topped scored with 29 (42) one four.

FIFTH GRADE
AN excellent spell of bowling from Simranpreet Singh helped Gretna II book a semi final birth with a great 35 run win over MacKillop at Gretna on Saturday.
After being sent into bat, the home team made 6/109 from its 20 overs then defending their modest total, Gretna were losing grip of the game early with the Beltas opening batsmen putting on 47 for the first wicket.
Then what happened next, well you had to be there to believe it!
The visitors lost the remaining nine wickets for just 27 runs, bowler Simranpreet Singh single handedly turned the game on its head taking 7-15 from just four overs!
And what’s more the medium pacer took a hat-trick.
Of all seven wickets, no assistance was need for the cheerful guy from India, five being bowled, one LBW and one caught and bowled!
It was carnage at the “G”.
Trent Grant finished with very tidy figures of 2-7 (4) and Captain Josh Whitford 1-29 (2.1).
Earlier with the bat for the winners, Josh Whitford topped scored with 33 (39) two fours and put on a fourth wicket stand of 48 with the man of the moment Simranpreet “Simmy” Singh who made 14 from 24 balls.
Opener Zac Crosswell made 14 (27) two fours and Ben Rainbird in his first game back since his achilles injury made a handy 13 (14) hitting one four.
This was a very special match for 11 year old Cooper Gleeson who after being named in the side for four times running and all four matches not going ahead due to the rain or the Covid-19 lockdown, the passionate cricketer made his debut and what’s more he got to play it with his brother Brodie and father in yours truly.
I must say it was my proudest moment at the club, very special indeed.
Cooper is the 322nd player to play for Gretna since the 1977/78 season.

SIXTH GRADE
AT Cadbury Oval No.1 on Saturday, New Norfolk III defeated St Anne’s by 38 runs and in doing so finished on top of the sixth grade Pool B T20 ladder.
Being sent into bat, the Red-caps made 7/111 from their 20 overs.
Defending their modest total, they bowled the Crows out for 73, the last wicket falling on last ball of their 20 overs.
Torne Tangata took 3-11.
Young Tyler Benson was tight taking 2-4 (2) and Ivan Zwart also tight with 2-7 (4).
Opener Mitch Crosswell was his usual best taking 1-9 (4).
Another youngster in Tom Eiszele took 1-14 (2) and spinner Nathan Heron 1-27 (4).
Earlier with the bat, opener Jake King top-scored with 23 from 28 balls hitting two fours.
Tyler Benson had a good game making 20 not out from 29 deliveries, which included one six.
Benson put on a very handy eighth wicket partnership of 32 with new comer Beau Kline who had a good cameo with a valuable 19 not out from just 11 balls with two fours.

SEVENTH GRADE
AT Bothwell on Sunday, the home team had a good six-wicket win over MacKillop.
Winning the toss and batting first the visitors were cruising at 2/57 then lost 8/18 to be bowled out for 75 from 18.5 overs.
This was a result of some great bowling by Peter Hansch who captured 3-6 from 3.5 overs.
Ryan Triffitt was also on the money taking 3-21 (4) In the run chase the Bucks got the job done finishing 4/76 from 14.4 overs. Opener Simon Eyles made 22 not out from 36 balls.
Ashley Browning 15 (17) one four and captain Joey Eyles 11 (18) one four.
Bothwell have now won all three games and finished on top of the seventh grade T20 ladder.
The other match was a wash out between Molesworth II and St Virgil’s at Boyer Oval.
The game started before the rain came with the Saints being sent in and making 4/120. Nathan Triffitt took 2-18 (2).
Tye Benson 1-12 (2) and Nathan Wakefield 1-24 (4).
There was no further play.