Match Reports - Round 1, Day 1

1st Grade
With all considerations taken into account I believe 1ST Grade should be happy with their first days efforts. Yes, we do have areas that we need to improve on but the way every player made a conscious effort to contribute to the teams performance was great. The attitude and the way the team carried themselves during the day should be commended. Special mention goes to the opening bowlers Ben Semmler and Daniel Lawrence. They bowled exceptionally well, focussing on bowling to set fields. Ben's long spell obviously showed how hard he has been working off the field with his cricket. All players need to follow this example. Thanks for setting the tone Ben. Dan Whale's batting towards the end of the innings showed how important developing partnerships are.

2nd Grade
To follow

3rd Grade
Won the toss and elected to bat on a greenish hard topped pitch which could go either way. Missing an opener Cory opened up with Patty in what was a short lived partnership with Cory missing his middle stump from a gem of an yorker at the end of the second over. Garry Whale and Patty added some stability at the top end with some sensible batting until patty was removed. This opened up a good opportunity for Ryan Hansen to get some time in the middle with the cool headed Garry Whale, this opportunity wasn't missed with some good straight batting display and some nice drives to the fence from the young bloke showing the rest of us how easy it should of been! With the fall of whales wicket came one of City's lost sons now refound in Cale Penrith who while still a little rusty from 3 seasons missed, quickly added some entertainment when he got his eye in, cracking an awesome six over the clubhouse and some nice drives to the fence in his middle order display. With Cale gone it was up to the bottom order to milk as many valuable runs as they could with Phill Cook sticking in punishing anything he could reach whilst in with rod Pryor and Adam Ballantine. City managed a total all out for 143. In the field city was set to attack mode, wickets were needed and the opening bowlers bowled too well at times to get that edge which was hung out many a time. With the small square boundaries always hard to defend wests had a good middle order stand by ex City player Ben Cleghorn who managed to slap a few boundaries and do some damage before he was removed on 47. A few quick late wickets managed to put City back in the game with some nice tight fielding efforts after the runs were slipping away to have Wests at 9for 146, with both teams close it should be an arm wrestle next weekend to the last delivery. At stumps Wests 9/146 Regards,Cory Callcott