WAIMATE CRICKET CLUB

Despite the best efforts of Tim Suddaby with 52 with the bat and 2-26 Waimate Second Grade fell 66 runs short chasing a target of 251 set by Roncalli.

Ryza Manson was in the runs again with 31 and El Sheppo scored 26 but eventually Waimate succumbed for 185 and with Celtic getting thrashed by Mackenzie/Geraldine the fight for finals places is closing up again.

Scoresheet:
Roncalli 251
D Dorgan 76, J Shaw 48, G Hamel 39
P Wallace 5.3 0 27 4, T Suddaby 4 0 26 2, N Sheppard 8 0 63 2

Waimate 185
T Suddaby 52, R Manson 31, N Sheppard 26
M Dorgan 8 0 33 4, D Dorgan 6 0 21 3, B Gilbert 8 2 29 2

This weekend the Waimate Cricket Club lost one of their long serving players, as Matt Devlin leaves Waimate to join his brother James (Jimmy D) in Aussie. He has played his cricket for Waimate for his whole life from Primary School JAB to his current rank as a first choice senior player.

My first involvement with Dev was when he was a precocious third former who couldn’t sit still but had that Devlin spirit of never lying down as he spent seemingly his whole life trying to beat older brother James (Jimmy) in any sport they played from the backyard cricket tests at home to touch and on field rugby.

Those that know Matt will know that schoolwork was never high on the agenda (although certain female teachers did gain favour), but if he could work out an angle to do something better in the sporting field, then he would give it a try. I remember being frustrated in the nets when trying to teach the kids to play straight and “through the V” when all he wanted to do was practice reverse sweeps or shots that he had seen Nathan Astle play in a one day game.

It is this determination that has been the hallmark of his contributions to Waimate cricket to date, as he has had to change through injury from a fiery left-arm quick to a wily left-arm spinner who is always keen to give the ball flight but can give it a ‘tweak’ when conditions suit. Many of us have seen him put his shoulder out before changing to spin, once when appealing as he threw his arms in the air, but although his efforts at the bowling crease have never waivered, it has been his batting which has improved the most in my time.

He capped off his school career with a century, a feat not many Waimate boys can boast, while since joining senior ranks he has managed at least one half century a season with 74 not out in 2006, 74 (out) in 2007 and 52 in 2008. You can read his stats and figures up until 2007 here and in due course these will be fully listed.

I wish Matt all the best on behalf of the club and hope that he keeps in contact with everyone whether by reading about our matches or via facebook, and to make sure whenever he is home visiting his Mum or Dad he brings his whites!

Mark Medlicott
Chief Cricket Reporter Timaru Herald
That bits to use on your CV in Aussie Dev, or skite to new found friends!

With both teams needing victory to have any chance at a final Waimate batted first with Matt Devlin opening in his club swansong before departing for Australia. It wasn’t a great send off and Waimate were soon in deep trouble at 58-5 before Alan Reid with 38 and Jason Sew Hoy 34 added some substance allowing Waimate to post a competitive 183. Tom McKnight had a successful day with the ball for Geraldine taking 3 of the first 4 wickets to fall.

Geraldine’s reply was built around Stephen Pagan’s 53, but unfortunately only Regan Tate with 35 got going and tight bowling, especially by Reuben Allan with 2-6 off six overs and good fielding saw Waimate dismiss Geraldine 16 runs short in another nailbiter. Alan Reid also capped off a good day by taking 2-25 and Matty D picked up one wicket.

         Waimate

         R Fox c Pagan b McKnight             5

         M Devlin b Drennan                  11

         N Sew Hoy b McKnight                 9

         H Matthews c Pagan b McKnight        0

         C Booth run out Tate                12

         R Allan stp Pagan b Galway          15

         J Sew Hoy c Tate b Galway           34

         A Reid c McKnight b Drennan         38

         S Devlin c Drennan b Chapman        16

         M Sew Hoy b Chapman                  3

         R Ford not out                       6

         Extras (2b, 9lb, 22w)               33

         Total (for 10 wkts)                183

         Fall: 5, 29, 29, 32, 58, 108, 119, 163, 169, 183.

         Bowling: H Drennan 8.5-3-26-2, T McKnight 9-1-32-3, P Chapman 9-0-35-2, C Esh 9-2-26-0, N Galway 9-0-53-2.

         Geraldine

         S Pagan c N Sew Hoy b Ford          53

         S Franklin c N Sew Hoy b Reid        0

         M Barnes c J Sew Hoy b M Sew Hoy    11

         G Metcalf c J Sew Hoy b Reid        16

         R Tate lbw b Fox                    35

         H Drennan c Reid b M Devlin         17

         P Lill lbw b Allan                  10

         C Esh c J Sew Hoy b Fox              5

         T McKnight not out                   5

         N Galway run out N Sew Hoy           3

         P Chapman c M Devlin b Allan         0

         Extras (4lb, 7w)                    11

         Total (for 10 wkts)                167

         Fall: 1, 30, 74, 89, 124, 146, 158, 158, 162, 167.

         Bowling: A Reid 9-1-25-2, M Sew Hoy 6-1-26-1, S Devlin 3-0-25-0, R Ford 6-1-32-1, M Devlin 6-1-30-1, R Fox 6-2-19-2, R Allan 5.4-1-6-2.

         Result: Win to Waimate by 16 runs.