WAIMATE CRICKET CLUB

Waimate Second grade team had their first win of the season on Saturday. They were playing Timaru Boys White in poor weather conditions. After the first week loss and rain affected second game the team was keen to put a win on the board and they didn’t disappoint.

The day started off wet and windy and cleared as the afternoon went on. Kerry Weir and Justin Thompson opened the bowling after a loss of the toss by Pete Wallace. They started well, going for 6 runs in the first 8 overs. Justin and Kerry got early success and at one point had TBHS 5 for 3. Then entered Sam Newman (4 Overs, 0 Maiden, 20 Runs, 0 Wickets) who struggled with the conditions. Brodie Devine (8, 2, 27, 0) bowled well down wind and had no luck as Justin put down an easy catch that would have taken the TBHS best batsman out. Zach Aikman (7, 0, 25, 3) the new player to the team bowled with speed and collected 3 good wickets after drinks. His accuracy will improve and I expect many more wickets and less beamers in his future.

Pete Wallace saving his back and experience for another day bowled only 5 overs but still took one wicket and controlled some attempts by the young TBHS side to smash him away. The old master Peter Wallace (5, 1, 21, 1) thought he better steady the ship and let Kerry and Justin finish the innings off. Justin (6.2, 2, 22, 4) finally got A Simpson (56) bowled, but not before he smacked Justin over the fence to kill his good figures. Kerry (9, 2, 20, 2) came back and collected one more wicket, and must have been very un-threatening as the TBHS scorers allowed him a ninth over by mistake. TBHS ended with 135 all out, a low score but the pitch was very lively and this target could be tough.

The batting effort was expected to do well, and today they didn’t disappoint. Connor and Ash made a good start with a 50 run partnership and no run outs today. Ash was first to go to a raising ball for 16. Connor batting extremely well kept going through to drinks with Murray Prattley (6) who had no luck today. Being caught by the chest of the smallest man on the field who still has not seen it and only held it because the dent it made in his chest made the perfect cup as he fell backwards.

Greg Paul (11) helped the team through to 108. Greg and Connor played well but after drinks when Greg went to a good catch at mid off and Connor well short of his 50 by 2 ending up being bowled for 48. Then Todd Bailey 19 not out and Justin Thompson 7 not out smacked some boundaries finishing the game off quickly. Todd crushing 16 off 5 balls to clean up the low total gave the Waimate 2nd Grade their first win of the season.

With Waimate playing the other TBHS team this week at the High School it could be a big challenge to get two wins in a row under our belts.

Waimate Second grade team had their first game of the season on Saturday. They were playing the other finalist Celtic. With a few promotions, self demotions, and knee surgery the team looked a little different to the one that won in 2007/08 season. We welcomed back some people too.

The day started off wet but cleared for a windy afternoon. Kerry Weir and Justin Thompson opened the bowling and after a way-ward start by Justin they both bowled well without success. Then entered Sam Newman (5 Overs, 1 Maiden, 14 Runs, 2 Wickets) who claimed the first wicket off an interesting bad ball. His second was a good catch by Connor Farrell and quickly both Celtic openers were gone.

Murray Prattley (4, 1, 28, 0) the new old master of the team also bowled but after 2 good overs, he was taken to the sword by the Celtic top scorer A Bailey who got a rapid fire 87. The old master Peter Wallace (7.4, 0, 49, 2) thought he better steady the ship and brought himself on. While going for the odd boundary he also was his miserly self as the batters tried to take to him and Brodie Devine (7, 0, 41, 1). Brodie bowled well in the batter friendly conditions, collecting the wicket of P Ryan (31) who batted well with A Bailey.

Justin (8, 0, 32, 3) then returned and took 3 quick wickets removing H Curtis 15, P Aitken for a golden duck, S Wallace for 11. As Celtic’s middle order faulted as it tried to hit the fence Kerry (8, 1, 40, 2) came back and collected the dangerous wicket of A Bailey. Then Pete not to be left out, tidied up the last wicket in the last over of the innings. Waimate looking at a large chase were happier with 208 than what was expected at the drinks back half way through Celtic’s innings.

The batting effort was expected to do well, but had some control issues with 6 players being caught. Murray made a good return to Second grade with 23 after being dropped on 10. Greg Paul played well for 7 before an edge was caught and I still do not think the catcher at first slip has seen it. Then Todd Bailey 24 and Ryan Manson 24 smacked some boundaries and were well in form before Todd went once too often to long on and Ryan being caught also on the boundary in a Don McFarlane trap, after 2 huge 6′s.

Kerry was solid with 12 before being caught, and John Dyer and Sam were out quickly to leave Waimate hopelessly in trouble at 112 for 8. Justin batted roughly to get the team to the second to last over batting with Brodie briefly and working the strike with Pete. Pete finishing not out 7, and Justin getting 28 runs before trying to give gully some catching practice. The team struggled to 151 all out with a 35 run last wicket partnership.

With Waimate playing at Knottingley this week it will be a huge test against the MVHS/Star team.