The first weekend of cricket in Canberra every summer is usually covered by one or more of the following: wet weather, cold weather, or ball dominating bat as everyone gets rid of winter and pre-season rust.
Earlier in the week, the weather forecast wasn’t great. It didn’t rain, thankfully, but it was certainly on the cooler side. But ball definitely did dominate bat on the opening weekend of Premier Cricket.
At Kippax 1, Harry Medhurst’s return to Weston Creek-Molonglo’s lineup after a few seasons out of the game had an immediate impact, with the former ACT Comets allrounder posting the only century of the weekend across any grade, while also rescuing the ‘Creek out of a serious bind.
Ginninderra struck early to have the ‘Creek in major trouble at 5/10, and then only marginally better at 7/148, but as Medhurst’s bat got going, the runs started flowing. Ansh Tiwary and PNG international Norman Vanua both posted fifties, but it was with no.11 Jason McNally that the records started tumbling.
In the end, Medhurst (121 from 99 balls) and McNally (67) added 136 for the 10th wicket, the biggest last-wicket partnership in ACT cricket history, while McNally’s knock was the second-highest score by a no.11 batter.
Weston Creek-Molonglo all out 356 from 78 overs in the end, with Ginninderra 0/43 in reply.
Elsewhere, ANU leg-spinner and Cricket ACT Pathways product Jake Smith took 6-60 from 23 overs and WA offie Lachlan Simpson took three wickets as the Students rolled North Canberra-Gungahlin for 175 at Keith Tournier Memorial Oval. ANU is 2/67 in reply at Stumps.
Queanbeyan quick Tom Atlee finished with 5/25 from 18 overs as the Bluebags knocked Western Districts over for 136 at Jamison, though Wests took four wickets in reply as Queanbeyan finished Day 1 4/91 and in a strong position.
And Eastlake will start the second day on 1/21 in chase of Tuggeranong’s 188 at Kingston. Tuggies lost 4/25 through the middle order and then their last three wickets for 11 to be bowled out in 82 overs.
Five of the Demons seven bowlers took a wicket in a strong return from their bowling unit.
Lower grade standouts:
- ANU’s Joseph Wright took 5-37 from nine overs in 2nd Grade, as they bowled Norths out for 164 in 65 overs at ANU North.
- Eastlake’s Irantha Rajapaksha took five of Tuggeranong’s last six wickets in 4th Grade at Chisholm 2, to finish with 5-44 from 16 overs.
The 5th and 6th Grade competitions, the Women’s Lyn O’Meara Cup one-day competition, and Cricket ACT junior competitions all start this weekend coming.
If we weren’t ready for it before, cricket season is finally underway.
Article by Brett McKay