AFTER a shaky start to the latest cricket season, the Karuah/Tea Gardens Sharks have come away from rounds three and four with victories, as they aim to reclaim their historic title at the top of the ladder.
The Sharks ventured out to Vacy Sports Ground on Saturday, 1 November, bowling home side Vacy Stockmans out for a total of 127 runs (off 23 overs).
“Aiden Bills took 3/35 from his six overs and Paul Mascord kept the run rate down with 0/22 with a maiden over from his seven overs,” the Sharks’ Bowen Betts told NOTA.
“Trent Page and Lucas Barry joined the bowling attack with some great bowling, with Trent getting 4/31 off seven overs. “Lucas also kept the run rate down while taking a wicket with his 1/25 off seven overs.”
Mark Woolard bowled a safe maiden over with two more batters to come in, before Bowen Betts took 2/0 in two balls to finish out the innings.
Karuah/Tea Garden went into bat chasing a score of 127, with openers Trent Page and Matthew Price quickly building a 50-run partnership within five overs.
“[Page and Price] trickled away at the runs to score 134 not out, including some really great batting from Matthew, with 51 runs and eight boundaries, and Trent batted fantastically with 74 runs and 15 boundaries,” Bowen said.
The previous week brought the first win of the season for the Sharks, at Dungog against the Settlers Arms Hammers.
“The Sharks’ opening bowlers Trent and Lucas ripped into their batting attack and it didn’t take long before the first wicket fell,” Bowen said.
“Our next wicket was hard fought but some hard to read spin bowling from Ben Woolard was too much and knocked the bails off.”
Ben soon followed up that wicket with another, dismissing the batsman for a duck, before Captain Lucas Barry removed another batter through an LBW decision.
Mark Woolard continued to impress with the ball, taking two wickets in one over for just two runs, before Anthony Grant added another two wickets in two overs.
Chasing a total of 145, Sharks opening batsmen Trent Page and Matthew Price set the tone, ably supported by Ben Woolard.
By the end of the 31st over the Sharks had the Hammers beat, scoring 148 runs and losing just three wickets.
The local cricketers have also taken the opportunity to pay tribute to 17-year-old Victorian cricketer Ben Austin, who died on Thursday after being struck by a ball at a training session.
“This week we learnt of the passing of a young cricketer from Victoria during a training session in the nets which shocked the whole cricket community throughout Australia,” Bowen added.
“We really wanted to show our condolences as a club and part of the district organisation.
“Both teams felt a minute’s silence on the pitch was the least we could do, so we stood side by side to honour the young fallen cricketer for an emotional minute.”
By Thomas O’KEEFE
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