NSW benchmarking achievement
We got a big rap this week when we were advised that the NSW Dept of Sport and Recreation are doing a benchmark survey of 10 sports and doing a Case Study of a Club in each Sport as a guide to best practice that other Clubs can use to help them develop. We have been chosen as the benchmark cricket club in NSW that will be the case study. This acknowledges every facet of the Club – financial management, playing strength, junior development and retention and so on. This is a wonderful acknowledgement of the 250 Volunteers involved in our Club and those who have legacy from years past. Well done everyone.

Level 1 Coaching Course
Cricket NSW is conducting another Level 1 Training Course. This is a sought after qualification for those interested in Coaching. Details are:
• When: Sunday 7th February 2010
• Where: Montview Oval, Hornsby heights
• Time: 9.00 am to 4.00 pm
• Cost: $120

If you are coaching a WPHC side we pay for the cost.

If you are interested then just let Ross Anderson know at wisden@bigpond.com

Cricket Clinic
The annual and very well run Northern Districts Cricket Clinic is fast approaching. This is one of only 2 Programs endorsed by our Club. The dates for the clinic these holidays are:

• Monday 18th January – Wednesday 20th January, 2010 (final week of the summer holidays).

Holiday Fun ‘N’ Skills Camp
There is also a 5 day Holiday Fun ‘N’ Skills Camp (Monday 18th Jan - Friday 22nd Jan) being run at Turramurra Public School in the same week of the holidays. The booking process for the holiday camp is exactly the same as it is with the cricket clinic.

Registration
To register your child/ren, please contact the following:

SPORTSPRO P/L
PO BOX 586
FRENCHS FOREST NSW 1640
FAX NO: (02) 9453 1454

If you require any further information about the cricket clinic or holiday camp please contact Steve Riddett on 0403 757 530 or the office on 9453 1451.

Juniors
Significant performances to come.

Seniors Results
A1 Grade 203 Vs Kenthurst 1/46 – we won the toss and batted on a decent batting track. Our top order stuttered, but the fourth wicket stand between Alex Robertson (63) and Simon Davies (30) put us in good shape to score a solid total. Scott Henderson also contributed valuable runs towards the end of the innings. In reply, Kenthurst did well to withstand a potent spell from Spalding and Henderson. Despite beating the bat regularly and most of their runs coming over and through the slips, it was a change in bowling (Brogan) that brought the only wicket. Honours are even on the scoreboard, but it’s hard to imagine the remainder of the Kenthurst line-up surviving a repeat performance from our bowlers next week.

A2 9/299 Vs Kenthurst – details to be provided.

Colts Red 7/183 defeated Kissing Point 178 – with nearly all of the team returning from their end of school holidays on the previous day this one dayer was going to be awkward. After losing the toss again (we haven't won one this season) Kissing Point scored 178 and were assisted with some not so accurate bowling from tired players. Tim Anderson was best with 2/17 of 7 overs. The run chase however was very solid and was never in doubt on the back of Daniels Brain's 61, Carl Madsen's 26 and another solid innings of

Colts Blue 54 lost to Berowra 4/223 – details to be provided.

B1 1/11 Vs Kenthurst 226 – Kenthurst won the toss and batted. We had a rare off day with the ball tending to bowl four or five good deliveries and then a bad one to concede a boundary. Rowan Keating was the pick of the bowlers taking 3/33 off 19.1 overs, while Andrew Joyce and James Kealy took two wickets each. With a tough five overs to face before stumps we lost an early wicket. We have plenty of work to do next week, but if we place value on our wickets and build partnerships we are confident of getting a win.

B2 3/170 defeated on 1st innings Beecroft 132 – first innings points already secured in a powerful all round display. Beecroft had no answer to a superb bowling and fielding display from all 11 players with Nick Starr 4/28 and Geoff Richards 3/11 the pick and Alex Connell taking 4 catches behind. Then the fireworks started with us scoring 3 / 170 off 25 overs with Alex Connell producing a brilliant 104* (our 348th century) , smashing the attack all over Thornleigh oval with 17 fours and 1 six. He was well supported by Adam Walter with a quick fire 25. Stumps couldn’t come quick enough for Beecroft who are staring down at outright loss next week. Awesome display boys.

C1 9/277 Vs Kenthurst – this was a game that was a roller-coaster with wickets falling regularly, fightbacks and two standout innings. Daniel Anderson (DA) starred with 134* (our 346th century) having opened the innings and batting through the day to anchor the innings. A standout partnership of 103 with Dinesh De Silva (66) and a cameo 29 from Jas Singh gave us the momentum we needed to set a good target. With our attack - the best in the Comp it will take a mighty effort to get this total. If we can get a win it will consolidate us in the top 4.

C2 405 Vs Mt Colah 3/41 – we won the toss and batted against the 2nd placed Mt Colah at Holland reserve. Our openers, Russel Ingram and Chris Williamson, decided to use the match as a warm up for the one-dayers reaching 333 in 40 overs before Russel was caught with his score on 223 – more about this inningsbelow. Russel’s hard hitting and the temptingly small Holland Reserve ground even got the usual cautious Chris Williamson playing freely, scoring 17 runs in the second over of the day. Wanting to get Mt Colah to bat for at least 10 overs before the end of the day the rest of the batsmen threw caution to the wind, and we managed to reach 405 all out (Chris Williamson 76, Mark Bell 30) in the 57th over before putting them in to face 15 overs at the end of a long and hot day. At stumps we had them at 3/41.

C3
White Vs Kissing Point 153 – playing a Kissing Point side who scored 400+ last week, we expected a tough day in the field after losing the toss and playing with only 3 seamers & 2 spinners for the day. But we put in probably our most spirited performance of the season. We dismissed them in the 72nd over of the day for just 153. We bowled to our plans and gave them nothing in the field in what felt like a day playing against a Northern English County side, such was their appetite for being only intent on occupying the crease. Best bowling honours went to Brett Hawkins (4/37 off 19 overs). Ashane De Silva also bowled beautifully taking 2/23 off 14.

Blue 8/282 Vs Kenthurst – just not getting any better at winning the toss, went there wanting to bowl, if we won the toss & ended up losing it again! Kenthurst sent us in to bat. If there was an award for appealing, Kenthurst would certainly be in line to take this. We got off to a tough start as their opening bowlers were aiming high and low with Russell Smith & Chetan Bhatt taking the shine off the new ball, followed by Mike Fitzpatrick. Claudio & Vishnuu Ratnam, went in & managed to frustrate the bowlers. In came Michael Mahinthin who took control of the middle with Vishnuu & between them put on a 73 run partnership. Michael finished on 72 & Vishnuu on 35. Gary Robinson & Arun Kumar came in and frustrated the bowlers before leaving the middle. Johny Quah & Jono Van Blerk are at the crease with Nat waiting anxiously to come in. Hopefully we may last a few more overs next week. We finished the day on 8/282, which happens to be our highest score so far this season and also shows that we seem to be more comfortable setting a target than chasing one.

D1 2/118 defeated on 1st innings ARL 91 – notable performances by Allan Raffel 53 not out and in the bowling department, Lachlan Vile was 3 for 28. We’re playing the 4th placed team so a win here will surely cement our place in the top 4 and send a message to the higher placed teams. Once again a good all round performance by everyone.

D2 9/205 Vs Kenthurst – winning the toss and batting against a depleted Kenthurst attack we finished the day with a respectable, if not commanding, total of 9-205 thanks largely to a magnificent maiden century by opener Sam Thariani (our 347th century). Batting for five and a half hours he frustrated the Kenthust bowlers with a marathon display of skill, patience, concentration and endurance that confirms his place as one of the club's most exciting batting discoveries of this season. Along the way he was partnered by Niranjan Sundararaj (29),to make 69 for the third wicket and by Simon Bodley (17), to make 63 for the fifth wicket, Simon playing yet another of the gutsy, heroic middle order innings that have become his trademark: this man just gets better with every match.

Going into next week minus our two leading wicket takers, we will face a mammoth task to clinch victory in this match. We intend to give it our very best shot: if we can pull it off, against the team that have easily dominated our Grade since the start of the season, we will truly have earned the title of giant killers.

Call of the day
Call of the day went to Michael Kramer Richards (C3) – one Kissing Point batsmen had batted 30 overs for a fighting 12 runs, when Kramer suggested "This guy looks as solid as a Hobo's Hut"...unfortunately he was dropped next ball behind the wicket as the chuckles were still subsiding.

C2 massacre
How about Russel Ingram (C2). It was only last month that his run scoring feats were covered with only the 4th score of 200 in our history. This weekend he did it again. This time Russel scored 223 – the 2nd highest score in our 80 year history. This exclusive Club now stands as:

1. 225 by Kevin Smith B Grade 1956/57
2. 223 by Russel Ingram C2 Grade Vs Mt Colah @ Holland Reserve 5/12/2009
3. 215 by John Chadwick C1 1952/53
4. 211 by Russel Ingram C2 Vs Normanhurst-Warrawee @ Mimosa Oval 1/11/2009
5. 205 by Rob Gailey C1 Grade 1991/92.

Some other facts about this innings:

Boundaries

• 32 x 4’s for 128 runs
• 7 x 6’s for 42 runs
• Total = 170 runs

In Russel’s previous score of 211 he hit 164 in boundaries. So in 2 games he has hit 334 runs in boundaries (232 in 4s) and (102 in 6s)

Records
In addition to Russel’s score he and Chris Williamson put on a record opening partnership of 333 runs. How about this for record breaking:
• This smashed the previous Association C2 1st wicket record on 184 set in 2007/08
• It also broke the Club C2 1st wicket partnership of 183 set by Andrew Mckinnon and Andrew Clarke in 2004
• It is also the highest partnership for any wicket in all Grades for West Penno- beating the 300* between Jim Fuggle (Jnr) and Len Ward (B1) in1987/88)
• It is also the 5th highest partnership in the association (all Grades). The others being:

Highest partnerships
1. 427 B2 7th wicket Final 1990/91
2. 358 C1 1st wicket 1990/91
3. 357 D1 1st wicket 1991/92
4. 336 A2 4th wicket 1986/87
5. 333 C2 Russel and Chris

Another double hundred
A different 200 was also scored on the weekend. Daniel Anderson (DA) played for the U15 Blue in the morning and scored 81* (74 on Saturday) before the innings was declared. In the afternoon for C1 he opened the batting and scored 134* - 208 on the same day. This is the first time in our history that a Junior has scored 200+ runs (either an innings or aggregate score) in a day.

Player of the Year
In Seniors, the Player of the Year this will be done by a 3-2-1 points allocation at the end of each match. Points at the end of Round 6 are:
• 9 Points:
o Rowan Keating (B1)
o Pratah Sinnetamby (C3)
o Matt Thorndyke (B1)
o John Steel (C1)
o Chris Williamson (C2)
• 8 points
o Matt Scoular (B1)
• 7 points:
o Tom Blissenden (Colts Red)
o Arkit Grover (D2)
o Amir Marzouk (A2)
o Michael McGregor (A2)
o Nik Patel (C2)
o Alan Raffel (D1)
o Tim Scoular (Colts Blue)
o Sam Thariana (D2)

The elite
The top 10 cumulative run scorers (Seniors) and wicket takers after each will be listed. Round 6 standings are:

Top 10 batsmen
1. 363 @ 90.75 – Russell Ingram (C2)
2. 310 @ 38.75 – Sam Thariani (D2)
3. 280 @ 46.67 – Gavin Taylor (A1)
4. 277 @ 69.25 – Matt Scoular (B1)
5. 276 @ 39.43 – Michael McGregor (A2)
6. 251 @ 50.20 – Matt Thorndyke (B1)
7. 229 @ 45.80 – Pratah Sinnentamby (C3)
8. 219 @ 36.50 – Ankit Grover (D2)
9. 181 @ 45.25 – Vishnu Ratnam (C3)
10. 181 @ 36.20 – Chetan Bhatt (D1 & C3)
11. 181 @ 36.20 – Rowan Keating (B1)

Top 10 bowlers
1. 19 @ 8.68 – Matt Dawson (A1)
2. 19 @ 10.32 – Rowan Keating (B1)
3. 18 @ 9.67 – Rahul Sabherwal (C3 & D1)
4. 16 @ 11.8 – Taki Manolelis (C3)
5. 16 @ 7.75 – Tim Starr (B2)
6. 16 @ 13.52 – John Steel (C1)
7. 14 @ 15.21 – Chris Williamson (C2)
8. 14 @ 15.14 – Matt Spalding (A1)
9. 13 @ 17.69 – Rowan Dixit (A2)
10. 13 @ 16.23 – Geoff Richards (B2)
11. 13 @ 16.08 – Nikunj Patel (C2)
12. 13 @ 17.0 – Nik Suresh (D2)

Top 4 catches (non wicket keeping)
1. 6 – James McBrien (B2)
2. 5 – Mark Bell (C2)
3. 5 – Tim Millington (B1)
4. 5 – Brett Hawkins (C3)

Competition table
Standings after Round 6 are:
• A1: 3rd
• A2: 2nd
• Colts Red: 3rd
• Colts Blue: 4th
• B1: 3rd
• B2: 1st
• C1: 3rd
• C2 = 3rd
• C3:
o Blue: 2nd
o White 1st
• D1: 3rd
• D2: = 5th

We now have all Teams in the top 4 except D2 who are just out of the top 4 at almost the half-way mark – a fantastic achievement.

Personal achievements
Congratulations
• Chris Williamson who scored his 1,000 runs in Seniors
• Scott Jobson who took his 100th wicket

A couple of big ones are coming up:
• Peter Westerberg – just 13 for his 100 runs.
• Faisal Shamis – 51 to 1,000 runs

Gavin Taylor A1 Scored 1000th run Vs Kenthurst @ Kenthurst 28/2/09

Peter Heidegger C2 1,000 runs Vs Hornsby 2 Annangrove 10/10/09

Marco Delgado D1 1,000 runs Vs WPHC Blue @ Northholm Grammar 10/10/09

Alex Connell
B1 2,000 runs Vs Mt Colah @ Mt Ku-ring-gai 11/10/09

Rowan Keating
B1 1,000 runs Vs Normanhurst-Warrawee @ Normanhurst Oval 17/10

Tim Millington
B1 1,000 runs Vs Normanhurst-Warrawee @ Normanhurst Oval 17/10

Matt Jobson
A2 1,000 runs Vs Glenhaven @ Headen Park 24th October

Amir Marzouk A2 250 wickets Vs St Ives @ The Glade 18/10/2009

James McBrien
B2 1,000 runs Vs Hornsby @ Montview East 31/10/2009

Matt Dawson
A1 250 wickets Vs Castle Hill RSL @ Berowra 1/11/2009.

John Mitchell C1 50 wickets Vs Kissing Point @ Mimosa Oval 7/11/2009

Chris Williamson
C2 1,000 runs Vs Castle Hill @ Montview Oval West 15/11/2009

Scott Jobson
B1 100 wickets Vs Berowra @ Thornleigh Park 21/11/2009

Mark Bell C2 45 wickets – 5 to 50

Simon Davies
A1 4,927 runs – 73 runs to 5,000

Nathan Fathers
C1 1,842 runs – 158 runs to 2,000

Andrew Percival B2 866 runs – 134 to 1,000

Faisal Shamsi
D1 949 runs – 51 to 1,000

Simon Smyth
A1 1,871 runs – 129 to 2,000 career runs

231 wickets – 19 wickets to 250 career wickets

Leigh Van den Broeke
A2 2,765 runs – 235 to 3,000 runs

Andrew Watt C1 955 runs – 45 to 1,000 runs

Peter Westerberg D2 84 runs – 16 to 100

Posted by Ross Anderson on December 5, 2009 06:07 AM