Sutherland DCC 3rd Grade Premiers 2011-12
Sutherland District Cricket Club | November 29, 2024
Insets: Liam Casey, Scott Dawes, Michael Kelly, Nick Sharman, Dylan Smith
Back row: Shane Duff (Coach), Josh Zywietz, Adam Whatley, Aaron Phillips (Captain), Grant Davies, Jarrad Roy, Nathan Whittingham.
Front row: Mark Rice, Kurt Brown, Matt Manton, Sam Newman, Nathan Loder.
Extract from Aaron Phillips’ 3rd Grade report in 2011-12 Annual Report:
The Qualifying Final saw us up against 5th-placed Gordon and the wet weather continued with no play on day one. On day two, Gordon were sent in on a GMO pitch which was still a little soft at the southern end and had Matt Manton so excited he chose to bowl into a strong wind to make the most of conditions! As always, Matt bowled with precision and was difficult to score off. As a result, Jarrad Roy with the southerly behind him ripped through the Gordon line up, finishing with 7-30 off 13 overs, setting a new record for the best bowling figures in a third grade finals match for Sutherland. Jarrad was well supported by Matt Manton who took the remaining 3 wickets.
In a lopsided affair, our opening bats Nathan Loder (40) and Mark Rice (40) passed Gordon’s total of 58 without the loss of a wicket and the Sharks moved on to the Semi-final against Manly.
Winning the toss, we batted first at GMO and were 2/47 early on, when Grant Davies came to the crease. In what was the innings of the season, Grant led the way with a sensational 164 during which he only gave one chance (on 99!). Grant has always shown plenty of talent and hopefully this season will be the stepping stone for him to go on and play higher grades more consistently. After Grant’s innings came to an end, we continued to grind Manly into the ground, led by Josh Zywietz who scored a well compiled 59 and ensured we batted on into day two. Our innings eventually ended after 124 overs with a score totalling 396.
Once again, Matt Manton and Jarrod Roy got us off to a good start, taking three early wickets to have Manly 3/27, after which they were never really in the hunt. Manly showed what a quality team they were and fought hard, before eventually being bowled out for 288. Matt Manton’s experience shone through and he was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 5-46 from 17 overs.
After another dominant performance in the Semi-final, the boys’ confidence was high coming into the Final against Sydney at Blacktown International Sports Park No.2. However, we knew it was going to be a tough ask up against an experienced Sydney team that included ex first grade players Mark Atkinson and Greg Everest.
Batting first, we were in trouble early at 2/17, then 3/47, before Sam Newman and I steadied the innings with a 92 run partnership which started to turn the game back in our favour. With the score on 210, I lost my wicket for 72 and our innings was in the balance, but as we had a number of times during the season, players stepped up and refused to throw their wickets away. Matt Manton scored 42 (from 142 balls), whilst Josh Zywietz chipped in with a much needed 32. Adam Whatley finished with 41 not out, his best innings of the season which ensured, as we did in the Semi-final, our innings would continue into day two. A 10th wicket partnership between Adam and Jarrad Roy took the game away from Sydney on the morning of day two, scoring a further 28 valuable runs to take our total to 290.
Matt Manton and Jarrad Roy then went to work on the Sydney top order and, as they did all season, bowled great lines to have Sydney in early trouble at 2/0. Sydney then mounted a fightback to reach 2/66, before Josh Zywietz (2-35) broke the back of Sydney with two wickets in successive balls, including the experienced Greg Everest. Adam Whatley (2-42) then cleaned up Sydney’s last hope, their captain Mark Atkinson. Nathan Whittingham (1-16) and Sam Newman (3-37) made sure there would be no late fightback and Sydney’s innings ended on 166 with a wicket to Adam Whatley which secured the Mitchell Cup.
Final details:
Team – Aaron Phillips (capt), Kurt Brown, Grant Davies, Nathan Loder, Matt Manton, Sam Newman, Mark Rice, Jarrad Roy, Adam Whatley, Nathan Whittingham, Josh Zywietz.
Sutherland 290 (A.Phillips 72, M.Manton 42, A.Whatley 41no, J.Zywietz 32, S.Newman 28, G.Davies 23) d. Sydney 166 (S.Newman 3-37, J.Zywietz 2-35, A.Whatley 2-42) at Blacktown International Sports Park No.2 – 31.3/1.4.12.
