Lindfield District Cricket Club 2023-24 Second Grade Season Report
Lindfield District Cricket Club | August 23, 2024
Cricket is a demanding sport, and each season only one team can claim the title while the others face the sting of disappointment. The closer you come to winning, the sharper that disappointment can be.
In the 2023-24 season, our 2nd Grade team once again demonstrated exceptional performance, finishing 5th in the regular season and progressing to the semi-finals.
Unfortunately, our dominant position in the semi-final was ultimately undermined by adverse weather conditions. Nevertheless, the team is proud of its achievements throughout the season.
Key Factors Contributing to Our Success:
1. Bowling Unit:
Our pace attack in the 2nd Grade was unmatched in terms of fitness and accuracy. It was a captain’s dream to have such a formidable arsenal at my disposal. The bowlers were capable of delivering long spells with minimal need for rotation. A significant strength of this attack was the ability to share roles; each bowler had their day as the strike bowler but was also prepared to support their teammates when needed. This maturity is a crucial trait that contributed to our teams success.
- Angus Frawley: 32 wickets at 14.81, best 5-36
- Diyon Weerapura: 21 wickets at 11.48, best 7-42
- Jamie Gillard: 19 wickets at 11, best 5-25
- Prashan Seneviratne: 16 wickets at 18.88, best 4-15
Our spin bowlers also played a pivotal role. We effectively exploited the common difficulty shires players have against spin. Jai Cefai, with his flighted leg-spin, and Deep Mehta, with his sharp off-spin, provided invaluable contributions. Their ability to
perform under pressure was a testament to their skill and reliability.
- Jai Cefai: 19 wickets at 11.68, best 5-11
- Deep Metha: 18 wickets at 21.17, best 4-30
2. Understanding the Game:
It should be clear that we are not playing Test cricket, and therefore, applying Test cricket logic and tactics to the Shires Competition may not be effective. Instead of focusing solely on outcomes, we emphasize effort and application. Mistakes are
inevitable, but if the effort and application are evident, we can accept these mistakes and move forward. This resilience allows us to maintain consistent motivation and focus throughout the game, whether dealing with a large partnership or a dropped
catch. As a result, we apply sustained pressure on the opposition, which can be crucial when a game is decided by just a single run or wicket.
3. Support from the Club:
Few stories exemplify the strength of our LDCC community better than the 2nd Grade semi-final. After dismissing Georges River for 138, we were at 3-74 at the close of day one. However, when we returned the next morning, we found the wicket submerged in water.
Instead of trying to address the situation, Georges River offered only a handshake.
Undeterred, we decided to take matters into our own hands. Despite having only a patched- up Super Sopper at our disposal, we quickly rallied the LDCC community. Within an hour, club members transported our Super Soppers across Sydney and sourced fans and extension cables from Bunnings. Jill Greenwood, armed with a dog blow dryer, tackled the popping crease, while our sponsor, Greenland Landscape, provided five leaf blowers for the run-ups and center wicket.
From 9 AM to 2 PM, the combined efforts of the greater LDCC community ensured that the field was prepared and made playable. Although we had warned the umpires about the expected conditions, play resumed in the early afternoon. Unfortunately, after just two balls, the GR bowler fell over, and the umpires deemed the field unsafe. Undeterred, we continued our efforts, refusing to accept a washed-out result.
After another hour of blowing and persistent negotiations with the umpires, we were allowed to take the field again at 4 PM. The required run rate shifted from 0.8 runs per over to 4 runs per over. The team attacked the game but fell short. Despite the outcome, the day’s efforts highlighted our commitment to effort and application. Second Grade is very grate full of the clubs support, and will continue to do what it can to return the favour.
Awards:
Bowling
- Angus Frawley,- 32 wickets at 14.81, best 5-36
Batting
- Omer Farooq - 292 runs @22.46, Best 66
Captains Award
- Jai Cefai -19 wickets at 11.68, best 5-11 and 159runs @14.45 best 35
Steve Watts
Second Grade Captain Season 2023/24
LDCC President
