Marist Sky won the toss and batted first starting incredibly well with Isaac Tarrant contributing 36 and Jack Smedley top scoring with 62. A collapse after drinks saw Kalindu run out after starting great and many other wickets fall. Manveer and Ollie were out there though, steadying the ship and before you knew it, Ollie was at 50 with 4 sixes to his name. The Marist innings was finished nicely by Matty and Wil Sanders, with the boys posting 266 from 30 overs. Darcy and Manveer opened the bowling but Nico brought the first wicket with a great catch from Kalindu at point. From there, wickets kept tumbling with everyone involved in the field. Spin to win was definitely the key as Wil took 4 wickets bowling his offies. Everyone got a bowl in the end with most of the lads bowling off a couple steps and Manveer and LJ each ending with 2 catches each. Shout out to Uvi who got 2 wickets and a run out.

Batting - Nick Brennan retired 48*, Efrem Tijo retired 34*, Paddy Bartlett 21, Finn Duffy 21* no

Bowling - Henry Lejsek 2/16, Xavier Batch 1/12, Xander Denny 1/13 

Marist Sky lost the toss and bowled first, starting well with Harrison and Nico. Manveer, however, brought the first two wickets after 10 overs, but unfortunately drop catches led to extra unecessary runs for the opposition. Wickets towards the end from Matty, Darcy and Isaac finished off the Marist bowling innings nicely. Opening the batting, Isaac and Jack got us off to a solid start, both accelerating at the end of their respective innings to build a great foundation for Kalindu to get to work with Manveer and then finally with Ollie. Kalindu finished with 62* and Isaac, Jack, Manveer and Ollie with 33*, 31*, 23 and 7* respectively. Shout out to Wil Sanders and Harrison Wright for both filling in, much appreciated boys and well done.

Marist Navy (4/69 in 15, DLS target 97) defeated by Marist Light (7/189 in 30)- Harrison Wright (4.1 overs- 8 R 1 W 1.82 E))

Batting:
Flynn Hurley 21 (20), Alastair Wise 12* (34), Alex Sedgwick 11 (16)

Bowling:
Riley Walters 2-23 (3), Harrison Wright 1-8 (4), Samrath Khaira 1-11 (3)

A crisp Sunday morning set the scene for one of the most anticipated fixtures of the season — the all-Marist derby between Marist Navy and Marist Light. With captain Flynn leading the side, the Navy boys arrived full of confidence and energy, ready for a hard-fought contest on their home turf.

The toss didn’t fall Navy’s way, and Light chose to bat first. From the very first over, Navy’s bowlers were on point. Harrison and Alex opened brilliantly, finding swing and seam movement, and bowling with impeccable control. Both bowled tight lines, forcing early mistakes. Their pressure soon brought rewards — the stumps were sent flying and “Big H” snatched a sharp catch that lifted team spirits and set the tone.

Samrath continued the charge, bowling with excellent rhythm and subtle variation to remove another batter, leaving Light reeling at 3-8 after five and a half overs. The energy in the field was outstanding — every player was switched on, backing up with commitment, cutting off boundaries, and maintaining constant communication.

Nirodha chipped in with a smart catch-and-bowled before Flynn executed a perfect setup to hit the timber once more. The intensity remained high, with Ethan and Will maintaining the squeeze through tight, disciplined spells. Despite their efforts, Light’s middle order began to rebuild. By drinks, the visitors had reached 5-70, showing some resilience.

After the break, Riley Walters took charge, striking twice in quick succession to swing the momentum back in Navy’s favour. However, Light’s tail showed grit, finding gaps and crunching boundaries in the final few overs. The fielders — particularly George, Marcus, and Alastair — worked tirelessly, chasing everything down and keeping the energy up until the very end. Light eventually closed on a competitive 7-189, a total that demanded a focused reply.

As clouds gathered, Flynn and Alastair strode out to open the batting. The pair started confidently, blending solid defence with sharp running and clean stroke play. Flynn looked in fluent touch, timing the ball sweetly before an inswinger ended his composed 21. Samrath kept up the intent with two crisp boundaries, while Alastair anchored the innings with patience and maturity. Riley and Alex added handy contributions, each playing positive shots before falling to good deliveries as Light’s bowlers found late rhythm.

Just as Navy began to build momentum, rain swept across the oval, forcing play to end prematurely at 4-69 after 15 overs.

Despite the early finish, it was an excellent all-round effort from Marist Navy — disciplined with the ball, sharp in the field, and showing growing confidence with the bat. A spirited performance, full of teamwork, skill, and heart — another promising step in an exciting season ahead.

In challenging conditions, Marist took to the field first after losing the toss. The weather made things difficult, and their usually sharp fielding and catching were off the mark. Despite a few missed chances, Marist managed to stay in the contest thanks to some disciplined bowling. Jackson led the attack brilliantly, claiming a few key wickets and keeping the run rate in check.

When it was Marist’s turn to bat, the conditions didn’t get any easier. Eastlake came out fired up and quickly tore through Marist’s top order, putting them under serious pressure. With rain looming, Marist needed to lift the scoring rate, and that’s exactly what happened when Nero stepped up to the crease.

After a composed start, Nero unleashed an onslaught of boundaries, sending the ball racing to the fence time and time again. Sammy joined him at the other end and matched his intensity, turning the game completely on its head. The pair’s partnership was electric, every over brought more runs and mounting frustration for Eastlake’s bowlers.

In the end, Marist completed an incredible comeback, chasing down the total with plenty of balls to spare. It was a stunning turnaround that showed determination, power hitting, and true team spirit.

Batting: Flynn Hurley 57(28), Riley Walters 26*(30), Alex Sedgewick 24*(30).

Bowling: Will Sanders 3-6 (4), Flynn Hurley 2-10(2.2), Ethan Warner-Payten 2-12(2).

After a lengthy trek out to Latham on a fresh Sunday morning, Marist Navy were eager to bounce back from their previous T20 loss. Winning the toss, captain Flynn elected to bat. He and Alex opened the innings and got to work immediately, with Flynn launching a lofted straight drive for four off the first ball.

The opening partnership built the innings. Alex was watchful, running hard and pouncing on anything loose, while Flynn was seeing it like a watermelon, sending the ball to all parts of the ground. Alex retired for a well-made 24, bringing Sammy to the crease. Unfortunately, his stay was brief, so Alastair joined Flynn to steady things.

Flynn continued on his merry way, cracking 11 fours and raising the bat after just 22 deliveries. Soon after, he was dismissed, and Ethan strode out. He played well, however, on the last ball before drinks, Ethan was run out, leaving the total at a healthy 3–116.

Riley then entered and combined nicely with the ever-solid Alastair. Both retired not out for 20 and 26 respectively, each producing cracking boundaries and sharp running. George followed, playing confidently in the middle and smoking a few boundaries before falling for 18.

Nirodha, Marcus, and Will closed out the innings, all adding useful late runs to push the final total to a commanding 5–226 from the full 30 overs.

The bowling innings began with a well-thought-out plan, a full-on pace attack, with Will and Harrison each bowling four overs. The strategy paid off immediately. Harrison rattled the stumps in the first over, setting the tone, while Will’s pace and precision earned him three wickets, including a spectacular delivery that shattered a stump, another aided by a brilliant catch from Alastair.

Nirodha and Riley kept tight lines and lengths, keeping the pressure on, though wickets were elusive. Ethan’s first over continued the pressure, and Flynn and Alex each bowled an over before drinks, with George taking a remarkable double-grab catch to claim Alex’s well-deserved wicket. By 15 overs, Tigers were reeling at 5–52.

After the break, Flynn struck again, dislodging the bails. Sammy, George, and Alastair bowled tight spells, but the Tigers’ tail managed to score the majority of the remaining runs. Marcus contributed a short spell, and Riley took a terrific catch to claim another wicket. Ethan returned for his second over, bagging two crucial wickets, assisted by another superb catch from Riley and a one-handed snaffle from Flynn.

The innings ended with a final burst from the bowlers, including Flynn cleaning up the tail with an LBW. Special mention goes to Harrison for an extraordinary stint behind the stumps, keeping energy high throughout. Overall this was a well rounded performance, displaying strong energy, discipline and teamwork, making for a strong push towards the end of year.

Batting: Cameron Smith 47 (41) , Isaac Sladic 43 (27)

Bowling: Vivan Passi 3/12, Lero Craven 1/9

In an absolute cliffhanger, Marist Blue - S3 secured a dramatic victory over Marist Light - S3, winning by 2 wickets after successfully chasing the target in 26.3 overs. The match featured a brilliant half-century for Marist Light and a spectacular chase anchored by two aggressive innings from Marist Blue.

🟢 Marist Light - S3 Innings: A Strong Target (7/153)

Marist Light set a challenging target of 154, thanks primarily to a composed half-century.

• Batting Star: Lachlan Field was the standout performer, retiring not out on 50 off 45 balls (7x4s). He was well supported by Noah Maguire (22*).
• Bowling Attack: Marist Blue's bowling was led by Vivan Veer Passi, who delivered a match-defining spell of 6 overs, taking 3 wickets for only 12 runs.

🔵 Marist Blue - S3 Innings: The Thrilling Chase (8/154)

Marist Blue's innings was a roller-coaster, featuring a blistering opening partnership, a middle-order collapse, and a heroic finish. They successfully reached 154 runs for 8 wickets in just 26.3 overs.

• Batting Heroes: The chase was propelled by two aggressive knocks:
• Cameron Smith anchored the middle and late innings with a vital 47 runs off 41 balls (6x4s) before being dismissed late in the chase.
• Opener Isaac Sladic provided the fireworks at the start, scoring a rapid 43 runs off just 27 balls, including 8 fours and a six, setting the tone for the chase.
• Crucial Extras: A generous tally of 40 Extras (30 wides) significantly aided Marist Blue's successful pursuit.
• Collapse and Recovery: Marist Blue suffered a disastrous collapse in the middle, losing four wickets for zero runs (from 2-76 to 5-77). However, the resilience shown by Cameron Smith and Shahmir Mahmood (9* off 40 balls) stabilized the innings and guided them toward the target.

⚔️ Key Match Moments

• Decisive Partnership: The 71-run opening partnership between Isaac Sladic and Leroy Craven gave Marist Blue a flying start.
• Match-Turning Spells: Vivan Veer Passi (3/12) for Marist Blue kept the target manageable for the team
• Nail-Biting Finish: Despite a dramatic loss of wickets late in the innings, Marist Blue crossed the line with 3.3 overs to spare to complete the narrow 2-wicket win.

Result: Marist Blue - S3 defeated Marist Light - S3 by 2 wickets.

Batting: Lachlan F - 50 off 45 and Noah M - 22 off 45

Bowling: Joey I - 2 /3, Liam M 2/4 and Jack M 2/10

Fielding: Joey I for his cracking outfield catch

it was a Marist vs Marist affair, so the stakes were high! Light won the toss and elected to bat. Blue put the pressure on from the start, with tight bowling and fielding. there was some great batting that put on a defendable total of 153. The weather was turning at the innings break and no one was sure how long it would last before the rain came down. A notable batting innings by Isaac S and Leroy C saw blue race to 71, before Liam M and then Jack M took some valuable wickets, with a great run out in the mix. Joey's spin attack put pressure on Blue tsking a key wicket! Cam S raced took on Will Sc ball with a massive shot into the wind but into the safe hands of Joey I! It was a tight awesome game showcasing the great talent in Stage 3a Div 2. Light didn't get the win on the day, but certainly fought to the end! The game ended and packed up just in time before the heavens opened up!

Batting: Alex Sedgewick 31(30), Riley Walters 20*(19), Alistair Wise 18*(30)

Bowling: Nirodha Pathmaperuma 3-6 (3), Riley Walters 1-3 (3), Alex Sedgewick 1-6 (3)

With rain hammering down throughout the night, when Navy rocked up at Deakin oval, the pitch looked more like a sponge than a cricket pitch. Undeterred, the team sprang into action with blowers being brought out to hope for a somewhat dry, playable pitch. By the time the umpires inspected it, the pitch was ready. Unfortunately, captain Flynn lost the toss and we were sent into the wet and slippery field.

Harrison and Nirodha opened the bowling with determination. Harrison bowled a tight line, keeping the batters under pressure, while Nirodha struck with movement and precision, claiming early wickets and leaving the opposition wobbling. Sammy, Will and Riley went through the middle overs masterfully, bowling a disciplined line and taking crucial wickets , especially an excellent snaffle from Riley to get a caught and bowled. With energy and enthusiasm high, Flynn and George combined for a great runout, seizing the half chance that opened. This high morale had laid the foundation for a successful last 15.

With pressure piled on, Navy continued the way the first half of their fielding innings went. Alex and Flynn took well planned wickets, with Ethan and Marcus bowling well, but to no avail. Then George came on to take a critical wicket, and our fielders looked sharp, saving critical runs. Niro came back on, closing out the opposition's innings with a crafty bowled.  By the end of the innings, Daramalan were bundled out for 91, and we knew that the chase was in our sights.

Chasing 92, Will and Alex strode to the crease determined to set the tone. They battled hard, Alex finding gaps and punishing loose deliveries. Unfortunately Will was given out LBW and Marcus fell to a peach the next delivery. Then came Alistair to steady the ship, with him and Alex rotating the strike nimbly and punishing anything loose. After Alistair retired for 18*, Riley came to the crease with an attacking tone, hitting swift boundaries. To our disappointment, Alex got out in the later stages, finishing with a well made 31. Ethan supported from the other end, playing smart, steady cricket. With composure, Riley finished unbeaten on 20 as we reached the target comfortably in the 15th over.

The win was built not just on skill, but on teamwork, energy, and even a little fun with the blowers to get a soaked pitch ready. Every player made an impact and the match felt like a true collective triumph.

Batting: N.Maguire - 77*, W.Scholtens -57*, W.Spencer - 57

Bowling: Will Scholtens 2/27, E.Campbell 2/31, N.Maguire 1/10

Given the early Sunday morning start, parents were armed with coffee and the boys showed a rare abundance of energy for that time of the day.

The boys' enjoyment for the season to start was straight away visible, with many of the boys who had never played together already a sense of mateship could be seen across the team. With three maiden half centuries during the match, a great knock by all three, and Eamon on a hat-trick that just missed out, the boys had plenty to celebrate.

With a guaranteed victory (even after some very untidy bowling), the boys went into the final over with our wicketkeeper and 7 fielders stacked in the slips, pure theatrics and camaraderie from the boys as they celebrated an enjoyable day out.

Thanks to the all match volunteers for the day - John (umpire) and James (scorer)

To open the season, Marist S3 Navy played at Garran Oval against Yerrabi. Marist lost the toss and started by bowling first. Yerrabi had a fast start, hitting boundaries and finding gaps in the field. However, Marist regained some momentum by taking two wickets in one over. After the drinks break, Yerrabi’s batsmen formed a strong partnership for the remainder of their innings.

In the second innings, Marist had a shaky start, losing two early wickets in the first two overs. Unfortunately, they could not recover from this setback and were bowled out for a total of 92 runs. Notable contributions from the Marist team included Sammy, who took two wickets, and Harrison, who scored 15 runs.

Willow Talk – Round 5 Report
Marist Blue S3 vs Daramalan Stage 3 Red
Result: Marist Blue S3 won by 204 runs
Venue: The Mint Oval
Captain: Leroy Craven

It was a freezing start to the morning at The Mint Oval — everyone was rugged up and trying to stay warm. But once the sun came out, it turned into an awesome day for cricket, and Marist Blue S3 made the most of it with another huge team win.

Captain Leroy Craven won the toss and decided to bat first, and it turned out to be the right call. Our top order absolutely smashed it, mixing patience and power to put up a massive score of 4/260 from 30 overs.

Cameron Smith was on fire, hitting a classy 59 off just 30 balls, finding the boundary like it was nothing. Vivan Veer Passi (39 off 30) and Nate Chappelow (36 off 30) also batted really well and kept the runs flowing. Then Isaac Sladic came in with 37 off 22, smashing it around, and Seb Videroni finished it off perfectly with 22 off just 12 balls, hitting some big ones at the end.

When it was our turn to bowl, we were all over Daramalan, bowling them out for just 56! The wickets were shared around, and Captain Leroy Craven came on at the back end to finish things off with an insane spell — 4 wickets for only 2 runs! He was backed up by Kabir Kodwani (1/2), Seb Videroni (1/5), Vivan Veer Passi (1/7), Ruhan Khanna (1/7), and Nate Chappelow (1/2). Everyone chipped in and kept the pressure on.

Our fielding was awesome too — really sharp and focused. Catches were taken by Seb, Nate, Lucas, Vivan, Antonio, and Isaac, and everyone played their part to help get the win.

It was a massive team effort and another great win for Marist Blue S3. With this 204-run victory, we’re still sitting on top of the ladder and playing some really great cricket.

Another great day out with the boys, played in good spirit — and a win to be proud of!

Batting: Samrath Khaira 51*, Nirodha Pathmaperuma, 17*, Riley Walters 16*, William Sanders 15.

Bowling: Alex Sedgwick 2/6 (4), Flynn Hurley 1/20 (4), George Sanders 0/5 (2), Riley Walters 0/11 (4).

Fielding: Alastair Wise, direct hit runout, Ethan Warner-Payten, direct hit runout.

The two teams gathered for a brief few words before the game and wore a black armband in honour of Ben Austin, the young man who sadly lost his life in an accident at cricket training. Marist Blue won the toss and elected to bat first. Riley opened the bowling and Marist Navy got off to a good start with, Ethan getting a direct hit runout on the first ball of the third over holding Marist Blue to 1/9. Flynn came in next and showed his great skill by getting an LBW in his second over, putting the score at 2/13. After those two early wickets, Cam Smith came in to settle the game for Marist Blue retiring at 27 off his 30 balls. Lucas Clark also retired for Marist Blue at 16 off his 30 balls. After these two boys retired, Marist Navy had their work cut out for them, but the team showed their great skill with some tight bowling by George Sanders and Samrath Khaira. After the first 15 overs Marist Blue had set a good total of 2/71. After a quick drinks break, Marist Blue got right back into the action with Vivaan hitting a four in the 16th over. It was shortly after that, when Alex came back out to bowl getting 2 clean-bowled wickets in a row! Unfortunately, he just missed out on his hattrick with a nick by the batter. With some great bowling and fielding, Marist Navy held Marist Blue to a respectable 5/148. It was Marist Navy’s turn to bat. Vivaan Veer Passi opened the bowling for Marist Blue with a beautiful ball taking a wicket straight up. Harrison and Samrath then settled in and faced some great balls until another great wicket fell for Marist Navy making the score 2/18. Marist Blue were on point with another wicket falling, before Nirodha came in (or Niro as the team call him) and both Niro and Samrath faced their thirty balls each and retired on 43* and 17*. After 15 overs Marist Navy had hit 4/83. The two teams came back out onto the field after the drinks break and Marist Navy had some chasing to do. The team made up some good runs and a few more wickets fell. Will and Riley teamed up to bring the Marist Navy team in closer making for a tight match. Samrath came back in after his retirement pairing up with Riley to finish the game off hitting 17 off 7 balls together for the win! Samrath made the only half-century of the game, finishing on 51* on the last ball. It was a great game with plenty of Marist sportsmanship the two teams, but in the end Marist Navy came away with the win.

Batting: Eamon Campbell 58* Noah Maguire 41* and Rupert Reid 31*

Bowling: Will Loft 3/6 Liam Morrison 2/3

Fielding: Liam M with the catch of the season so far, a one handed beauty!

Special mention: thanks to Rupert Reid from Stage 2 Div 1 Sky for filling in, first time playing stage 3 and he had a great day with the bat and in the field.

Light made their way out to Dickson to face Dara. The wind started up not long after arrival, but the boys pushed through. They won the toss, and elected to bat. Lofty and Liam started with a solid partnership, before they were both dismissed. Lachy E found his form with a solid batting innings, some great running between wickets supporting Eamon as he took on the Dara bowlers to reach his maiden half century in style. Noah, Rupert, Joey and Lachy F all added runs to the total.

The boys were aiming to have fun in the field today. Their performances were great, diving onto the ground was the order of the day. Bowling from the boys was awesome, Lofty with 3 wickets, Liam with 2, Eamon, Will Sp and Will Sc and Joey all took wickets. whilst Jack didn't get a wicket he bowled 2 maiden overs and only went for one run.

Batting: Lachlan Field 57* Jack McDonald 38* Tom Berry 24*

Bowling: Tom 1/8, Liam Morrison and Will Spencer both 1/9

Light won the toss and elected to bat. After a shaky start, losing 3 wickets for 21, Lachy F started to build the innings, with Jack and Tom adding more runs.

the fielding innings began with Will Loft and Liam M starting the bowling attack. They both bowled excellent line and length before Liam took the first wicket. Joey, Tom and Will Spencer all bowled with accuracy getting vital wickets. Unfortunately the heavens opened up, with The match needing to end.

It was a cracking game, well done to both Light and Navy.

When we arrived in Palmerston, the weather was clear and Burgmann Hawks won the toss and batted first. It was clear early on that the oval was batter friendly. It was  a very fast outfield that ran away from the pitch, giving food value to the batter, as when the ball got past a fielder it was hard to be stopped before the boundary. 

Burgmann started well, with a strong run rate from the first few overs. However, our bowling attack soon got into a good rhythm and kept their run rate down while getting some early wickets. Nate Hamilton, Harrison Hansen and Orlando Pabian all broke through with a  wicket and Blake Lette did especially well getting two wickets combined with a very good economy rate below 5 runs per over.

Any description of our batting has to start by outlining Nate Hamilton’s exceptional performance with the bat. Nate top scored in the game with 57 runs from 45 balls and retiring not out. His first 50! Other great batting performances that underpinned our victory are Blake Lette’s 22 runs from 37 balls with 3 fours, Hugh Williams’ 15 runs from 8 balls with 3 fours and Orlando Pabian’s 18 runs from 10 balls and 2 fours.

Nate Hamilton received the coach award for his team spirit and batting.Tom Gates earned the parent’s award for batting well on an injury.

It was great to back up last week’s win with another one and see ongoing team improvements. Thanks to our coach and all our supporters!

Batting: Nate Hamilton 27, Blake Lette 23.

Bowling: Nate Hamilton 4/21, Blake Lette 2/21.

Noteble player: Matthew Graham won parent's award for bringing the energy, loud calling in the field and strategic captaining.

It was a great day for cricket but before the game the boys and their families lined up to pay respects to Ben Austin all wearing black armbands and having a minute of silence before starting the game. We choose to open in the field. The first wicket fell in the 7th over from a great bowl from Blake and Nick had a great catch near the end of the first inning, Nate showed his bowling skills with 4 wickets.

We went into bat, opening with Hamish and Finn Henry, the two brothers stayed in for a solid 6 overs before Hamish was dismissed. Blake and Nate had a great partnership to spice up the game. Blake and Finn both retired. Midnight batted through all 30 overs finishing strong and positive from all team members but ultimately losing to a great opponent.

Batting: Blake Lette 25, Nate Hamilton 13

Bowling: Nicholas Ryan 1/11 off 3 overs, Nate Hamilton 2/6 off 4 overs.

On a extremely hot Saturday morning out at Kambah, Marist won the toss and decided to field first. Great decision as it was only going to get hotter in the field as the day went on. Marist put a lot of pressure on this top 3 ANU team restricting their run rate and taking two early wickets. They restricted ANU to a respectable 5-143 off 30 overs.

Marist faced a very tall, fast and accurate ANU bowling attack. With the wind picking up Hamish Henry and Finn Henry battled hard to retire not out laying the groundwork for the team. It took the 17th over until ANU took a wicket against our resilient Marist team. A solid platform was laid for batting contributions by Nate Hamilton and Blake Lette to contribute late in the batting order. The players can be very proud of their fighting spirit in both their batting and bowling efforts on the day.

When we arrived, the weather was overcast and threatening to rain. Radford College Falcons won the toss and elected to bat. We took to a damp field, Radford had a solid start.

It rained at drink break, we took to the field and kept up the pressure with our bowling and fielding, resulting in three quick wickets. Blake Lette bowled with such power that he knocked the middle stump out of the stumps, causing a delay to the game as it was reset. By the 27th over, our bowlers had the opposition all out. Bowling highlights included Blake Lette with three wickets, Matthew Graham with a maiden and Orlando Pabian with one of the best economies of the match.

We made a steady start to our batting, with good running between the wickets and a few well timed boundaries setting us up for victory. After drinks, our batters built partnerships and maintained pressure on the opposition. Strong contributions from several players guided us to our first win of the season in the 27th over. Midnight was positive, believed in each of their abilities and encouraged each other.

Hamish Henry received rhe Coaches award for consistent batting and taking risks and Hugh Williams earned the Parents Award for his resilence and personal best.

Playing at Deakin ovals today captained by Blake Lette Marist Midnight demonstrated their team work and resilience, facing a strong team in the Tigers and 3 people down due to illness and injury. Loosing the toss the team were sent in to field on a wet and slippery surface, and covered the field as best they could with their 8 players, with some solid fielding, direct hits to the wickets and strong backing up. Whilst the Tigers had the upper hand throughout their batting, there were some positive moments including Nate’s chatter on the field, Blake’s caught and bowled of an opposition player on their way to 50 and Hamish’s bowling out another for a duck.

Finishing their 30 overs with the opposition at 310 runs, Marist Midnight faced a daunting task,. Regardless the team came out to bat and demonstrated what Marist boys are made of, opening pair Nate (standing in to support our numbers) and Nick made a solid start to some very quick bowlers with Nick showing his mental toughness after three blows to the body within a single over. Overall our boys put up a solid fight in their batting, demonstrating an improvement on the previous week, blocking well and taking advantage of every opportunity making good use of running between the wickets for quick singles. Of note it was great to see Tom take to the crease to support the team despite carrying an injury.

Overall, a really tough game, but a solid showing of resilience, team work and a great attitude.

Coaches award to Nate Hamilton for stepping in at short notice and demonstrating some great team work, making his debut as opener and high scoring in the batting department

Parents award to Harrison Hansen for his strong efforts and performance fielding in a wet and slippery outfield.

Batting: Strong performance by Nate with 38 not out and Hugh Williams with 13 from 17, after facing some strong bowling from the opposition

Bowling: Best bowlers for the day Orlando Pabian and Hugh Williams, despite not getting any wickets they both managed to dampen a strong Tiger batting attack.

Batting: Eric Tunningley 34, Henry Platt 31*, Alex Moore 25*

Bowling: Eddie Tunningley 1/15

It was an impressive showing from what was Cobalt’s first game of the season, especially considering we were a few players down. Being sent in to bat we were on the ropes early losing three wickets inside the first three overs, however a remarkable recovery from the middle and lower order ensured the game would not be a walk in the park for the opposition. The resurgence was spearheaded by the excellent batting of Eric, Henry, and Alex, all supported with solid innings by James, Lachie, and Eddie. To recover from 3/12 in the third over, to bat out the 30 overs and compile 7/165 was an outstanding effort.

In reply, SEC were patient and measured with their batting innings and, to their credit, they took advantage of the gaps in the field to accumulate the runs they needed while giving very few chances. Only two wickets were given up in their chase. The first was some clever work by Lachie to run out the batter who had dived back only to end up half a meter short of the crease. The second was a lovely outswinger by our stage 2 fill-in, Eddie, that managed to get past the batter and rattle the woodwork.

Whilst we didn’t get the result, there were plenty of encouraging signs, not the least of which was the support we offered to our teammates. If we play all our games in this spirit, the results will come.

Fantastic effort by the boys in a game that was constantly threatened by the wind and rain.

Oscar Moore with a solid 51 runs off 45 balls before retiring setup the Marist innings with support from Joshua Moody, Thomas Orton and Eric Tunningley on 17, 22 and 25 respectively.

The team setup a respectable target of 6/153 off 30 overs with most of the last 7 overs being marred by rain.

Despite a great batting effort, a faster start to the innings and a reduced game (8 overs) with the rules of DLS taking effect, saw the Eddy’s team take the victory (34-43).

Batting: Blake Lette 26, Hugh Williams 11

Bowling: Blake Lette 1/7

Coaches award: Blake Lette

Parents award: for his resilience and determination to continue playing through adversity - Thomas Gates

SUMMARY:

A bright sunny start to the start of the cricket season out at Narrabundah oval. St Eddies won the toss and sent Marist Midnight into bat.

With expected nervy start against some tall timbers, Blake Lette and Joshua O'Mahony opened the batting for the team.

Blake set a solid foundation for the team batting throughout the Midnight innings. He scored 26, remained unbeaten for the innings and beat his personal record by 10 runs. Terrific effort.

Solid contributions given by Finn Henry, Hugh Williams, Nicholas Ryan and Ethan Rippon in their innings to ensure Marist held firm for the 30 overs. All the Marist players got an opportunity to bat to start the year solidly while setting St Eddies a target of 100 to win.

Orlando Pabian captained the Midnight team on the field with support and guided them through the game in bowling allocation and fielding positions.

The Midnight team grabbed a couple of early wickets and put pressure on SEC throughout the game putting in a strong fielding effort. The support and backing up of throws in the field were a couple of key team attributes demonstrated throughout By the boys.

The highlight of the game was the positive communication illustrated by all Marist Midnight players throughout the game. The Marist spirit of providing constant encouragement created an environment of respect for all players and is an attribute the boys can be proud to have demonstrated. Great first effort Midnight and great start to the season.

Batting: Alex Moore 46*, Oscar Moore 18, Joshua Moody 14*

Bowling: Alex Moore 2/3, Oscar Moore 1/1, Saxon Owens-McVie 1/7

Notable Performances: Eric Tunningley 2 direct hit runouts

This week’s game was an absolute highlight reel.
Wickets from clean bowls, spectacular catches, and precision runouts; runs from leg-side slogs, finessed cover drives, and clever running—there was plenty to keep the crowd entertained.

Darra elected to bat, and birthday boy Eddie got us underway with his trademark pace and swing. There was a brief delay at the start of the second over as our scorer, Hannah, tried to identify the new bowler. To be fair, it’s early in the season and we’re still learning everyone’s names… though in this case, the bowler was Josh—her son! 😄

The pressure from the tight opening spell eventually paid off, with Eddie claiming a sharp caught and bowled. A few overs later, Lachie tempted a drive that flew to Josh at mid-wicket, who made a tough catch look effortless. In the very next over, Alex joined the action, tossing one up to their in-form batter. The batter took the bait and launched it back over the bowler’s head—only for Alex to leap two, maybe three metres into the air, horizontal to the ground, and pull off one of the best catches you’ll see at any level of cricket.

With the team buzzing, Eric followed up immediately, firing in a rocket from fine leg to knock over the stumps with the batter just short of his ground. Not to be outdone, wicketkeeper Henry soared three or four metres into the air to snatch a one-handed screamer off the back of the bat.

After the innings break, Saxon made his mark, delivering a pinpoint yorker from around the wicket to rattle the stumps. Lachie took the gloves for the second half and decided to match Henry’s heroics, leaping high to take a near-identical one-handed catch. Even with Darra on the ropes, Cobalt didn’t let up. Eric launched a missile from deep extra cover as the batters strolled through a second run, nailing a direct hit to send another back to the sheds. Oscar then needed just one ball in his final over to finish the innings with a clean bowl. A brilliant all-round performance.

Knowing the job was only half done, the boys came to the crease with a positive mindset. Oscar and Lachie got things rolling, finding gaps and boundaries with ease. Ari joined the fray and looked sharp until a mix-up cut his innings short. Josh and Alex then took over, and the crack of the bats echoed around Hackett as they cruised to victory with 18 overs to spare!

An unusually cool late November morning greeted Team Midnight at Garran, where the unbeaten Tuggeranong Bandits awaited. The boys quickly noticed the prospect of a super fast outfield, which promised lots of runs for the batsmen. The Bandits won the coin toss and surprisingly elected to bowl first. The Midnight openers admitted to a few understandable nerves and headed out with the objective of seeing off the first 5 overs. A solid start by Hamish Henry and Nick Ryan blunted the opening attack and highlighted to the rest of the line up that the Bandits were only lightly armed. Nick scored his first runs for the season and acquitted the opener role well, not losing his wicket until the 7th over with 28 on the board.

Orlando Pabian strode out at #3 and drove the score along with Hamish beyond 50 before Hamish was run out by an excellent direct hit from the outfield for a breakthrough innings and career PB of 34.

Orlando and Blake Lette batted solidly through the break before Orlando brought up a well deserved retirement on 20. When Blake fell for 12 it brought Finn Henry and Hugh Williams together. They formed an excellent partnership, scoring with great intent at better than a run a ball. Breakthrough Stage 3 innings for each lad with Hugh bringing up a career high 28 not out off 21 and Finn 32 not out off 37. The team score of 153 promised a potential ambush of the Bandits.

Midnight took to the field following wise words from skipper Nate Hamilton, who was elected midweek to lead the team for the remainder of the season. The chat in the field was markedly better than previous rounds and a satisfying commitment to one of the focus areas discussed in the pre-game huddle. Always focussed on encouraging the bowlers and fielders, the chat threw the Bandits off balance as they were accustomed to dominating teams into quiet submission. Regular wickets kept falling and Josh O’Mahony inspired with 3 excellent catches in the field to give the Bandits a contest they were not anticipating. In the end Midnight took the game deep, with the winning runs being hit by the Bandits with 15 balls to spare. The Midnighters will take a great deal of confidence from the match, with an excellent team batting performance, great catching and good bowling under pressure showing the lads they can compete with the top sides.

Marist Cobalt delivered a spirited performance at Pearce Oval on Saturday against a strong Ginninderra Tigers side, showing promise with both bat and ball despite the Tigers’ overall dominance. Bowling highlights included Oscar Moore 1/24 (5), Edward Tunningley 1/34 (5) , Eric Tunningley 1/24 (4) and Tom Orton 1/32 (4), supported by sharp fielding, particularly two excellent catches from Alex Moore. Ginninderra posted an imposing 4/224.

Chasing a big total, Marist showed fight before finishing on 134 in just over 24 overs. Levi Mahony anchored the innings with 26 off 46. Valuable contributions came from Oscar Moore (11) and Henry Platt (13), while the lower order added late momentum through Edward Tunningley (16 off 21) and a dynamic 21 off 15 from Joshua Moody. Extras also helped, with the Tigers conceding 33.

Batting: Eric Tunningley 40, Henry Platt 39*, Alex Moore 39

Bowling: Levi Mahony 1/6, Alex Moore 1/7, Josh Moody 1/10

Notable Player: Eddie Tunningley 6 overs, 4 maidens, 1/10

This week saw us square up against our brothers from Marist Midnight. Before play was started, both teams and parents got together on the pitch to listen to some beautiful words by Midnight coach Simon and observe a minute of silence in honour of Ben Austin.

Play then got underway with Midnight sending us in to bat. The Midnight boys were on the money from ball one, but unfortunately for them, our boys were in a party mood (perhaps full of sugar from the previous night’s trick or treating). Alex pummelled the leg side boundary for a quickfire 39, ably supported by Levi making his debut at opener. James looked solid in his short time at the crease but copped a beauty from Midnight’s Nate who was bowling with searing heat and accuracy. Tom looked good too but succumbed to another good ball from Midnight. From there Eric and Henry took charge and combined boundaries with smart running to build a sizable total. Lachie and Oscar added valuable runs at the bottom of the order, and a late cameo from Josh pushed the total past 200.

Any chase at over 7 runs an over was always going to be a challenge, but bowling and fielding still had to be tight… and tight it was. Eddie backed up after playing only 12 hours earlier in stage 2 to open the bowling. In an amazing effort he bowled 4 maidens on the trot to put the pressure firmly on the Midnight batters. Pressure creates wickets and the boys shared them round, Eddie, Alex, Eric, Levi, Oscar, Josh, and James all claimed a scalp. The bowling was backed up by great boundary fielding by Lachie and the impenetrable James at fine leg. Skilled catches were taken by Tom, Eric, and Henry (wk), but Oscar’s effort was truly remarkable. Fielding at short mid off, he snared an absolute tracer bullet by Midnight’s Orlando, in a “blink and you’ll miss it” moment.

In the end the Cobalt total was too big for Midnight. I’m sure all the boys are looking forward to meeting again in the rematch at the end of the season. Will Midnight square the ledger? Will Cobalt retain bragging rights? Stay tuned to find out.

Marist Cobalt defeated WCMCC U15 Mixed by forfeit