FOSTER SHIELD
Manly 12/2 v St George
October 13, 2024. Terry Hills Oval.
Manly 9/156 defeated St George 10/50.
A grey and drizzly morning up at Terrey Hills for the kick off of the 2024 Foster Shield. Manly Warringah U12/2 were playing St George whose boys were making their debut in the competition.
Manly Captain, Hamish Pike, lost the toss and St George inserted Manly into bat, hoping no doubt to capitalise on the grey bowler friendly conditions.
It was a cautious start from Manly with the batters making steady progress. Everyone in the top 6 made a start but none of the batters were able to fully capitalise with a sequence of wickets at regular intervals. Sam Parkinson, opening, top scored with 26 off 46 deliveries and scoring 2 of the only 3 boundaries in the innings (some early season weed clumps didn’t help!). The lower order was in after drinks with instructions to ramp up the run rate but found the going just as tough with runs hard to come by.
Jack Scotti-Clark was the pick of the St George bowlers, taking 2 for 11 off his 7 overs.
Nonetheless, Manly had posted 159/9 by innings end with Attitcus McFadden (19) and Huw Haydon (19*) being joint second top scorers. An honourable mention to Virat (Kohli) Chakravarty hitting his finest cover drive!!!
By then the sun was out, the lunch laid on by the parents was declared as “awesome” and then Manly were eager to get into the St George innings. The plan to slow them down with Krispy Kremes didn’t really work as our boys ate most of them!
The Manly opening fast bowlers were rapid and Oliver Cooper, Hamish and Virat were taken for only 14 runs off 11 overs between them – Hamish taking 1 wicket for 4 runs.
St George, relieved that the quicks were off prepared to hit out, then mayhem struck and Huw (Warney) Haydon – on debut played the game of his life. Twice he was on a hat-trick, his 8 overs went for just 13 runs and he took an astounding total of 6 wickets! Some average to maintain! The highlight was clean bowling 3 of the middle order, 2 for golden ducks, as part of the near hat-tricks.
Hugo Swinney, also bowling spin, took another 2 wickets at the other end.
St George ended their innings going from 3-27 to 9-40 after the stunning display from the young spinners.
Manly finished victorious and are look forward to next week. Last but not least, the umpires gave positive feedback about both teams’ behaviour.
Mark and Leo Ellis
Huw Haydon, 6/13 off 8