After a good win against Penrith the previous week, Manly travelled to inner west for what was going to be an important game. Upon arrival, the wicket seemed to be very green, so captain Henry Matthews won the toss and elected to bowl. Opening bowlers Will Cunningham and Dan Carroll started well, bowling really good areas and getting movement off the pitch. It was in the 9th over where Will Cunningham got the break through, breaking the opening partnership. After a good opening spell from Will and Dan, Will O’Connell and Lucas Clarke were brought into the attack. Some good bowling built up the pressure and led to Lucas getting the important wicket. After both of Inner West’s openers had been dismissed, their number 3 and 4 batsmen, began forming a partnership. The decision was then made to take pace off the ball, so spinners Harrison Fear and Dylan Thompson were brought into the attack. Due to the very short square boundaries and these batsmen having their eye in, it was challenging for the spinners to get these wickets. As a result, opening bowlers Will Cunningham and Dan Carroll were brought back into the attack. Shortly after, Manly got these key wickets with Dan Carroll getting the breakthrough followed by two wickets from Will Cunningham the next over. Will O’Connell then replaced Dan at his end with Will Cunningham bowling out from the other end finishing with figures of 3/26 off his 10 overs. After some great bowling from Will O’Connell, he got his well deserved wicket on the last ball before drinks putting their total at 6/152. After drinks, Conor Mulcahy was brought into the attack with Will O’Connell continuing from the other end. After some consistent bowling from Conor and Will, Conor got a wicket with a good catch taken by Nixon Kolodzinski. Dan Carrol bowled well at the end of his spell finishing with figures of 3/45 off 10 overs. However, at the back end of Manly’s bowling innings, Inner west started to get a hold of the bowlers boosting their total to 254 before Dylan Thompson was brought back on and took the final wicket.
Opening batsmen Henry Matthews and Conor Mulcahy started Manly’s batting innings, for what was going to be a big run chase. Henry got Manly off to a flyer, with 15 runs coming off the first over including two sixes. Henry and Conor started off well before Henry Matthews was dismissed for a quick fire 27. James Pike and Will Cunningham both got off to good starts but both of them unfortunately departed before the first drinks break. Lucas Clarke then came to the crease, needing to build a good partnership with Conor Mulcahy. Both of these batsmen were batting well, rotating the strike and hitting the bad ball before Lucas was dismissed for 14. With Manly at 5/132 after 32.4 overs they needed somebody to step up and Noah Keam from the u/14 1’s did exactly that, rotating strike and hitting plenty of boundaries. Conor and Noah reached a great 42 run partnership but unfortunately, Conor fell just short of a half century, finishing on 49 before getting run out. Noah got a rapid 41 off 34 balls, before having to retire due to the rules and regulations. Some hitting from Dan and Nixon at the end gave Manly a glimmer of hope but in the end they fell short, getting all out for 215.
An unlucky result but a good performance from the boys. Thanks to all of the parents who helped out with scoring and umpiring and thanks to Clarke for coaching. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.
Written by: Conor Mulcahy
