Crusaders crumble in 5th round

Crusaders were completely outplayed at the Theatre of Thunder during a 5th round SA Cup match on the weekend. Prince elected to bat after winning the toss on a very flat wicket which would provide ample support for the batsmen, but that wasn’t to be as the match was over within the 2nd hour of the day. The Crusaders were dismissed for a pathetic 20, thanks due to the pace of Paul who took 6/5. Prince was the only one to attain double-figures with 13.

White Thunder ended the match in 17 balls and won it by 10 wickets. The Crusaders are now out of the SA Cup and can now focus on playing friendlies which will allow for the 2nd-stringers to get some game time and experience.

The team was: Prince(c), O’Shea, Jeremy, Moller, Lothrop, Simpson, Ahad(wk), Kotzo, Blott, Fox, Ayres.

Tight contest sees Crusaders victory

After a successful first-class away win during the week for the Crusaders, the Crusaders hosted Hales at the T&N Smeda Stadium in a one-day league match. Groundsman Jamie McLaren prepared a dusty wicket, looking to give his spinners an opportunity to dominate.

Michael Prince won the toss and chose to bat first, looking to put the visitors under pressure from the beginning. That they did as Prince and Matt O’Shea put on 137 for the first wicket, at a rate of under 4 an over as the visiting bowlers made good use of the conditions. Prince was out for 58 off an uncharacteristic 105 balls, but he set a platform for the remainder of the batting order to have a go. O’Shea picked up the pace before being bowled by the spinner Maloney for 93, but enter teenager Pete Moller and what an innings he played. He smashed an unbeaten 50 off just 26 deliveries which included 7 fours, ensuring that his team got past the 250 mark, eventually getting them to 254/5. Keeper Rohana Ahad hit two boundaries in the final over to take him to 13*.

The innings of Hales began poorly as Ayres clean-bowled Basson off the first ball of the innings, but skipper Bardsley and Cox put on 51 for the 2nd wicket to create some stability. Spinner Chris Hayward was called into action and he contributed with a fairly quick 3 wickets, causing a bit of a collapse. He ended with 3/40 from his 10, almost securing a victory, but Blott was put to the sword by Nolan and Maloney down the order, inching them to within 30 before they were both dismissed. The tail was not able to get to the boundary, allowing for the home team to win by 13 runs. Man of the match went to O’Shea for his steady 93.

Prince was delighted with the victory, “We always knew that this would be a tough one, especially against their supreme bowling attack which kept Matt and myself quiet for most of the innings. Cheers to Hayward who bowled brilliantly, who I think ultimately won the match for us”.

Chris Hayward took his season wicket tally to 15 from just 7 one-day matches. Add that to his 8 wickets during the recent first-class match, the youngster is showing immense promise and has almost certainly sealed the number one spinner’s spot as his.

The team was: Prince(c), O’Shea, Jeremy, Moller, Lothrop, Simpson, Ahad(wk), Hayward, Blott, Fox, Ayres.

Crusaders win first-class match…finally

Today the T&N Crusaders won their first first-class match in nearly two seasons as they overcame the Termites by an innings and 214 runs. It was a memorable affair as the Crusaders, who won their league in their very first season, have been paired up against considerably stronger opponents in the last season and the current one. But today was a day to celebrate as their pulled off the amazing victory at the Termites Cricket Ground.

After winning the toss and batting first, captain Michael Prince was dismissed for 2 in the 3rd over, but that was to be the last success for a while for the home team. Matt O’Shea(151) and Graeme Jeremy(117) put on 240 for the 2nd wicket and both looked very strong on the green wicket. Further into the day, debutant 18-year old Steve Lothrop continued his fine limited-overs form with a mature 72, and he looks good to keep his place going into the remainder of the season. As the afternoon sun on day 1 began to descend, John Simpson, batting at 6 for this match and perhaps lucky to have a place due to the fine form of Pete Moller and Ron Stearman, made a swift 98 before he was stumped going for the long haul down the ground. Prince declared the innings closed at 500/8 with still an hour to go in the day.

The visiting captain decided to go against proven tactics on a green wicket and open the bowling with Chris Hayward the spinner. This proved to be a wise decision as Hayward caused all sorts of problems for the openers as they were not expecting to face the turn so early on. Termites closed on 18/1. Day 2 Prince chose to go back to original tactics and got Eddie Ayres and John Branson in there early, but it was first-change John Immelman who made the breakthrough and continued on until he returned with figures of 4/20. Branson supported well with 2/23 and Hayward 2/21, leaving the Termites all out for 137.

Prince enforced the follow-on, and once again turned to the spinner throughout the innings. The batsmen did not have much response for young Hayward’s guile and flight, and he ripped through the batting line-up to have them at 148/8 at the end of day 2. Hayward by then had already picked up four 2nd innings wickets. Only three more overs were needed to complete the innings victory, and Hayward picked up both scalps to end on 6/10, giving him 8 wickes in the match. Ayres contributed with 2/23.

Prince said at the post-match conference, “We are absolutely thrilled with this victory. We have been so outplayed over the last season so to not only come away with a victory, but a convincing one, has definitely given us faith going forward into the rest of the season”.

Commenting on the performance of the youngsters, Prince said, “Its amazing you know. We bring these teenagers into the team to expose them to some first-class cricket, and then they steal the hearts of the team. Hats off to Steve Lothrop who batted brilliantly and Chris Hayward who bowled wonderfully well. They have bright futures ahead, hopefully with us”.

The team was: Prince(c), O’Shea, Jeremy, Weeks, Lothrop, Simpson, Ahad(wk), Hayward, Branson, Ayres, Immelman.

 

15-run win in 4th round

Crusaders hosted Ted’s Loosers in their 4th round SA Cup match on the weekend, and what a match it was to witness for the strong 16,000+ spectators.

The visitors won the toss and chose to field first, thinking that the dusty wicket would be easier to bat on later in the day. The innings began well for the Crusaders with an opening stand of 102 by Prince(45) and O’Shea(54) before both openers were dismissed within the space of 4 runs. Graeme Jeremy and Pete Moller(17) put on 52 for the 3rd wicket, but Ron Stearman came and went quickly for just 8. With still 13 overs to go, the last recognized batsman Steve Lothrop walked to the crease in what would be only his second one-day innings for the Crusaders following his 71* on debut last week. The teenager did not disappoint as he put on an unbeaten 114 partnership with Jeremy as they took the Crusaders to 282/4 at the 50-over mark, a daunting total on a wicket that was beginning to favor the spinners. Jeremy ended on 93* off 96 deliveries, but it was Lothrop’s unbeaten 53 off just 43 balls that really stole the show.

Ted’s Loosers chase of 283 did not begin well as they slumped to 82/4 after a 50 by Bodfish, thanks to the efforts of Eddie Ayres upfront. Wynne(80) and the captain Nurse(32) looked to recover the innings, but they were just not able to get the spinner Chris Hayward away as he used the conditions of the pitch to his advantage. He was undreadable at times and was rewarded with 4/27 from his 10 overs which included 3 maidens. Robinson down the order(34* off 22) reinitiated the fight after Hayward finished his quota, but they visitors fell 15 short. Ayres ended with 3/47 to accompany an excellent display of bowling by Hayward.

Man of the match was Jeremy, although Hayward was definitely the unsung hero of the victory. With the wicket doing so well with spin, it was amazing that Prince chose to bring on O’Shea’s medium pacers as the 5th bowler rather than himself and the left-arm spin. Despite what could have been their downfall, the Crusaders walked into the 5th round and will play against White Thunder.

The team was: Prince(c), O’Shea, Jeremy, Moller, Stearman, Lothrop, Ahad(wk), Hayward, Blott, Fox, Ayres.

Harding wins it for Crusaders

In their 3rd one-day league match of the season, the Crusaders traveled to Banbury Cricket Ground where they found a green pitch waiting for their fast bowlers. There was no disappointment as Banbury were bundled out for just 51 after they won the toss and elected to bat first. Top score was extras(11), but it was John Immelman(1/3) and Carlos Hibbert(1/15) who began the rot at the top of the innings. At the bowling change, it was John Branson’s 3/11 and Stephen Harding’s 4/15 that completed the annihilation. Harding was most impressive as he was able to find turn on a pitch full of grass. He will surely be competing for that first-choice spinner’s role with Chris Hayward.

Openers Geoff Kenny(33*) and acting captain Matt O’Shea(18*) needed just 10 overs to polish off the run chase and hand their team victory by 10 wickets. Player of the match went to Stephen Harding for his impressive display of spin.

The team was: Kenny, O’Shea(c), Downing, Moller, Lothrop, Simpson, Gossland(wk), Harding, Hibbert, Branson, Immelman.

Crusaders looking strong after first BT20 week

The first week of BT20 matches took place this week in the reformatted league where each team plays 11 matches in a league of 12 teams. Crusaders hosted their first match against the Effigies and won very convincingly after dismissing the visitors for 20. Hayward was the pick of the bowlers with 3/1, but Ayres also created havoc with his 3/3. O’Shea and Prince finished the job in 2 overs, ensuring victory by 10 wickets.

The first victory was not an ideal preparation for the 2nd match at the Westmorland Cricket Ground against Westmorland as they went down by 4 wickets. Prince won the toss and elected to bat first on a very green wicket, and the Crusaders did well to get to 166/4 as the ball was moving around. Prince hit wicket 2nd ball of the match for a duck, but O’Shea(52), Jeremy(45) and Moller(54) steadied the ship to get to the 8 runs per over mark and set a decent target. Ward bowled tightly for just 20 runs off his 4 overs. The bowling was good, especially from Fox (21 in 4) and the home team were only able to achieve victory off the last ball of the match, needing 2 they were able to scamper through. O’Shea’s medium-pacers were belted all over the part as he went for 49 in his 4 overs. Ayres picked up 3/28 and the Crusaders can feel unlucky to have lost this one.

In the 3rd and final BT20 match of the week, Crusaders defended 214/2 against Herburt Hurd XI at the T&N Smeda Stadium. Looking to add some experience to the team, Chris Kotzo was selected as the second spinner to complete the 3-prong spin attack on a dusty wicket. Prince again won the toss and batted first. This looked like the right decision as Prince smacked an unbeaten 91 off 52 balls with 6 fours and 4 sixes, supported by Jeremy’s 81 off 54 balls. The chase began well with Marney and Antonius putting on 193 for the first wicket, but Chris Kotzo’s experience shone through as he was able to contain the batsmen at the end. Hurd XI fell 15 short and Prince was given the man-of-the-match award.

That’s it for BT20 for a few weeks as we return back to first-class cricket next week. Before then, though, a one-day league match and SA Cup match await the Crusaders as they press on to continue their success in the one-day format of the game.

Crusaders move into 4th round

A thumping 301-run victory by the Crusaders over Crags Cricket Club took them into round 4 of the SA Cup. Crags, who were in the game for the first 4 overs when Geoff Kenny was caught and bowled for 9 at 30/1, were turned upside down by the striking of acting captain Matt O’Shea. The opener scored 175* off of 140 balls with 14 boundaries. He was supported by Downing’s 31, Moller’s 47 and debutant Steve Lothrop’s 71* off 56 balls. The bowlers had no answer to the onslaught as the total was taken to 341/3 at the close of the innings. Kradenburg went for 89 off his ten.

Only 11.1 overs were needed to clean up the visitors for 40. Eddie Ayres was the chief-destroyer as he claimed 7/11 in 5 overs with only Farmer(18*) offering resistance to the pace of the fast bowler. Carlos Hibbert snuck in with 2/18 from 5 and O’Shea had the last batsman caught behind off his first delivery.

Ted’s Loosers will travel to the T&N Smeda Stadium next week for round 4 of the SA Cup, and should also see another victory for the home team.

The team was: Kenny, O’Shea(c), Downing, Moller, Lothrop, Mokoena, Gossland(wk), Hayward, Hibbert, Harding, Ayres.

Crusaders win tight encounter

In a one-day league match at the T&N Smeda Stadium on Friday, the home team pulled off a narrow victory over Jillian Within Temptation.

Winning the toss, Michael Prince chose to bat first on a dusty wicket which looked very welcoming for the spinners. The openers Prince and Matt O’Shea began well with a 200-run partnership before Prince was caught at point by Goodliffe off of Field for 96. O’Shea followed shortly after in the exact same fashion for 95 which came at a run-a-ball. Pete Moller went for a 3rd ball duck, but Graeme Jeremy(61) and Ron Stearman(41*) put on 97 for the 4th wicket as they took the total to 304/4 at the end of 50 overs.

The Crusaders bowlers dug in quickly and removed both openers, but it was Nontshinga’s 133* that took the total to within 8 of victory. The bowlers struggled on the deteriorating wicket and only Chris Hayward’s 2 wickets were anything to shout about for the home team.

Man of the match was the captain, Michael Prince, who said, “This was an intense match from beginning to end and it could have gone either way. Hats off to Carlos Hibbert and Tim Fox for tight bowling at the death”.

Crusaders have now won 2 out of 2 and are looking good for their next one-day match against Banbury Cricket Club next week.

The team was: Prince(c), O’Shea, Jeremy, Moller, Stearman, Downing, Ahad(wk), Hayward, Blott, Hibbert, Fox.