Tocumwal’s A-grade cricket side went down the road to Katamatite to start their Murray Valley Cricket Association season, after having the bye last week.
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Batting first, Katamatite had the early running, getting off to a fast start moving to 47 before Lachie McDonald celebrated his 50th game for the club with two wickets in an over.
Katamatite kept the score moving, but Andrew Lean managed to get a wicket just before drinks to start a flurry of wickets leading to Katamatite being 6/91 with Lucas Baron taking two and Reilly Rennick getting one.
Tocumwal unfortunately let the foot off the pedal and let themselves down with a few dropped catches and wides being bowled.
This let Katamatite batters Desmond O’Kane (52) and Archie Erickson (40) to get set and take Katamatite to a good score of 201.
The effort was there in the field all day with Declan Cameron especially working hard to cut off the boundaries.
Tocumwal knew they had their work cut out for them with the bat and Josh Wraight (12) and Rennick (27) got the team off to a good start.
Rennick and Lean (47) then kept the momentum going before the former fell before drinks.
Cooper Harris (31) and Lean moved the team through the middle session scoring well and keeping the target within reach before both fell in quick succession around the second drinks break.
This led to some rebuilding being needed, and the scoring rate started to climb before McDonald (19) opened the shoulders for two big sixes to get us back on track.
Tom White (24) and Sam Bennett then ran well between the wickets and kept the team within striking distance before Cameron (9 not out) came in and struck the ball fantastically leading to the team needing three off the final over.
White couldn’t quite get the ball away and was well caught by James Bray at mid-off leaving Tocumwal needing three runs off two balls.
Lucas Baron struck a quick single to bring it to two runs needed off one ball with Cameron holding his nerve and doing the same to lead the team to a tied game.
The pick of the Katamatite bowlers were Desmond O’Kane with 3/31 including only having two runs hit off the final over and Archie Daniel with 2/35.
It was a fantastic effort with the bat on Saturday for Tocumwal with the whole team contributing.
This game showed that effort areas matter and stopping one run somewhere might be the difference between winning and losing.
Overall, it was a fantastic game of cricket played in the right spirit between the two sides.
B-grade
Playing the Deniliquin Rhinos this week, home side Tocumwal knew it was going to be tough, and the team started off losing the toss and were sent in to bat first.
Deni were too good with the ball bowling tight line and lengths limiting Tocumwal’s scoring opportunities finishing their innings 6/95, with Hayden White (BOG) top scoring with 26, Adam Hughes unbeaten on 22 not out and Daniel Burn finishing 15 not out.
The home side knew they had a tough job defending 95, and everyone bowled really well it just didn't go the team’s way.
Unfortunately for Tocumwal, the Deni Rhinos chased it down no dramas finishing 0/96.
The team gave a huge thanks to all the juniors stepping up in the B-grade side and playing a big part in it.
They also gave thanks to everyone who got around the team and put in the effort.
It was not the result the team were after, but plenty to takeaway from the day.
The side will dust themselves off and go again this week.
C-grade
Tocumwal’s round one at home against Katunga started on a high with the team winning the toss and having a bat to settle the nerves.
Unfortunately for the batting side, Peter Harrison copped a cracking first delivery which sent him back to the sheds for a first ball of the season duck.
Chase Dickins and Keith Baron dug in, fighting hard to see the opening bowlers out.
Unfortunately for Tocumwal, Baron then sent one up in the air to a new bowler and gave his wicket away for six from 13 balls.
In came Danny Burke who is out of retirement of roughly 10 years, and he held his end well while Chase was bowled for five off 34.
Aaron Shepherd came to the crease to make four from nine balls caught out in the deep.
Cam Dickins entered looking to make some much needed runs but unfortunately for the home side old timer Burke pulled an injury and that’s where the team fell apart.
They lost five for seven with Cam top scoring with 21 which only gave Tocumwal a total of 67 to defend.
Chase and Baron opened the bowling and both kept it tight, keeping the score to 3/15 after 10 overs.
Cam tried to follow in his son’s footsteps but let it slip a little with figures of 0/16 off three overs with some chances falling short.
Young Oliver East bowled well with 1/9 off 3 and Harrison and Seth Lawrence also bowled well with a minimal target to defend but unfortunately for Tocumwal they just didn’t do enough with the bat.
All in all, the team had fun with some good banter, new players and some out of retirement.
The team gave special thanks to young Lucas Grieves, taking on the keeper’s gloves for his first senior game and he didn’t disappoint.