Sunday not such a funday

So, that was cricket on rock-hard pitches and outfields then?In the wind and sun. On day 6 of a tournament. Tough aye?

Looking around the games today I saw a lot of tired players... the fielding was a bit dismal in parts, although I did see a great catch from Ryan Lowans while I was over at the Black Dev game.
Do your coaches a favour boys and get down, boys. Lose a bit of skin... as I think a few players heard me inadvertently call out today. Long barrier wasn't drilled into you at the age of 6 for nothing. :-)

So where are we at after day one of the final two dayers?

Black Development
The Black Development team bowled really, really well to restrict restrict Central to 167 all out.
But as has been the case with many of our players, we failed to put runs on the board in reply.  And from what looked like a reasonable opportunity for a first innings win, we are now 61/7.
The only player to put up any kind of resistance with the bat was Tristan van Ingen Kal (21), brought up from a great tournament at the Under 16s. Thanks to him for playing for us, and also to U16 Ethan Schaumkel, who hasn't yet had a shot with the bat, but maybe the young guns can do it.
All the bowlers did their job today - Josh Lewis had great figures of 12 overs, 7 maidens, 4/20.
Angus Frew 13 overs 2 maidens 1/34
William O'Donnell 22 11 maidens 2/36 (CricHQ is wrong with 33, need to fix it)
Hayden Sim was unlucky not to get another spell after 4 overs, for 5 runs and Jayson Jooste bowled as he has all tournament, on the money, line and length almost every time and was rewarded with 15 overs, 6 maidens, 3/33.
Josh Lewis and Ryan Lowans have all day to bat tomorrow... with 107 runs required for first innings points.
Sorry to Steven Henshaw who injured himself while doing a bit of extra bowling in the nets this morning and couldn't play. :-( He stuck around and helped out though, so thanks Steven. 
Scorecard here

Burgundy Development
Man these guys have actually been unlucky. Today they had one bowler away who will play tomorrow (Jordan) but unfortunately they lost the toss and ended up having to bowl, with one bowler down. This is also a team that's had hideous player unavailablility for half the tournament which really doesn't help.
Enter another U16 player Adrian Young who helped big time with great figures of 11 overs 4 maidens 1/28 but unfortunately 3 century makers in the opposition made our guys' lives hell and it was almost a blessing when Manukau declared at 368/3.
Again a bit of a batting disaster occurred and we are 122/7 with Matt Fenn very unlucky to get a first-baller, after coming up to help us out from the Under 16s. :-(  Three boys got starts Liam Davy (28), Kieran Seedall (25) and Felix Dewe (38) but it's going to take a century or two not to have to bat again tomorrow.
Thanks also to Carl Kirstein who took the gloves today with both previous keepers not available for the final game.. 
Scorecard here

Black A
Fielding. I think Black A would agree it was a bit of a shocker today, although I'd say in their defence that ground is rock-hard, bumpy, undulating in parts - I know, I watched it for the previous few days. Of course that doesn't explain the put down catches.
However, despite this there were a couple of good bowling performance. Ross Ter Braak had 7 maidens 1/33 off his maximum 16 overs, Nathan Banks was on the money again with 16 overs 3 maidens 4/55.
The innings ended at 383/10 so it will take a couple of players to step up big time tomorrow, but we have done it before and can do it again. Just need those century makers on this same day this time!
Scorecard here

Burgundy A
Burgundy A can feel happy with their bowling efforts today on what was a spinners' hunting ground as it turned out. Chris Groenink should have had a wicket (catches win matches, anyone?) as he bowled brilliantly with 8 overs 5 maidens for 6 runs. Andrew Scott was again very effective with 8 overs, 2 maidens 3/19 but then the spinners grabbed the ball and made some great inroads to bowl out Central for 175. No it wasn't for 11 as CricHQ says, there is a glitch that will be fixed tomorrow.
Nic Montgomery - got a five-wicket bag, well 6, with 21 overs (not 22 like CricHQ says) 5 maidens 6/47 (I think it's 47) and with Clayton Floyd bowling really well at the other end, the two put pressure on Central. Clayton Floyd ended up with great figures too - 23.3 overs, 4 maidens 2/70.
In reply it's been a crumbly old start - but better than most of our games! - before a horrible run out put us on the back foot a bit. However with Clayton Floyd (24*) and Dylan Budler (9*) at the crease tomorrow and just 50 runs to get to take first innings, we have to feel some confidence. You can do it boys!
Scorecard here