Page 50 - West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook Cricket Club Yearbook 2017-18

Game 9 Vs Berowra Glenorie
Berowra reached 4/66 in a rain affected match with no result achievable. Game 10 Vs Castle Hill
The Blues routed Castle Hill for 73 with some clinical bowling. Dylan (4/13), Andrew (2/10) and Connor (2/16) enjoying themselves with the ball. In reply our batsmen made hard work of reaching a small total with all those dismissed getting themselves out (rather than the opposition getting them out), reaching the target 5 down. Dylan (28no) and Zac (19) the contributors.
Game 11 Vs Kenthurst
With the Blues in 1st place and leading the competition by 10 points, the team mixed it up for the last game with the bowlers batting up the order and the part-time bowlers being given additional overs. The team posted a competitive 5/120 after their 32 overs with Tom (50no), John (20) and Sam (20) doing well with the bat. Our score, however, proved to be inadequate with Kenthurst reaching the target 5 down with 3 overs remaining. Tom collected 2 wickets.
Semi-Final Vs Castle Hill
Despite their best efforts the boys were just outplayed by a better team on the day in their semi-final. After reaching 30 without loss a batting collapse occurred and the Blues were suddenly 4/52. From then on the team was playing catch up. Each batsman made a solid start but failed to cash in and, for only the second time in the season, we were bowled out. Only Dylan (34) and Tom (28no) resisted. Bowled out for 149 the boys had confidence in their bowlers who, as a bowling unit, had bowled out teams all year for around 150 or less. Although we bowled solidly, Castle Hill batted very well and passed our total 3 down for a good
n win. A very disappointing way to bow out, but to their credit, the boys still believed they had a chance of winning this game until probably the last 2 or 3 overs of the match.
This was a remarkable season for the Blue team. The Blues finished as minor premiers (by a clear margin) and finished the regular season with the best batting average (@ 26.9), the best bowling average (@14.6) and the best team quotient (1.8) in the competition. These are remarkable achievements, especially when you consider, unlike all the other teams in the competition, the Blue team had no representative players. Such a result could only have been achieved with all members contributing throughout the season. After the completion of the regular rounds, 3 boys had finished as the top three wicket-takers in the completion, 1st Dylan (16 wts), 2nd Areeb (14 wkts) and 3rd Andrew (13 wkts) and two had finished in the top 10 run scorers Zac (4th, 313 runs) and Dylan (8th, 232 runs). Congratulations boys.
I have been coaching since the Under 9’s and coached the majority of these boys for 5 years or more.
Each season has presented its own challenges and had its own rewards, but ultimately, the goal of a junior coach is to install a love of cricket in those they coach. I have watched in amazement the way each boy has worked to develop their skills each season. They have all turned into fine young men who love their cricket. This, after all, is what really counts.
Thank you to Roger Kurian, fellow coach, for your valuable input, ideas and support and to Jane Bish, our number one team manager, you are truly amazing. This team had a great parent group and the Blues were never short of umpires, scorers, amenities, laughter and support throughout the season(s). I will miss our Saturdays together.
Ian Cooper Coach
50