Page 37 - WPHCCC 2024-2025 Yearbook

B1 Grade
WPHC Red (Warren) 2nd Vs St Ives-Wahroonga (1st) 214 Day 1
WPHC Vs St Ives Wahroonga 214
The wicket was flat and it was hot – 35 degrees +. We won the toss and normally we would bat but decided to bowl so that we could have as much time as possible to bowl out the Minor Premiers.
Despite getting a wicket 1st ball, it was always so going to be a hard slog but our bowlers did an amazing job. In tough conditions our best bowlers were Daniel Schwartzel 2/28 (18), Nathaniel Chidgey 2/31 (14), Matt Schwartzel 1/25 (9), Rob Knapman 3/41 (16), Rowan Keating 1/35 (13) and Warren Schwartzel 1/19 (4).
We how have all day to get a sub-par score on a wicket that will only get better on a hot day. We now have the chance to control our own destiny.
Day 2
WPHC 6/218 defeated St Ives-Wahroonga 214
Fresh from our overnight ice baths and team recovery we arrived at the home of cricket (Parklands Oval) to remove the covers.
After this the pitch looked FLAT AS A TACK. Having not surpassed 200 once in the season before the penultimate game of the season I think the nerve levels were genuinely high. You could feel the tension in the air. Once the covers were removed and the pitch was repaired the boys rewarded themselves with ‘barista’ coffee. We were absolutely shocked that barista coffee had made its way all the way to Mt Ku ring-gai but it was a decent coffee nonetheless. Anyways now to the cricket (boring).
The equation was simple - we had 215 to chase in 90 overs. A draw would not cut it.
The hero of the Semi-final Mathew ‘H’ Schwartzel apparently left it all out there in the Semi-final, chopping one onto the stumps after a very, very solid 1.
Unfortunately, this dismissal comes with a heavy amount of controversy. Reports have just come in from the ICC that a sizeable bet came in from Club legend and local degenerate Steve ‘Degenerate’