Round 2 Wrap: Outrights Avoided

1st Grade
1st Grade had a shocker in the field as Long Reef looked to set CPCC a target for us to avoid an outright. Despite 6 dropped catches, the Plateau bowlers were able to stem the quick flow of runs for a while. Long Reef eventually declared at tea at 3/271, 129 ahead of the Plateau. With 35 overs to bat out, CPCC were never in danger of succumbing to the outright, finishing the day at 3/125. Rob Minnett was unbeaten on 35 and Kavin Moorthi smacked an impressive 45.

2nd Grade
From their over night score, 2nds required 4 wickets with 18 runs in hand at the start of day two against Harbord. Despite managing to take 1 wicket, Harbord pushed past Collaroy’s score with their opener Betts scoring 102*. In search of an outright, Harbord sent 2nds in with a lead of 128, posting 7-228 (dec) and leaving 48 overs in the day. Col Huxley was the pick of the bowlers, ending with figures of 4-80 off 15 overs.
Collaroy were put under pressure from ball one with opener Conrad Meulman removed with the first delivery of the innings. Brodie Elliott and Toby Horstead were then able to combine for an 88 run stand. Toby notched up another half century for the Plateau, dismissed for 52. Nick Johnson then joined Brodie at the crease to see 2nds to end of the play, wiping off the lead and the captains agreed an outright was no longer possible. Brodie ended with 61 not out to finish the day.

3rd Grade Blue
Collaroy Blue were left heart broken in their 2nd round clash against Cromer. Chasing 186, the boys were cruising at 4-152, but a lower order collapse saw the team bowled out for 177, 9 runs short of the required total. Top scorer was Chris Dwyer, who continued his great start to the season with 68 from opener.

3rd Grade Gold
Chasing 254 at Harbord Park, Collaroy Gold had a serious task ahead of them on day 2 of their game against Harbord Bowling Club. The boys were able to salvage a draw from their 2nd round clash, left at 7-208 at stumps from 70 overs. Top scorer was Sam Filmer-Ramsay with 57 from opener. He combined with Lauchlan Murphie, who made 46, to put on an excellent opening stand of 81. Pat Koch also made a thrilling 39 to see the boys avoid a 2nd round defeat. This also saved Plateau from a disastrous ‘reverse-sweep’ across the grades.

Development Team (4th Grade)
Fourths were in a tough spot from their day one position 4-41 chasing 244 at Beverly Job. That didn’t stop the lads putting in a super effort, with Norris Waters bringing up a resilient half century including 7 fours and 4 sixes. Waters topped scored with 56 and the team also was aided by some other solid contributions down the order including Graham Neasmith with 34 and Andrew Davis 28 not out. However the boys weren’t able to pull of the same heroics of round 1, being bowled out for 173.