By Casey OÇonnor
Redbacks have opened their season in commanding fashion scoring a seven wicket win over Wheatvale in the Warwick Cricket competition match at Mayhew Oval on Saturday.
Prior to playing their first game this season, the Warwick Redbacks Cricket Club announced First Choice Chiropractic Warwick as their new major sponsor for the 2022 /23 season.
Due to rain delays and fixture scheduling the club played only their first game of the new season last weekend.
A club spokesman said, “It has been a frustrating start to the season with all the delays, but it was good to begin with such a strong win.”
On a green wicket Wheatvale elected to bat first after winning the toss.
Sporting all-rounder Tyhe Clarkson struck the first blow with the new ball.
The Wheatvale opener, Pal (8) could do little with a seaming delivery from Clarkson that looked almost unplayable.
Hayden Doherty came in at first drop and spent longer on the walk to the crease than he did in the centre.
He edged the first delivery he faced down leg and flying Allison took a great catch. The dismissal put Clarkson on a hat-trick, but it was the final delivery of his over, so he had to until his next over for the hat trick ball. It would have been a fantastic way to start the season, but it all went slightly wrong and a full toss on leg stump was quickly despatched for four runs.
The Wheatvale skipper Riley Doherty was the next to fall, failing to come to terms with the c of Alex Dwan.
Redbacks skipper Steve Grogan called for a change of bowling bringing himself into the attack. The change had a positive result almost immediately when he captured the wicket of Tom Doherty LBW. Wheatvale were 5/88 and desperately seeking a partnership. Jonno Colfs and Chris Cantwell combined to add 33 runs and looked to have the innings back under control.
Keeper Tom Allison gave up the gloves and took the ball. After a barrage of short fast deliveries, he claimed clean bowled Colfs. Redbacks captain, Grogan covered plenty of ground to take a brilliant catch on the fence shortly after to dismiss Cantwell who had added 30 runs from 30 deliveries.
Three balls later balls later Marshall was caught and bowled by Sam Lowney for a duck. Allison removed Brisbane Heat prodigy Max Bryant to claim his second wicket.
The total was 8/125 when Clarkson returned to the attack. His first delivery was smacked to the boundary by Damien Boal. Clarkson did not have to wait long for revenge. He removed Boal’s middle stump with a slow swinging full toss.
Will Jamieson claimed the final Wheatvale wicket when Douglas Marshall was caught by Ben Lubben in the covers for a duck. Wheatvale all out for 132 midway through the 37th over.
Chasing 133 for a win Redbacks openers Allison and Lowney looked set for a big score before Lowney guided a ball down leg side straight into the keeper’s gloves and Redbacks were 1/21.
Ryan Clark came in at first drop. His teammates report Clark has grown at least a foot and gained more power and confidence in his stroke play during the pre-season.
The Redbacks were travelling nicely, and a good partnership was building between Clark and Allison before Clark skied a Tom Doherty delivery and it was safely taken by the Wheatvale keeper. The score 2/54.
New recruit, John Tickle was next batter in and complemented the power of Allison as the pair snuffed out any hope of a Wheatvale comeback with an impressive 72 run partnership. Tom Allison smacked seven boundaries and three sixes on his way to 68 from 74 deliveries before he was clean bowled by Riley Doherty with just seven required for a Redbacks victory. Jack Drewery joined Tickle at the crease and watched as he smashed a delivery over cow corner for four to wrap up a very comprehensive win. Redbacks 3-133.
After their solid win at the weekend Redbacks are “Looking forward to playing Colts on Saturday round for the first time since our devastating last ball Preliminary final loss last season,” the spokesperson said.
Wheatvale Runs: R Doherty (11); Pal (8); H Doherty (0); T Doherty (24); Colfs (24); Cantwell (30); Bryant (5); H Marshall (0); Boal (8);Mansfield (0*); D Marshall (0) * n/o
Fall of Wickets1-17 Vijay Pal, 2-17 Hayden Doherty, 3-23 Riley Doherty, 4-75 Thomas Doherty, 5-88 Jonno Colfs, 6-121 Chris Cantwell, 7-121 Harry Marshall, 8-125 Max Bryant, 9-130 Damien Boal, 10-132 Dougall Marshall
Redbacks Bowling – Clarkson 3/21; Allison 2/10; Lowney 2-34; Jamieson 1-1; Dwan 1-7; Grogan 1-18.
Redbacks Runs Allison (68); Tickle (18); Lowney (14); Clark (12) Drewery (3*) (* n/o)
Fall of Wickets: 1-21 Samson Lowney, 2-54 Ryan Clark, 3-126 Tom Allison
Wheatvale Bowling: Boal 1/20; T Doherty 1/21; R Doherty 1/14
