31/03/2026
What a weekend for our club. In just their 2nd season the 6th Grade boys take out the competition.
Captain Justin Gill won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat first. We knew going into the match that a score of 175+ from our 60 overs would be competitive on the slow outfield.
Connor Maloney and Ben Wilson opened the batting looking to continue their outstanding form. From their last two opening digs they returned partnerships of 82 and 116. On this occasion it was not to be with Wilson unluckily adjudged LBW when the ball hit him on the thigh pad. First wicket down with just 7 runs on the board. Maloney was joined at the crease by veteran Delan Daniels, Daniels was a great addition to the 6th grade team this year adding a smart head with plenty of cricket experience to his name. Delan and Connor put on 31 before Connor was caught behind for 12. We then lost Logan with the score at 3/45 with Belmore right on top. Delan was joined by Clayton Sands where the two went about their business putting on 74 runs in what proved to be the partnership that set up our batting innings. Delan was scratchy early but warmed into his innings like a hot Indian curry. Clayton played a superb supporting role which saw some great running between the wickets. Delan finished with a stylish 62 when he departed. The score was now 4/119. This brought Adam Gauci to the crease and he played a wonderful supporting role to Clayton. Clayton then flicked a switch and what proceeded was pure class, sending the Belmore bowlers to all parts of Kelso Park which included three massive sixes, one which ended up in the swamp at the end of the ground. Unfortunately Clayton’s innings came to an end on 73. The entertainment didn’t stop there with Gauci and Angus McLeod ticking the scoreboard over with ease. Gauci departed with the score on 208 for a fine 35. Dean Stimpson came in and played a fine cameo with a quickfire 11 before hauling out on the boundary. Bryden Sharp was next in but went first ball trying to put the spinner into the next postcode. We lost our last four wickets for two runs but the damage was already done. All out 239, a great score 60 above par on that field.
Our turn to bowl, Belmore got off to a flying start with 30 on the board after 6 overs. The partnership was broken by Logan Smith who had the Belmore opener superbly caught by Dean in the gully, catch of the game. One wicket brought two with Clayton grabbing the other opener leaving the score at 2/36. Belmore then made it to the first drinks break unscathed leaving the score at 2/63 off 16 overs. Nicholas Gill struck in the first over after drinks with the batsman well caught by Gauci in the gully. The game was the turned in the Cassowaries favour with a spell of bowling that will go down In grand final folklore from club president Bryden Sharp. Sharp turned back the sundial returning figures of 3/12 off 11 straight overs. Which included the prize Belmore batsman for a duck. Gauci came on from the other end and the run scoring had come to a crawl. Gauci picked up his first wicket caught in close by Clayton. Sharp then picked up the Belmore skipper right on the tea break leaving the score at 6/87. What a session 4/24 our best of the season. Sharp collected his third straight after the resumption of play to leave Belmore at 7/93. A 40 run partnership took Belmore to the final break with the score 7/132, leaving them needing 108 from 17 overs. Well it didn’t take long. The introduction of Dean Stimpson saw the partnership broken with a rearing bouncer which struck the back of the batsman’s bat and went straight to Connor behind the stumps. Connor then collected another caught behind off Dean before Dean obliterated the stumps for the final wicket sending us into wild celebrations. What a season. We saw both ends of the table, after the opening two rounds we were dead last and managed to claw our way back and lead the comp for a couple of weeks. We played some wonderful cricket through the season with a massive thanks to Justin Gill for leading this great bunch. Can’t wait for next season.
