 3rd Grade pull up short
Back to Chatswood for First grade on Saturday meant back to Killara for Thirds. We were looking to maintain our undefeated record against another well-placed team in Northern Districts. Captain Hoppa lost the toss and the Stags were going to be in the field first.
The successful Cupcake comeback
James ‘JK’ Kennedy and Matt “Cuppy” Michael were to take the new ball, and after a high-scoring first few overs, The Cake broke through, removing the ND's opener with a yorker length ball chopped on. A second for Cuppy came soon after. JK bowled tight line and length for the majority of his spell and finished his eight overs with solid figures of 1/29, having removed the no.4 to a fantastic second slip catch by Sam Pearce. ND's were 3 for 69 at the first drinks break, and Gordon looked well on top.
After a tidy over before drinks, Dan “Chewy” Mahaffey picked up the opener soon after drinks, with a less-than-peach of a ball, short and wide, cut straight to Steve Colley at point. At 4/70, the Stags were looking the goods but it was at this point that the ND's middle order, led by their captain at no. 6, started creating partnerships. Although the bowling by the likes of Hoppa, Steve and Pic was tight, it was sensible batting in the middle order that got ND's right back into the game. They only lost one wicket in the space of about 18 overs, which brought them back in reach of a decent total.
 Wickets started to fall in the last 10-12 overs, with Hoppa picking up a tidy 2-for (including nearly breaking his fingers attempting a catch - only for it to rebound into the hands of Sam Pearce to swallow it) and Colley and Sherman both bowled tidy spells. Cuppy also bowled an over near the end and took a wicket, taking his tally for the match to three; not a bad comeback.
Pic gets out of the blocks quickly
ND's were bowled out for 237 in the last over. Not a bad total, but it should have been well within reach.
Colley and Sherman went out to open and Steve-o got a pearler first ball of the innings and was unluckily caught in the slips. From then, however, Pic and Pearcey went about smashing the ND's openers around, Pic reaching 40* having hit ten boundaries. Pearcey was equally aggressive, hitting a quick fire 35. Both batsmen got out in quick succession, however, which seemed to set the tone for the day.
Blair and Harry both looked the goods until each being unluckily dismissed LBW and Cuppy early on to a great catch.
 Cam Eccles was the pick of the batsmen though, being the only one through the middle and lower order to stick around and give the Stags a sniff. Unfortunately no-one stayed at the crease with him long enough, and as wickets fell, the run rate dropped and the equation was a bit much for the tail. Cam was the last batsman dismissed, racking up 68 from 88 deliveries, which included some fantastic-looking boundaries.
Cam looks solid out there at Killara Oval
We were bowled out for 206, 31 runs short of the total, and with 6 overs still to spare.
Overall a disappointing round for 3's, we didn't play too badly but lacked a bit of consistency on the day. But we'll look ahead to next round and a big win against the UNSW boys. Dan "Chewy" Mahaffey | 
