It has been a busy and successful start to 2023 for the Wanderers.
In the first week of the new year the Club claimed its first title of the season with the JMR Weekday Bash thanks to a 45-run win in the final against a strong Interim Locations outfit.
Club Coach Clint Berkenshaw was the Man of the Match once again with a fine all-round performance. He struck 51 from 36 balls in setting 199-8 from 20 overs and then took 2-23 from his four overs as the Wanderers’ bowling and excellent fielding was just too good on the night.
Other notable contributions on the night came from Scott Doody 27 (20); Thinus Steyn 25 (14) and Ash Connick 29 (18). With the ball Bilal Siddique 2-30 and Trish Shetty 2-24 were also impressive.
The Wanderers also scooped some other awards on the night with Scott Doody claiming the leading run scorer and MVP for the tournament. Doody scored a total of 224 runs at an average of 74 and a strike rate of 147, his run tally included a highest score of 110 not out off just 63 balls. Wicket keeper Ben Willgoss also claimed the tournament’s best keeper with yet another set of outstanding performances.
In DSL Division 2, the 1stXI have played four games, winning two and losing two. They were well beaten by Seven Districts in the opening fixture of the year before claiming equally comfortable victories against Ace Challengers and V-Tac Colts. Berkenshaw, Ben Quirk, Avi Karia, Danny Pawson, Brannon Varley and Doody all putting in fine performances along the way. On Thursday evening, they narrowly lost out to league hosts JMR by just 10 runs chasing 206 for victory. Berkenshaw was at it again with the ball taking 2-36 and young left arm wrist spinner Caleb McLaren, while wicketless, was impressive in his five overs, three of which were bowled in the powerplay. In reply, 44 from Pawson and unbeaten 46 from Thinus Steyn were the stand outs as the boys in blue came up just short. They have one game to play in the pool stages to secure their spot in the top four for the finals.
In DSL Division 3, the 2ndXI started the year off with a defeat at the hands of rivals Exiles but have since bounced back with two consecutive wins. In the victory over the strong Solarwinds side it was the batting that shone, chasing down a huge 220 to win. Captain Cam Coles scored his maiden half-century for the Club with a classy 69 and Berkenshaw smashed 98 from 49 balls in an opening stand of 168. As is the case in this format getting over the winning line is never easy but in 17-year-old Kaviyan Elan the Wanderers had a cool and clam customer. He finished the chase off in the 24th over with an unbeaten 34 from just 18 balls that earnt him the Wanderer of the Day.
On Saturday, the 2nds, led by Ash Connick, put the Desert Beasts to the slaughter with a massive 118 run victory. Batting first there were contributions all the way through the order from Will Parkinson (38), Steyn (31), Qais Nawaz (16) and Nav Naidoo (23) as the side set 218-7 from its 25 overs. The innings was based around another maiden club half-century from Dave Adams. He played a memorable knock of 71 from 54 balls with shots all around the wicket. His innings, that included seven fours and two sixes, saw him named Player of the Match.
However, the bowlers were not to be outdone and bowled the Beasts out for just 100. There were impressive figures all round. Opening bowlers Alex Bradley (2-9) and Trish Shetty (2-10) began things off excellently and so the pressure continued with Steyn (2-7) and Ivaashan Nair (2-9) equally impressive. The bowlers were well backed up in the field, particularly by wicket keeper Parkinson who executed a fine stumping, catch and run out
JMR Weekday Bash winners 2023
The 1stXI have been in action in the 'blues' since January winning two and losing two.
2ndXI skipper Cam Coles has seen his side win two since an opening day defeat. He too has been in good form with the bat.
Lead Selector and 1stXI wicket keeper Ben Willgoss has been busy on and off the field.