Toth Stars as Plateau T20 holds off Harbord Bowling

Josh Toth slogged 69 off 37 balls to set a solid platform for what would be a match winning total for inaugural Collaroy Plateau Cricket Club Twenty20 XI.

An incomplete new pitch at Nolans 1 forced a late ground change to Nolans 5 where 2nd time captain Tom Carden lost the toss to opposition skipper and cousin Carl Pymble but it did not effect who would bat first as Harbord elected to bowl. Tom gave the nod to 4th grade young all rounder David Le and 2nd grade tonker Toth to open the innings for the Plateau. With an average of only 10 over 17 seniors matches the decision to open with Le was surprising. But the skipper's decision was quickly justified as Davo penciled in a personal seniors high score, hitting a supporting run-a-ball 27 including a classic cover drive for 4 straight into the Plateau dugout. At the other end Josh was on fire and the two put on 69 for the first wicket to pave the way for the incoming batsmen to come in and hit without pressure.

1st grade skipper Rob Minnett came to the crease and struggled with a couple of deliveries that were slow off the Nolans 5 pitch. He struck a few boundaries before being dismissed for 24 off 17 balls. Toth's impressive innings came to an end an over later which saw the Plateau at 3/146 with 6 overs remaining.

5th's Steve Bull contributed with a handy 23 off 14 before the innings was finished off by 4th's captain Blake Conde as he dispatched a full toss over the rope for 6. CPCC pulled up just short of the 200 mark at 5/197.

Skipper TC struck early in Harbord's run chase, getting Bartlett caught on the boundary by Brendo. Richards then struck in his 2nd over, clean bowling Ross with a beautiful in-swinging delivery. Harbord then got going when Carden got unlucky in his 2nd over, his cousin Dane Pymble was dropped twice and the Plateau were made to pay when 12 was taken off the over.

4th grade's Andrew Coates then replaced Tom and produced a match defined spell of 4 overs, 2 wickets for 26. Taking the pace off the ball, the Harbord batsmen could not adjust to the movement off the wicket.

Harbord were given a sniff later in the game when Toth and Ball were sent for a few. Josh then switched to spin and the lack of pace again proved successful and after a tight 2nd last over Brendo needed to defend 19 off the final over the game. He produced a brilliant last over, 2 run outs were taken off it and Harbord were left at 9/184 at the games end, 13 runs short.

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