The Parkes District Cricket Association received $4,500 of funding through the 2019/20 Local Sport Grant Program to purchase training equipment for the local representative and senior teams. Member for Orange Phil Donato MP (right) was in Parkes on Wednesday to hand over the funding to Luke Nash, Daniel Gordon and Paul Dunford of the Parkes District Cricket Association.
Many keen cricketing pundits were forecasting a closely contested final between minor premiers Parkes Colts and an inform Cowra Bowling Club at the Woodward Oval last Saturday.
Parkes Colts however turned it into quite a one-sided affair after they produced a stunning bowling and fielding effort to dismiss Cowra Bowling Club for 97 runs in 35.2 overs.
The Colts then made short work of their run chase to score 1/98 in 20.1 overs, only losing the wicket of opening batsmen Peter Yelland off the last ball of the game as Peter was stumped off a wide that gave Colts victory.
It would be fair to say that the Dunford brothers, Phil and Paul, played major roles in the Parkes Colts premiership success as Phil secured the excellent bowling figures 5/24 off 9 overs including 3 maiden overs. Paul continued his rich rein of batting excellence to score a dominant 59 not out with 7 fours in 70 minutes to pilot the Colts home to a most emphatic 9 wicket victory.
The match began with a superb bowling blitz from Colts bowlers Brent Tucker and Andrew Britt as they smashed through the early order Bowling Club batting. Andrew Britt, by securing 2 wickets in his opening over, gained plenty of approval from his teammates. The entry of Phil Dunford to the bowling crease saw wickets tumble, but Michael Curtale’s valiant 49 provided the backbone of the Cowra Bowling Club innings of 97. The Colts young bowler Zac Larkins was delighted to take a wicket with his first ball before finishing with the very tidy figures of 1/5 off 3 overs.
In reply Colts openers Pater Yelland and Paul Dunford carried on the tradition of great Australian opening pairs such as Bob Simpson and Bill Lawry, Geoff Marsh and Mark Taylor in guiding the Colts to a memorable victory.
By Luke Nash
CENTENARY OF GRINSTED CUP… The 2019 Parkes team was joined by Tim Keith, Bob Aitken, John Davies and Lex Hodges before the match on Saturday.
History repeated itself last Saturday in the centenary celebration of the Grinsted Cup game played at the Woodward Oval.
In 1969 Parkes staged an amazing revival to defeat Forbes by one wicket in the 50th anniversary of the Grinsted Cup. The same result was achieved last Saturday when Parkes scraped home to win by the barest margin with Forbes 10/91 off 39 overs and Parkes 9/92 off 39 overs.
After the official launch of the new LED lights at the oval by Member for Orange Phil Donato and Councillor Louise O’Leary, the match began in sensational fashion when Parkes opening bowler Phil Dunford produced a wicket off the first ball to clean bowl Jarrod Nicholson.
Forbes staged a comeback as Mitch Bayley 34 and Scott Neville 15 took the Forbes score to 51 in the 19th over. Parkes 15-year- old Harry Bayliss entered the attack with his well flighted leg spinners as he ripped through the middle order and claimed 6/29 off 10 overs.
Forbes batsman Mark Simmonds (20 no) displayed plenty of grit to boost the Forbes total to 91 off 39 overs. Phil Dunford (3/18) and Blake Smith (1/18) put Parkes in a good position for victory.
At the toss before the match were (L-R) Peter Yelland (Parkes Captain), Mitch Bayley (Forbes Captain), Glenn Pepper (Parkes) and Robert Ryan (Forbes).
In reply, the Parkes batting line-up soon found that they had a difficult task as Mark Simmonds turned in a terrific display of sustained accuracy to smash through the Parkes batting order. Parkes were reeling when their score stood at 5/27 after 12 overs with Mark Simmonds collecting four of the first five wickets to fall. Andrew Hall and Toby Hurford also bowled tightly for Forbes.
A very determined Shane Jones (33 no) and Paul Dunford (11) added useful runs, but Parkes continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. The Parkes score stood at 9/75 when the final batsmen, Ben Coultas joined Shane Jones with Parkes requiring a further 17 runs for victory.
Shane Jones survived a dropped catch that would have given Forbes victory. Ben Coultas hit the winning runs off the following over to give Parkes a memorable victory over a gallant Forbes team.
The Grinsted Cup is said to be the longest running sport competition in NSW. Michael Greenwood gave an overview of all the top historic moments of the past 100 years at the Woodward Oval. He said it was the showpiece of country sport 60 years ago, and told the Parkes team, who defended the sought after trophy last Saturday, and the Forbes team they were part of great sporting history.
The Parkes U/14 cricket team Parkes scored a convincing 91 run victory over a keen Wellington team at a superbly prepared Spicer Oval on Sunday. The Parkes team included a good number of U/12 players who took the opportunity to extend their skills by playing with talented U/14 players.
The scores were: Parkes 8/194 in 40 overs – Joseph Tanswell 75, Hunter Hawke 38, Jack Milne 23, Flynn Thompson 13 n.o, Maddy Spence 9, Isaiah Hill 2/29 off 8 overs, Nate Bradford 2/21 off 4 overs, Lachy George ½ off 6 overs.
Wellington 10/103 in 37.2 overs – Lachy George 23, Amali McNeil 18, Zeke Heterick 11, Callee Black 11, Joseph Tanswell 3/16 off 8 overs, Maddy Spence 2/9 off 4 overs, Ryan Dunford 2/5 off 4.2 overs, Hunter Hawke 1/11 off 8 overs.
Parkes batted first to see a very positive opening partnership between Joseph Tanswell and Jack Milne. They put on 51 runs in 11 overs before Jack was dismissed for 23 with 4 boundaries.
Hunter Hawke (38 runs off 44 balls with 4 very strong fours) then partnered with Joseph in a quick fire 63 run partnership for the second wicket. Joseph (75 runs from 89 balls with 7 well struck boundaries) should be very pleased with his highest score in his young career.
After a middle order collapse, late order players Flynn Thompson (13 n.o) and Harry Kennedy (6) added quick runs at the end of the innings.
In reply Wellington lost wickets at regular intervals. Maddy Spence and Geordie Duncan were impressive in the field, while Jackson Plummer also stood out. Joseph Tanswell completed an outstanding all-round match as he produced 8 accurate overs to capture 3 early order Wellington wickets. Maddy Spence (2/9) and Ryan Dunford (2/5) chimed in to take valuable wickets.
By Greg Morrissey
“I’ve played cricket in lots of places. In the backyard, the driveway, inside the house, but never on top of a radio telescope.” Brisbane Heat star, and one of the world’s biggest hitters, Chris Lynn joined other cricket heroes and local kids to recreate the famous scene from the movie, The Dish, at the Parkes Radio Telescope last Thursday.
Under dark, stormy clouds they tried to ‘blast’ a ball into space to launch Cricket Australia’s new kids program Woolworths Cricket Blast “I didn’t quite get the ball into orbit, but it was a great experience. It was amazing,” said right-handed top order batsman Chris.
He was joined by Big Bash League heroes Peter Handscomb, Alyssa Healy, Ash Gardner and Nic Carey, Parkes kids Nina Richardson-Barley and Nate Henry, and Nate Vincent from Condobolin.
About 60 children from Parkes, Orange, Dubbo, Condobolin, Forbes and Cowra signed up to be part of the exciting day and took part in many cricket activities on the grounds around the radio telescope.
In the famous scene in the movie two engineers turn the giant radio telescope, used for beaming live television pictures of the Apollo 11 landing on the moon to the world, into a makeshift cricket pitch.
Last Thursday the cricket heroes climbed the giant structure under guidance from CSIRO Operations Scientist John Sarkissian to re-enact the scene using soft balls not to damage the dish.
“The cricket scene in the film has become an iconic feature of the CSIRO Parkes Observatory, and to see it re-enacted by real cricketers was a blast,” said John. “It was fantastic to see how much the junior cricketers enjoyed themselves. I’m sure they will remember it for a very long time.”
Woolworths Cricket Blast is a program for girls and boys of all abilities between the ages of 5 to 10 to learn new skills and play Australia’s favourite sport.
By Maggi Barnard
The first Thursday in November was a special day for around 50 special class students from Parkes and Forbes public schools when they participated in Dream- Cricket at Parkes Pubic School. DreamCricket brings together children with a disability from years three to six. It was originally developed in the NSW Central Highlands as the result of a partnership between Rotary, the Bradman Foundation and the Movement Disorder Foundation.
The day was made super special when 18 Year 7 students from Parkes High joined in with their teacher Mark Ranger to help organise the games and cook lunch. About half the high school students completed Year 6 at Parkes Public School in 2015. The DreamCricket program allows the students to develop their hand-eye coordination, movement skills and balance in a team environment, while at the same time enjoying sport.
Students enjoyed the sporting challenges, which involved groups rotating around four specially adapted cricket-based activities. The participation and smiles on faces said it all. DreamCricket gives students that normally
would not participate in sport a chance to be involved. It gives participants a chance to enjoy physical activity while developing self-confidence, self-esteem, levels of behaviour and citizenship.
The DreamCricket program has grown to schools and children throughout Australia and internationally. The day was organised as a joint effort by the Rotary Clubs of Dubbo East, Forbes, Parkes and Orange Daybreak. It was coordinated by Don Stephens, Chair of Dream-Cricket Australia and member of the Rotary Club of Dubbo West.
By Ken Engsmyr
On Tuesday a team from Northparkes Mines played a ‘pink stumps’ cricket match against Year 10 students from Parkes High School at Spicer Oval. The game was played to raise money for the McGrath Foundation and the money combined has raised over $1000 for breast care nurses!
Parkes High School bat first and fought valiantly against a strong contender with 85 runs and 11 wickets taken. However, the Northparkes Mines team were the winners of the day with 126 runs and 5 wickets taken. The match was umpired by none other than Parkes Mayor, Cr Ken Keith OAM for the first hour who was then substituted
by Greg Morrissey, a life member of both Parkes Junior and Senior Cricket. Well done to all involved!