The fragility of the 1st XI batting was unfortunately again on display at Hewett Oval against Keswick.
Captain Jai Koirala won the toss, but would not have been satisfied with the below par total of 141.
However the day did see a return to form for Rahsaan Oakey who blasted a season highest 59 that included four sixes.
A tight bowling and fielding performance will be required as the team desperately hangs on to its slim finals hopes. The fightback commenced in an eight over session with the ball just before stumps. Josh Lourens captured his 37th wicket for the season as Keswick finished the day at one for six.
Statistical note:
Coromandel's innings included 7 sixes and 6 fours.
This is only the seventh time that a Coromandel A Grade team has hit more sixes than fours in an innings (since 1938).
Furthermore, the team score of 141 is the highest achieved on all those occasions.
First Innings Loss
Coromandel 141
A dazzling opening stand of 130 between Adam Catford and Darren Coulter has provided the catalyst for a competitive total of 275 on the first day.
The epic partnership has set a new record for the first wicket in B Grade matches - surpassing the previous best of 124.
Catford's contribution of 53 is his first half-century for 2010/11 and compliments a consistent season with both bat and ball.
However it was Coulter who was the dominant partner - utilising the small boundaries of Flaxmill Primary School to hit 12 fours and a six in his near-run-a-ball 78. Perhaps this will encourage a more permanent comeback for the former 1st XI captain!
Brendan Richards ensured the carnage continued as he added 59 runs of his own.
Finally, a curious statistical fact - there were no maidens for the entire 55 overs of the innings!
First Innings Win
Coromandel 275
The 3rd XI made the pilgrimage to play ICC Sharks III on the lush outfield of Wirreanda High School.
Mark Lemmey won the toss and elected to bat.
The opening combination of Bruce Carpenter and Daniel Hosking was an interesting one and they produced a stand of 25 from 22 overs. Hosking made a lightning start to the innings, finding the fine leg boundary early and racing to six runs from his first seven balls. However he was still on the same score 45 balls later.
Captain Lemmey batted throughout the second half of the day to finish unbeaten on 35 as his team compiled 124. Recent Wirreanda form would suggest that the total will be a competitive one, as the 4th XI restricted ICC Sharks IV to 118 at the same venue in the previous round.
Will Hillier reached the milestone of 1000 runs
First Innings Loss
Coromandel 124
The 4th XI have already completed a first innings win.
Led by another four wicket haul from Peter Zacpal, Coromandel bowled the finals hopeful International Cricketers Club out for only 55. Zacpal's career tally is now 866 wickets and he received plenty of support from the other end with Captain Greg Kearsley bowling an economical six overs and taking 2 for 4.
In reply, Coromandel raced to 2 for 117 after 25 overs, an innings that was highlighted by a second wicket stand of 106 between Richard Hunter and Vivek Vijayraghavan. It is the first century partnership for the 4th XI this season.
Hunter finally ended his run of scores between 30 and 49, reaching an unbeaten 53 including a towering six over the midwicket boundary on the longer side of Blackwood Hill Oval. He also celebrated his 1000th run in D Grade matches.
Vivek provided plenty of support, posting his first half-century after 33 matches for the club. Not always known as a big-hitter, he managed 26 runs from the last two overs. Given a licence to throw the bat (from Captain Greg Kearsley who was keen to declare), Vivek responded with a succession of scoring shots (4-4-6-1-1-4-4-2) before being bowled unleashing another big swing on the last ball of the innings. His maiden 50 was scored from just 63 balls.
The fast scoring allowed Kearsley to close the innings early and take his team into the field for the second time in the day. The eight over session has already produced one second innings wicket and the team will be keen to complete the task with an outright win next week.
Outright Win
ICCSA 55