Nine-Wicket Hauls for Bradstreet and O'Keefe
Manly Warringah District Cricket Club | September 07, 2025
Taking a five-wicket haul in any form of cricket is a significant achievement — even more so at First Grade level. To claim nine wickets in a single innings, however, is something truly exceptional.
It's the type of performance that suggests a player may be operating a level above the competition. Batting-wise, it might be comparable to a triple century - or perhaps even more remarkable.
Over the past 30 years, Manly has been fortunate enough to witness two such performances at First Grade level - both by club legends who also captained their state: Shawn Bradstreet and Stephen O’Keefe.
In the 2000/01 season, Bradstreet produced an unforgettable display against Petersham (prior to their merger with Randwick), claiming 9-55 at Manly Oval in an early-season fixture.
Sharing the new ball with former NSW paceman Jamie Heath, Bradstreet bowled 17.3 overs to return extraordinary figures. A 10-wicket haul was out of reach, however, as Heath dismissed opener Khawja (not Usman) early in the innings.
Bradstreet’s nine wickets included six caught, two LBWs, and one bowled. Manly went on to win the match outright, with Bradstreet contributing again in the second innings with 4-58, bringing his match figures to 13-113.
He also made a crucial unbeaten 72 in the fourth innings run chase, while Matthew Phelps notched a century in Manly’s first innings.
Fast forward to the 2016/17 season, and Stephen O’Keefe - affectionately known as “SOK” - delivered a similarly dominant performance against Campbelltown-Camden at Manly Oval.
Coming on as second change, O’Keefe bowled unchanged to finish with career-best grade figures of 9-54 from 29.5 overs. His haul included five caught, three bowled, and one LBW.
As with Bradstreet, a 10-wicket innings was denied by the early dismissal of opener Yabsley by Matt White. Remarkably, though, O’Keefe took the catch, meaning he was involved in all 10 dismissals.
He continued his dominance in the second innings, taking 4-42 off 19 overs to complete match figures of 13-96, leading Manly to a comfortable outright victory.
A fascinating side note: despite O’Keefe’s brilliance, some might argue he wasn’t the most high-profile left-arm spinner on the field that day. Campbelltown-Camden’s lineup included Monty Panesar - a veteran of 50 Tests and 167 wickets for England.
Fittingly, O’Keefe dismissed Panesar in the first innings, having him caught at short leg by the ever-reliable Jarrod Rawlings.
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