We’re still in a pandemic
The Sydney Cricket Association’s decision to cancel the second day of Round Eight was sensible, responsible and perhaps inevitable. For several weeks, the Premier Cricket competition has carried on as… well, not as normal, exactly, but a decent approximation of it in the circumstances. But the Association has a duty of care, not only to those involved in the game, but to the broader community, and the risk that a stray player or two from the northern reaches of waxhead country might be involved in spreading the virus simply wasn’t worth taking. As it happened, rain would have prevented a result in most games anyway. So perhaps the biggest disappointment is the loss of a few Green Shield games: there are boys who have waited a long time for their one chance to play in that competition, and losing that opportunity is a real blow. Let’s hope at least a couple of the abandoned fixtures can be rescheduled. At the time of writing, the “Avalon cluster” seems to have stabilised so, with any luck, fixtures can be resumed before too long. Although, should anything go wrong, Sydney University is sitting on top of the First Grade table. Just saying.
Fairfield grabbed its chance
Only one first-innings result was possible on day one, and Fairfield-Liverpool grabbed it after dismissing Penrith cheaply. Josh Baraba made good use of the new ball, knocking over Ryan Hackney and Cameron Weir with only six runs on the board. Jordan Browne and Adam Bayliss then restored order with a steady partnership of 64, until Jarrad Burke tossed the ball to Jaydyn Simmons. The logic behind this wasn’t immediately obvious: Simmons had never bowled for Fairfield, while in his career at Campbelltown, his First Grade wickets cost 65 runs each. And yet one of his innocent looking medium pacers beat Browne’s forward prod, at which point Penrith imploded. The last eight wickets tumbled for 67 runs, mostly to some disciplined bowling by Riley Allington and Chad Sammut. Penrith’s seam attack bowled well, too, but a bright innings from Param Uppal gave the Lions the lead well before stumps. It was a strong team effort, and the abandonment of day two means that it pitches Fairfield into the top six. But there was a twist, because by chance, many of the same players met again the following day in Poidevin-Gray, when Penrith absolutely bladdered Fairfield. Baraba, so effective on Saturday, leaked 62 runs from 8 overs on Sunday, while Allington went for 51 from seven. Penrith’s Henry Railz failed to score on the Saturday, and smashed a rapid 88 the next day against much the same bowling. Sometimes it’s an irrational game.
It’s looking like a breakthrough season for Charlie Dummer
Sydney University and Parramatta will both regret the loss of the second day of their game; University was as confident of taking six more wickets as their hosts were of scoring another 127 runs. But on the first day, when the bowlers generally had things in their favour, Charlie Dummer’s innings was exceptional. His 88 came from only 95 deliveries, as the nuggety left-hander produced a series of cleanly-struck drives and pulls whenever given room to free his arms. His first fifty came from only 44 balls, the highlight being a dismissive swat over the midwicket fence from a Luke Dempsey delivery that could easily have been blocked without anyone losing face. Dummer had a very difficult start to the season; he has had to cope with the tragic loss of his younger brother in September, and as recently as Round Two, he was playing Second Grade. And yet he’s now emerging as a genuine threat in the top grade. His talent is obvious, but it also says a lot about his character and resilience that he now has three half-centuries in Firsts this season, and is handing out punishment to some very accomplished bowlers.
Vasi MacMillan won’t forget his debut in a hurry
It’s an unusual game where the fifth seamer does the damage, but that’s what happened in St George’s match with Bankstown. Evasio MacMillan had been called up to make his First Grade debut, taking the place of Tom McKenzie, on the back of not very much form to speak of in Seconds – seven wickets in five matches. Bankstown had made its way for 2 for 90 by the time MacMillan got the ball, with the big wicket of Daniel Solway having fallen to Nick Stapleton. MacMillan started with a maiden to Jake Cormack, and then struck twice in his fourth over, bowling Cormack and having Daniel Nicotra caught behind. Bankstown was dismissed for 220, leaving the game frustratingly poised at the end of day one. MacMillan, a former Trinity Grammar student, ended up with 4-28 – the best return he’s achieved for the Saints since Green Shield. His seamers are nippy and accurate, and he’s a confident competitor. He might even get promoted to fourth seamer some time soon.
Blacktown can’t take a trick
The Blacktown Mounties remain winless in First Grade this season, despite a commanding performance on day one against Hawkesbury. Toby Flynn-Duncombe, owner of the least Blacktown name in all of Blacktown, batted with monumental patience throughout the entire day; he faced the first ball of the day, and the last, and reached 136 by the close. It was an innings defined by restraint, but Flynn-Duncombe also took full advantage of anything lose, hitting three sixes and being intermittently harsh on spinners Abdul Kherkah and Jake Wholohan. James Newton rediscovered his early-season form with a solid 83, and Jordan Gauci (62 not out) stamped his class on the final session. Blacktown’s three for 316 represented a very solid day at the office. They’ll never know whether it would have been enough.