Despite it being the off-season for Sydney University Cricket Club, many of our players are still showing the way on-the-field across the world.
SUCC and Blues star Sean Abbott is currently participating in a Quadrangular series in Darwin between Australia A, South Africa A, India A and the Australian National Performance Squad.
Abbott has been a strong performer for the NPS claiming four wickets for 36 runs from his 10 overs in their opening clash against South Africa A to restrict them to 212 from their 50-overs. Abbott’s four wickets included three bowled. Unfortunately, Abbott was unable to trouble the scorers in the run-chase as NPS fell 10 runs short of a first-up victory.
A stellar performance from Abbott in NPS’ clash with their much fancied Australia A rivals saw the upset of the tournament with a 52-run victory to NPS. Abbott put together an impressive cameo late in the innings to smash 33 runs from 22 balls to push the total to a competitive 252 runs from their 50 overs.
Australia A were never really in the hunt in reply, losing regular wickets throughout their innings to be rolled for 200 runs. Abbott again was the standout with the ball claiming three for 22 runs from 7.2 overs including the dangerous scalps of Tom Cooper, Peter Nevill and Ben Cutting.
Abbott was rested in the big clash against India A, and his absence was felt in a heavy defeat with India A chasing down NPS’ 217 runs inside 40 overs with 6 wickets in hand.
In NPS’ most recent match, Australia A exacted revenge for their earlier defeat with a comfortable 7 wicket win. NPS posting 214 runs with a brilliant century from Tom Cooper guiding Australia A to the win. Despite missing out with the bat, Abbott again showed his value with the ball, claiming two for 27 runs at 3 rpo whilst four of his fellow bowlers all went at over 5.8 rpo.
Abbott’s NPS side currently sits 3rd with matches remaining against South Africa A on 29th July and India A on 31st July.
On the opposite side of the globe, SUCC’s run-scoring machine, Nick Larkin found himself representing Ireland in a 3-match one-day series against Sri Lanka A with a chance to impress selectors and coaching staff ahead of Ireland’s upcoming involvement in the ICC Cricket World Cup in Feb/Mar 2015.
Larkin had belted a match winning 82 runs for his North Down side in the NCU Premier League earlier this month before joining the Ireland A side for a warm-up match against an MCC side.
An easy 10-wicket win for Ireland A over an MCC side meant Larkin didn’t get an opportunity to show his talent in a warm-up match.
Unfortunately, Larkin’s first hit for Ireland against Sri Lanka A didn’t trouble the scorers and a promising start in the 2nd match with 16 off 17 balls was cut short in Ireland’s unsuccessful run chase of Sri Lanka A’s 329 runs.
Larkin will head back to North Down looking to dominate again to lift the side from their current 3rd position and to ensure another opportunity for Ireland when they take on Scotland in a one-day series in September.
**Image credit: Scott Barbour - 2014 Getty Images