Round 6 of the NSW Premier Cricket Competition sees the final 50-over cricket for the Students in 2019, who take on Parramatta in an important clash for all respective sides. A rejuvenated round of 4/5 wins against Western Suburbs has the Blue & Gold’s up and about to get some further points on the board and launch some momentum before the Christmas break.
The Uni boys did not face the Two Blues in the regular 2018/19 season with the exception for the 2nd Grade Grand Final where skipper James Larkin notched up a remarkable 165* as the minor premiers chased 386 with three wickets in the shed to claim the title.
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1st Grade
The Students will commence tomorrow’s fixture with a 2/2 record in the Limited-Overs Cup for 2019/20 after their demolitions of Sydney and the Magpies.
Hayden Kerr will look to continue his blistering start to the season with the big-hitting right-hander full of confidence following the (self-reported) praise from Ian Healy at the Bradman Foundation Dinner last week and his List A debut for the New South Wales Blues this week in Tasmania.
There’s no denying Kerr holds a pivotal role in the side, his current white ball stats in 2019/20 sitting at an unbelievable 400 runs at 133.3. He will be joined by fellow NSW batsman Nick Larkin at the top of the order.
Will Masojada gets another chance to stake his claim with the prune after a strong showing at the spin friendly Pratten Park last week and will welcome big eared Kieran Tate to the First Grade bowling cartel, who becomes Sydney University First Grade player #761 this weekend. Go well, Tatey!
Ben Trevor-Jones also edges out Nick Walker for the fourth spinning option in the side.
Nick Bertus will be hoping to square the ledger against the Uni Boys after Hayden Kerr replaced him in the NSW side on Wednesday whilst big-hitting Ben Abbott poses a big threat at the top of the order for the Two Blues.
1st XI
Larkin
Kerr
Mortimer
Robertson*
Cummins +
McElduff
Trevor-Jones
Holloway
Masojada
Tate
Joy
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2nd Grade
The 2nd Grade Students are still searching for their first victory in 2019/20, a stark contrast to when these two sides met on their last occasion.
Varun George, Dave Miller, Nick Walker and Charlie Dummer in the top 4, an imposing batting line up for the Students.
Opening bowling and circuit spearhead Lewis McMahon has been phenomenal in both aspects during the opening five rounds of the season and will no doubt be hopeful his captain and left-arm orthodox bowler Max Hope decides to leave the Harris Farm fruit sponsorship he’d been promoting in the first four rounds of the year at home again.
Alex Shaw is also an addition to the XI following his literal marathon efforts across the ditch last weekend and will lead the always-poor City Nash side – this week inclusive of the rarest of cats, Brockley Frost, who earns a call-up to the Twos following an impressive opening spell against Wests on the back of his consistent early season form.
Skipper Luke McNaught will lead his side that fell just short of premiership success last season and will look to leggie Shane Cassell to spin his side to six points, whilst Zach Johns has enjoyed a rich run of form with the bat plundering 234 runs from three ducks, including a globe.
2nd XI
Walker
Dummer
George
Miller
Moran
Hope*
Joseph
Shaw +
Frost
McMahon
Watts
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3rd Grade
The Sydney University 3rd Grade side were back to their clinical best in Round 5 against Wests and the Round 6 fixture against Parramatta is a true battle of the heavyweights. Parra sit atop the ladder on 26 points with the Books just one point and two places adrift on 25 and 3rd respectively.
Ryan Danne and Jack Hill will be hoping to capitalise on their return to form after their respective half-centuries and Round 4’s MVP Oli Zannino is still yet to be dismissed in Blue & Gold colours after two digs in the middle order of 74* and 30* respectively.
Jack Hill hands the reigns back to Wario Clark and it’ll be interesting to see whether the batsman-turned-leg spinner’s grenades are deemed worthy of an over before tea for another week without the C next to his name..Watch this space, for numerous reasons.
Josh Toyer returns to will take the new ball and will be desperately trying to break through (James Crowley).
Jason Coleman has claimed 11 wickets at 12 with the ball whilst captain Matthew Giumelli leads the Parramatta 3rd Grade runs with 189 at 38 for the visitors.
3rd XI
Danne
Fullerton
Hill
Litchfield
Walsh
Mitchell
Zannino +
Hazard
Clark*
Wood
Toyer
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4th Grade
The Fours continue to be the shining light for the Uni Boys and sit equally atop the Reid Cup ladder after the first five rounds.
Michael Robinson has shown some strong form as skipper and will lead the side again in Ash Cowan’s pappadum finger absence. Robinson will take a very balanced and confident XI into the clash following a near-bonus point win against the Maggies.
Impressive youngster Jackson Gwynne will make his club debut at Merrylands Oval, situated just a stone’s throw away from his current residual arrangement in Blacktown, which was preferred to Coogee..country kids, eh?
Brayden Dilley will hope his on-field form matches that of his recent Mush Column efforts and Zohirul Islam also maintains his spot in the side after his impressive TFC last week.
4th XI
Powys
Dilley
Qwayhlow
Robinson*
Grant
Wilson +
Islam
Greaves
Gwynne
Canagasingham
+1 more after we found out Friday morning that Rinka is away with Schoolies. Go well youngster.
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5th Grade
The mighty SUCC Fives turned their form of three losses on the bounce around with a dominant nine-wicket victory in Round 5. Wickets were shared around before Brad Osman-Kayani and Hugh Farrow combined for a 128-run opening stand in their chase of 153.
Quarter-time Hennessy should feel prepared after a big week of bowling with exclusively a new ball at training fresh out of the kit, whilst Chris Thompson will play his first game for the club before return to Guernsey..also watch this space.
5th Grade
Osman Kayani
Wilkinson*
Saeed
Kirubanadan
Shanahan
Hennessy
Thompson
Fredriksson+
Crawford
Miles
Epsi
Good luck to all Students and looking forward to a schooner at The Toxteth following play.
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