The Students have commenced 2020 in fine fashion, recording wins in 4 of the 5 grades in our Round 9 one-day clash against Sutherland.
In 1st Grade, skipper Liam Robertson won the toss and elected to bowl in overcast conditions at University No.1. The desired early breakthrough proved elusive as the Sutherland opening pair fought hard to put on 120 for the first wicket. However, the Students controlled the game well and, with the run rate somewhat subdued, it was clear that should the breakthrough come the balance of the match would swing dramatically. After off-spinner Ryan McElduff broke the opening stand, more wickets quickly followed and the Sharks found themselves on the back foot at 4/163. Disciplined bowling meant that any acceleration was limited and the 50 overs were completed with the score at 6/213. Devlin Malone didn’t skip a beat in his return from injury, delivering his full allotment of overs to return the tidy figures of 1/36. Hayden Kerr returned to the top of the order following his Big Bash duties for the Sydney Sixers to produce a typically brutal 80, which included 5 sixes, to get the Students away to a dominant start. He was well supported by Ryan McElduff (49) and Tim Cummins (34) who were major contributors to reaching the Sutherland total in the 46th over for the loss of 5 wickets.
2nd Grade looked to bounce back from a disappointing loss in Round 8, away at Glen McGrath Oval. A hard, green pitch and bowler-friendly overheads prompted no hesitation from skipper Max Hope, sending the hosts in after winning the toss. As is always the case when a skipper elects to bowl, pressure shifted to the new ball pair of Kieran Tate and Lewis McMahon to capitalise. And capitalise they certainly did, combining to take 6/4 and leave Sutherland reeling at 6/16. After Brodie Frost and Josh Toyer each chipped in with a wicket of their own, McMahon returned to capture 5/21 and bundle the hosts out for 95 in the 29th over. Charlie Dummer ensured that the chase did not become an awkward one striking 7 boundaries and a maximum, including taking the 2nd over of the innings for 17, on his way to 40 from 21 deliveries. A bonus-point, 8 wicket win was a superb way to start the second half of the season for the 2s.
In 3rd Grade, Henry Clark also won the toss and also elected to bowl at St Paul’s. An excellent century from Sutherland number 3 Brendon Piggott withstood a testing opening spell from Murray Watts (3/27) and looked set to launch the visitors towards a 300+ first innings score. Josh Joseph (2/22) bowled a crucial spell to restrict the opposition, eventually bowled out for 247 with 5 balls remaining. Confident that the total was well within reach, the Students were clinical with the bat. Charles Litchfield (118) opened the batting and was fluent throughout the chase, striking 12 boundaries and 4 maximums and very nearly carried his bat, dismissed 2 runs short of the total. Litchy combined with Josh Joseph (54) in a run-a-ball partnership of 120 that put the game beyond doubt, securing an emphatic win.
4th Grade travelled to Sutherland Oval and were sent in by the hosts. James Veitch and Matt Powys built a resilient opening partnership of 45 before 3 wickets fell quickly to leave the match poised at 3/61. Michael Robinson (82) played an essential innings as wickets fell around him to ensure that the Students reached a competitive total. Jackson Gwynne (32) stuck with Robbo well to build a valuable partnership of 51 for the 8th wicket before the visitors were dismissed for 228 in the 49th over. With the ball, 4th Grade were clinical. Once again led by Robinson (3/25), all bowlers executed their plans to dismiss Sutherland for 100 in the 38th over and secure a bonus point win.
5th Grade will rue missed opportunities as they were defeated by Sutherland at Camperdown Park. After winning the toss and electing to bowl, early signs were promising with Sutherland at 7/110. Despite an excellent performance from Max Shanahan (3/27) from his 10 overs, the Units failed to finish off the innings, as the visitors reached 8/186. No one in the top order was able to kick on for more than a start and play a match-winning innings, as the hosts were dismissed for 140, 46 runs short of the target.
Metropolitan Cup also suffered a disappointing defeat, losing to Penrith by 3 wickets. After winning the toss and electing to bat, lower order contributions from Raveen Kathriarachchi (41) and Samir Doshi (23) were critical in reaching the defendable score of 158. All the bowlers contributed to give the Units a chance but a defiant century from the opposition opening batsman saw the opposition home by 3 wickets.
All in all a successful start to 2020! The Students will face Penrith in Round 10, a crucial Club Championship clash.
