A significant amount of welcome rain limited play in Round 10 against Club Championship rivals, Penrith. As a consequence, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade and Metropolitan Cup were all abandoned without a ball bowled. However, patience and persistence prevailed at University No.1 and St Paul’s Oval allowing 2s and 4s to complete tight, entertaining affairs.
In 2nd Grade, rain reduced the match to 32 overs a side after play was delayed from 11:22am to 3:50pm. In the morning, Penrith won the toss and elected to bat. All bowlers played a part but Kieran Tate was the stand out, taking 3/18. Notably, Ryan Danne made a successful return to the bowling crease after a long stint without the ball due to a troublesome back to take 1/13 from his 5 overs. Duckworth-Lewis calculations saw Penrith’s score of 6/98 increased to 110. Partnerships were hard to come by as regular wickets fell until Frost joined Tate at the crease with the score at 7/77. The pair of big quicks put on an unbeaten 35 for the 8th wicket to reel in the total with 3 balls to spare. A crucial 6 point win for the 2s with much of the round washed out as they look to ride late season momentum into a finals berth.
In 4th Grade, the Students were sent in by the visitors and found themselves in early trouble at 4/34. As in 2s, the rain came in the late morning and halted play until 4pm. Skipper Ash Cowan (51) and keeper James Crowley (45*) strode to the crease to resume play. Needing to accelerate the run rate quickly knowing that the Duckworth-Lewis would not be implemented, the experienced pair batted phenomenally to steer the Students to a defendable score of 6/148 from 30 overs. Notably it was Crowls’ first game back for the Units following a stint inter-state, a huge inclusion for the Club as finals loom. The task of defending a score at St Paul’s is always a difficult one with short boundaries in all directions and the Students knew they needed to deliver an exceptional performance with the ball and in the field. Michael Robinson (3/26) continued his run of form with the ball but it wasn’t enough as the Cats reeled in the total in the 29th over.
On Sunday, SUCC’s Poidevin-Gray side met Fairfield-Liverpool in a must-win clash as both sides sought a finals berth. The excellent drainage of No. 1 facilitated the full allotment of 50 overs. Ryan McElduff won the first battle of the morning, inviting Fairfield to bat on a fair wicket that offered plenty to both bat and ball. After a strong start from the visitors, Ben Mitchell broke through to end an opening partnership of 65. Consistent wickets fell through the middle overs, controlled for the most part by leggie Wiz Masojada (3/30) and seamer Jackson Gwynne (3/42). A late rally from the tail allowed Fairfield to reach a score of 9/198 which, on a slow outfield, looked to be very competitive at the innings juncture. In the chase, skipper McElduff (43) and Ben Mitchell (31) put on 58 for the 4th wicket and looked to be building a match-winning partnership. However, both fell consecutively to leave the Students reeling. McElduff was particularly unlucky, run out after the bowler tipped a Charlie Cassell straight drive onto the stumps. The lower order fell away quickly as the required rate climbed, all out for 146.
Next week the Students will face Blacktown Mounties. 1st Grade will play both Saturday and Sunday at home, whilst the rest of the grades will enjoy a one-day fixture.
