Over the long weekend, the Students completed a fantastic round against Blacktown, playing consistent and disciplined cricket to secure the first clean sweep of the 2019/20 season.
In 1st Grade, Blacktown visited Uni No.1 for a Saturday-Sunday contest and elected to bat after winning the toss. As he so often does, Charlie Cassell drew first blood, bowling Taj Brar with the score on 3. From here is would be slow going. Consistent wickets fell throughout the day as the Students toiled diligently, the run rate hovering around 2 an over for much of the contest. Dugald Holloway (4/25) continued his fantastic season to again be the pick of the bowlers, supported by Hayden Kerr (3/25) and Devlin Malone (2/65). Set 175 for victory, the chase began fluently as opening batsmen Varun George (23) and Ryan McElduff (26) put on 60 for the first wicket. However both would fall in quick succession handing momentum back to the visitors. In a tale similar to that of the first innings, partnerships proved elusive. 6 Students found their way to 15 but no one was able to convert a start into a score that would put the game to bed. When Devlin Malone joined Dugald Holloway at the crease, the score was 9/158, the Students requiring a further 17 runs and the match well and truly in the balance. But it would be the hosts who would hold their nerve. Dugald (23*) and Devlin (6*) delivered to ensure a memorable 1-wicket win.
2nd Grade travelled to Joe McAleer eager to continue a strong start to 2020 that had put them back in the hunt for a finals berth. Skipper Max Hope won the toss and showed no hesitation in electing to bat. Nick Walker (35) looked in ominous touch at the top of the order, but a superb grab behind the wicket saw him unlucky to depart. With the score at 4/90, no partnership had eclipsed 30 and the Students needed to consolidate should they hope to accelerate in the latter overs. Ryan Danne (43) played a crucial hand in steadying the ship in a innings that oozed class but it would be Wiz Masojada (81*) who made the decisive contribution. As wickets fell around him, Wiz batted with patience to ensure he was in a position to launch in the final 10 overs. Well supported by the tail, particularly an entertaining cameo from Brodie Frost (17), Wiz controlled the acceleration, showcasing his ability to switch gears as the team required, steering the Students to 8/239. Featuring a bowling attack at the peak of its powers, wickets fell early and often to put the game beyond doubt. First, Ben Joy (2/20) struck twice to remove the opening batsmen before Lewis McMahon (3/20) set about dismantling the middle order. With the score at 9/76 Ben Trevor-Jones, in his last game for the Students, was given the nod by the skipper to pursue his first grade wicket. Reminiscent of Andrew Symonds, Trev had both offies and seamers at his disposal and elected to start seam up to get the most out of the wicket. A tidy first over, earnt him a second but again discussion ensued about which discipline would be more fruitful. He stuck to the seamers, and in a feat of athleticism that again could only be described as Roy-like, he would strike, snaring a sharp and low caught and bowled chance to fittingly bring the match to an end. The reaction from his teammates, mobbing him mid-pitch, shows the impact that Trev has had on the Club. We thank him for his years of excellence both on and off the field, and wish him luck in England. He will be sorely missed.
3rd Grade batted first at St Paul’s after winning the toss. Charles Litchfield (32) got away to a flier and looked set to continue his run of good form before a top edge would spell the end of a 63 run opening stand. His partner Nicky Craze (76) carried on to play a dominant knock in a return to form that should put the competition on notice with finals approaching. The Students somewhat rued a failure to form a decisive partnership which limited the score to 243, dismissed in the final over. However an experienced and relentless bowling attack, led by the new ball pair of Josh Toyer (2/23) and Murray Watts (2/25) ensured that 243 would be plenty. In the end, the Students rolled to a dominant victory, dismissing the visitors for 89.
4th Grade played out a see-sawing affair away from home. Greeted by a wet pitch, the Students were sent in by the hosts. However after little more than an over they were back off after a length ball kicked up sharply to remove James Crowley and the umpires determined the pitch to be dangerous. Industrial leaf blowers were applied and the match resumed but batting remained difficult. Brayden Dilley (22) and skipper Ash Cowan (24) were the only batsmen to get going, each playing innings that upon reflection would prove critical. Dismissed for 111, the Students needed to start well to have a chance. Jazz Rinka (3/16) and Rex Greaves (3/27) bowled excellently to make early inroads, the score at 4/13. Often to be found in a batting collapse, the next wicket to fall would be via a run out and from here the Students cantered to the finish line, dismissing the hosts for 77.
5th Grade also looked to make a finals push, needing to secure a victory at home. Sent in by the visitors, Sanjay Anandarajah (40) played a lone hand in the top order as the hosts slumped to 7/114. Enter Max Shanahan. Known primarily for his left arm seamers, Shanners has worked meticulously on his batting this season and it paid off in a hurry. His 56*, including 4 maximums, carried to Students to a defendable total of 8/194. With the ball, Shehan Canagasingham (6/18) executed to perfection to ensure that the run chase never loomed. It was his 9th five-wicket haul for the Club and his best bowling in 5th Grade delivering a crucial bonus point to remain in the hunt for the top 6.
Metropolitan Cup played out a memorable match on Sunday, ending in a tie.against Georges River. Skipper Greg Cade sent the opposition in to bat at St Paul’s. The innings was a tough contest throughout, with all bowlers toiling hard to restrict the opposition to 213 on a small ground. With the bat, the Students again drew on a number of contributors however a partnership between Cullen Hathurusinghe (44) and Darcy Manners (43) looked to give the hosts the advantage. With scores level and 1 ball to be bowled, it was the visitors who held their nerve, taking the wicket of Tom Crawford (12) LBW to seal a tied match. A great effort from all the boys and a match they can learn plenty from as they too near the business end of the season.
All in all a great effort across the grades went well rewarded with 5 victories. All grades will look to carry the momentum of a Club sweep onto Round 12 in a return to two day cricket for grades 2 to 5 against Campbelltown-Camden.
