MATCH REPORTS - ROUND 6

MATCH REPORT - 1ST GRADE VS NORTHERN DISTRICTS AT UNIVERSITY OVAL (DAY 2)

SUCC 9/313
92.0 overs

TP Cummins 101 (161)
N Radhakrishnan 3/65/27.2

DEF

Northern Districts 307
97.2 overs

CD Miller 79 (231)
RR Pawson 4/55/19.0


A methodical victory to the bowlers in Nash provided the cartel with confidence ahead of the bowling day ahead. We welcomed back Nicko this week to add to our dual-arm bowling depths. The pitch was being used for a 3rd day and was slower than the week prior but the outfield had quickened up slightly. Dos and Cass opened the bowling without making any inroads but had kept it tight all the same. The sustained pressure helped lead to a tight run and our lead dual-arm bowler Niv threw down the stumps from side on and three quarters to the boundary to run out the Rangers opening batsman. Very naughty stuff! BJ dump-trucked his way through his first spell before dangling an enticing carrot to the NDs number 3 who willingly obliged to throw his hands at it and consequently nicked it behind. Wicket 2 to the Books. Both teams toiled to lunch with honours even at the lunch break.

The middle session was a war of attrition with the Units creating plenty of half chances but not being able to capitalise. Niv bowled particularly well with the surface starting to help his off-spin. They grabbed the NDs 3rd wicket shortly before tea but had kept the required run rate climbing to 4 or so an over. You could sense that the game was going to go deep with every passing over however 7 wickets in the final session becoming a larger task by every passing over.

After tea, something was going to break either way and it was a firmly hit cut shot that was intercepted by the flinging right arm of Dos that broke the game open. The tempo of the game lifted with another wicket falling but ND’s keeping the run rate under 5 an over. Uni took the new ball with 18 overs to go and the Rangers requiring approx. 90 runs with 5 wickets in hand.

BJ was Herculean in charging in from the southern end for a good 90 minutes in the last session. The bold decision to bowl bumpers by Dugald with 3 out on the legside was matched equally with Dugald’s willingness and ability to execute the short pitch theory for 5-6 overs straight on a wearing wicket. At one stage, NDs needed 12 to win with 4 wickets remaining and 3 overs to go. Niv entered the attack to turn the game. The number 8 was well caught at mid off by BJ and then taking the big scalp of Rodgie in the same over. Holloway then bumped out the number 10 to leave NDs requiring 7 to win off the last over with 1 wicket remaining. Niv was bowling. The first ball was a dot. The second ball was a well hit drive along the ground straight back to Niv who intentionally accidentally fumbled the ball for it to tunnel ball and hit the stumps. The non-striker was left stranded out of his crease after backing up for the quick run. The realisation hit that he was run out and we had won an unlikely victory. Pandemonium ensued with Niv impersonating an Imran Tahir celebration and the rest of the team carrying on like it was an aeroplane jelly commercial. What a win!

The Rangers were graceful in defeat and we shared a few beers after the game to dissect what was an incredible game.

Tim Cummins 

MATCH REPORT - 2ND GRADE VS NORTHERN DISTRICTS AT MARK TAYLOR OVAL (DAY 2)

SUCC 181
62.3 overs

C Litchfield 85 (150)
R Greaves 3/27/14.0

DEF

Northern Districts 166 & 2/84
72.3 overs

JH Anderson 90 (162)
CA Soper 6/48/28.3

SUCC win on first innings

Due to a delayed start the previous week thanks to some drama involving covers, rain, wind and a groundsman who had changed into civvies, a new and improved start time of 10:22am meant that warm up and Nash began at the exact same time of 9:30am. Country with an extra man finally showed some sort of structure and put the only points on the board for the game. Small victories these days.

Sydney University began the day at 2/72 chasing 166 on a deck that was doing bits at one end and bounced true at the other. Northern Districts Skipper JH Anderson took one look at the first ball delivered by Chad Soper from the PCYC end which almost took out JJ’s ankle and decided that he would bowl unchanged for 22 overs. An impressive effort which yielded figures of 6/48 from 28. After losing JJ at 3/99, then the returning Dave Miller at 4/130 and then Charles Litchfield who’s 85 had anchored the SUCC innings from the start, a quick flurry of wickets from Soper left the 2s reeling at 6/147.

Joining Andrew Hazard in the middle was Two Strapped Keeping Pads Henry Clark, who at the Lunch Break had discussed that the remaining 19 runs did not have to come from boundaries. After stroking 4 brilliant boundaries, and then a dubious run out of Hazard whilst following the only singles plan, Henry guided Sydney University home for a tense victory which left Popey eager to tuck into a few after another less than stellar run chase.

After batting on and setting a small lead, the SUCC lads decided to send the Rangers in for a second dig, and again Clarkey struck first with an LBW which everyone (including the opening batsmen) could agree was out. The Rangers decided to bat on as the middle order were lacking batting practice, and the game was called 3 overs after compulsory (not provided) tea.

6 points to the students.

Oli Zannino