1st Grade vs Fairfield-Liverpool at Rosedale Oval (50 Overs)
Sydney University 3/205 (37.2)
C Dummer 89 (65)
D Malone 3-38 (8.5)
DEF
Fairfield-Liverpool 204 (49.5)
R Srivastava 54 (59)
MN Shinwari 2-50 (10.0)
Round 2 of our campaign to reclaim the beloved Belvedere cup.
With some cobweb’s blown out in round one, we were keen to get on the board with a win against a strong looking Fairfield outfit.
After winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, Dugald and Caelan settled into their rhythm nicely. As a team, we placed a big focus on fielding this season - thanks to Larko. In saying that, we fielded the house down taking our opportunities on what was the best fielded surface in Sydney. Keeping the Lions to a modest 204.
The Students got off to a great start thanks to Dummer, dispatching the ball to every part of the ground. It was an innings you couldn’t describe to someone and simply looked like he was playing on a different wicket. A couple of quick wickets gave the Lions what they thought was hope but more so an opportunity for a couple more lads to get a hit!
Larko played a clinical role making 70* and Robbo 30* saw us win by 7 wickets with 13 overs to spare. What was a great day for Caelan taking his 1st wicket for the club, however he probably had the worst Nash performance seen in many years.
Damien Mortimer
Match Report - 2nd Grade vs Fairfield-Liverpool at University Oval (50 Overs)
Sydney University 2/146 (27.4)
R Wikramanayake 57 (79)
R Greaves 4-26 (8.1)
DEF
Fairfield-Liverpool 145 (38.1)
WA Delpechitra 90 (113)
N Singh 1-24 (6.0)
The Uni Boys returned back to the home of cricket eager to continue their momentum after a strong Round 1 victory. During our first covers rendition of the season, we were welcomed by everyone’s favourite natural element – who told us he would be hanging around for the entirety of the day. This proved difficult for Mr. Danne as he found himself underneath an undulating, heavy and wet cover, however thankfully emerged after 1 minute of scrambling. He was greeted by Captain Clark with a wry smile next to the pitch, who had been watching the whole debacle from 50m away. Thanks for offering to help Henry.
Clark then carried this hubris onto the Nash field. On the back of a horrific exit from the Z’s, he took an intercept and had Litchfield - who somehow found himself in goals - 1-on-1. It was all in slow motion. Ball in right hand, taking aim at the goals. Litchy runs at Clark. Clark raises the ball in his right hand, fakes a shot, SHUFFLES to the right (yes, it wasn’t a side step) and Litchy misses him. He then ran through the cones and the game was decided then and there. Brutal to watch.
We lost the toss on what looked to be a really fair cricket wicket, and were in the field for the first 50 overs. An initial run out was the perfect way to start our bowling innings and the Books continued to roll on with Greaves bowling an excellent opening spell and taking 3 early wickets. At 5/31, we needed to capitalise on a good start. Their opener Delpechitra was the only Lion to resist the Uni attack, who showed his experience in a classy knock of 90. However, wickets continued to fall around him: the final numbers – Greaves 4/26 (his best figures in 2nd Grade), Hope 3/35 and Flannigan 2/25 saw FLCC 2s bowled out for a sub-par 145.
We were aware that these small chases can sometimes be difficult if played the wrong way. Litchfield and Wikramanayake were determined to not let an early wicket dissuade them from batting their own way and continued to tick off the runs in a 55-run stand. However, it was the 3rd-wicket partnership of Wikramanayake (57*) and Danne (41*) that got the Uni Boys home with 22.2 overs to spare, resulting in a 7-point win for 2nd Grade. They both batted with poise and class; a mixture of stroke play as well as deft touches to get up the other end – great to watch.
We rejoiced in a team song with those SUCC players that came to support us throughout the day. You’d hope Flannigan and Wikramanayake are starting to get the hang of it.
We take a drive down Parramatta Rd this week to come against RPCC at Petersham Oval. Let’s keep this going.
Oliver Zannino
Match Report - 3rd Grade vs Fairfield-Liverpool at Fairfield Oval (50 Overs)
Sydney University
DREW (WASHED OUT)
Fairfield-Liverpool
Match Report - 4th Grade vs Fairfield-Liverpool at St Paul’s Oval (50 Overs)
Sydney University 2/146 (27.4)
C Barrett 37*
S Canagasingham 4-25 (9.3)
DEF
Fairfield-Liverpool 109 (44.2)
A Clark 35 (46)
J Nanavati 2-22 (7.0)
‘We’re back baby!’ A phrase that summarises the general sentiment of the 4s boys in anticipation of the first round of the 2021-22 season and after a rather long and tumultuous preseason who can blame them?
Following setup at fortress St Paul’s, this anticipation seemed to play into the first Nash game of the new season as what resulted was a somewhat forgettable performance from both sides quality-wise but one full of energy ending a goal each. Energy was also apparent upon warming up and was quickly combined with focus on the task at hand with captain Ash Cowan electing to bowl first on a somewhat soft wicket.
The new ball saw the welcome return of a familiar name in Lewis McMahon, who created pressure bowling a threatening and consistent line and length, alongside the prolific Shehan Canagasingham, who reaped the rewards of this pressure using the conditions to his favour picking up three early poles, two being caught at short cover by the reliable hands of James Veitch. Canagasingham’s first spell also coincided with that of debutant Hugo Fraval who impressed despite going wicketless, creating a number of near misses including a catch which was unfortunately ruled out for a no ball.
The middle overs saw a display of consistency and patience yielding 2 poles a piece for Ned Barnet and Lewis Ansell putting the Uni boys in an excellent position to restrict Fairfield-Liverpool to a low score. Despite a solid lower order partnership from the visitors, the boys did just so, aided by a memorably eventful 2 over period. This included a catch on the boundary from a dipping Canagasingham full toss, two subsequent double bouncers (generous) leading to an injury fill-in by Prakhar Sharma, some interesting fielding from the skipper at mid-off, and a well-executed run out by McMahon. Following this chaos, it was also McMahon who ended the innings claiming a wicket in his eighth over seeing Fairfield-Liverpool all out for 109.
The boys went about the chase in confident and clinical fashion with openers Brayden Dilley, who provided initial impetus to the innings including a surprising early horn over square leg, and Clancy Barrett, posting his highest 4th Grade score, both striking the ball cleanly. To get the boys over the line in just 24 overs, earning a bonus point, Barnet also showed his quality with the bat finishing the job not out for the Students.
All in all, it was an excellent return to action for the 4s boys and all involved can take confidence in their performance with bat, ball or in the field heading into round 2.
Lewis Ansell
Match Report - 5th Grade vs Fairfield-Liverpool at Don Dawson Oval (50 Overs)
Sydney University
DREW (WASHED OUT)
Fairfield-Liverpool
Match Report - Metro Gold vs Blacktown Mounties at Camperdown Park (50 Overs)
Sydney University 6-285 (50.0)
A Saeed 102* (101)
S Wadhera 3-33 (10.0)
DEF
Blacktown Mounties 9/221 (50.0)
A Krishna 63 (101)
B Phillips 2-15 (3.0)
Metro Gold was presented a dark, soft, sticky wicket for our Round One fixture against the Blacktown Mounties. Amidst a haphazardly organised game of nash where the definition of ‘bowler’ was stretched for the first of many times that day, Cain lost the toss and was sent in with the Camperdown wicket and outfield still a little damp.
Keen to maximise his fantasy value, Cain opened the batting with Green Shield gun James Chan, who had shown serious form with a chanceless 50 in trials and a subsequent fantasy price tag of $13m. With the deck squelching underfoot, and holding up rather than shooting low, the coach and protege found it tough going, but crucially saw off what little lateral movement was forthcoming from Blacktown’s seam attack. After the skipper finally scooped one that held up to depart for a hard-fought 8, it was budding Mr Olympia contestant Joel Ritchie next to the crease, combining for a fluent 46 with Chan and giving some glimmers of promise for a possible big score despite the wicket. This was not to be, with both of them departing in quick succession to leave us at 3-91 in the 22nd over, and work to do for Azhar Saeed and Mitch Cotton. Both men took the responsibility in their stride, and went to work, noting that whilst the wicket would hold up and turn, it could be trusted. For two batters accustomed to synthetic wickets and tape balls where one can simply stand and deliver, it was a welcome realisation. Cotton in particular began to target the short square boundaries, amassing seven 4s on his way to 38 from 30 before departing. Daanyal Saeed on debut for the Students was largely focused on getting the superior Saeed on strike, before he was told in no uncertain terms to hit out or get out and duly committed to the latter. Azhar, left with 9 overs in which to get his hundred, walloped Blacktown’s helpless bowling (indeed, they did not help themselves with 44 extras and more above-waist action than the high-rise jeans section at Broadway H&M) to all parts, finishing with a masterful 102 not out, featuring 11 fours and 2 sixes. Ably supported by Tushar Sharma, Metro Gold ended up posting 6-285 on a wicket we expected would be a struggle to pass 200 on.
The skipper was all smiles during the lunchtime Good Weekend quiz attempt*, and you would think having Blacktown 4-8 within 10 overs he’d still be smiling by the close of play, but this was not to be. Despite Shivam's outstanding opening spell the Mounties regrouped, and with the aid of the Campo fig, began to increase the scoring. A brief rearguard for the fifth wicket was broken by a superb one-handed pick up and throw from Daanyal Saeed to put the finishing touches on a textbook barbeque job from the Blacktown batter. Despite the substantial head noise and survivor’s guilt that ensued for said batter, he continued to make a hard fought 63 and make the Books life more difficult. Top edges for six, edges through vacant slips, and that godforsaken fig tree all getting in the way of an early circuit. The bowling could not be faulted, and the attack of Wadhera, Sharma, Cain and Crawford all toiled with little luck after the initial rush of wickets - 6-45 at drinks became 9-221 from the full allocation and despite an impressive batting performance, we found ourselves disappointed with not being able to ice a game.
Fantastic to get the six points, but certainly room to improve for Cain’s Metro Gold side.
*15, down from last week’s 21. Tom Crawford’s shoulders are reportedly still sore from continuing to carry us.
Henry Cain
Match Report - Metro Blue vs Mosman at St Paul’s (50 Overs)
Sydney University 317 (50.0)
S Arvind 71
M Powell 3-13 (5.0)
DEF
Mosman 121 (39.5)
C Calvert 32
N Slack 3-34 (8.4)
Match Report - 1st Grade vs Blacktown Mounties (20 Overs)
Sydney University 5/152 (20.0)
LS Robertson 48 (33)
D Holloway 5-24 (4.0)
DEF
Blacktown Mounties 99 (15.3)
J Newton 22 (13)
H Fox 3-22 (4.0)
Match Report - Poidevin-Gray vs Blacktown Mounties (20 Overs)
Sydney University 8/126 (20.0)
R Wikramanayake 24 (17)
H Ikeda 5-18 (4.0)
DEF BY
Blacktown Mounties 6/129 (17.3)
Y Theodorakopoulos 34* (31)
S Doshi 2-12 (4.0)