1st Grade vs Sutherland at Glenn McGrath Oval (50 Overs)

Sydney University 5/294 (50.0)
TP Cummins 76 (58)
CD Maladay 4-41 (10.0)

DEF

Sutherland 208 (49.4)
C Williams 101* (137)
D Rixon 2-62 (10.0)

Round 5 of our campaign saw the boys travel down south to the Shire to take on Sutherland. 

TC continued his toss winning streak, which saw us batting first. We got off to a rocky start with the early wicket of Dummer, but in came Morts who was looking like the vintage Morts we all know, helping steady the ship along with Gauci. The scoring rate picked up after the first 10 and the runs were flowing easily with Morts making a classy 68 along with supports from Robbo (39), Duff (39) and Litchy (25). It was TC however who came in for an ever-reliable captains knock of 76 off 58 making the Sutherland boys constantly chase leather to the boundary helping us set our biggest total of the season of 294.

After setting a very competitive total of 294 from our 50, the bowlers took some confidence from the batsmen efforts and got off to a flyer taking a few early wickets thanks to Maladay. The wickets continued to fall with supports from Malone (2-29), McElduff (2-30) and Holloway (2-54) halting Sutherland’s chance of getting anywhere near the total. It was Maladay who took the honours with a brilliant 4-41 off his 10 to claim his best first grade figures for the club. 

Overall, a very strong performance all round for the boys who will look to continue this momentum into the final few weeks until Christmas looking to cement a spot near the top 6.

Devlin Malone

2nd Grade vs Sutherland at University Oval (50 Overs)

Sydney University 196 (43.0)
RA Danne 74* (91)
H Clark 5-50 (10.0)

DEF BY

Sutherland 7/261 (50.0)
L Ball 72* (81)
C Barton 5-33 (6.0)

Second Grade welcomed the Sutherland Shark Attacks to an immaculate University Oval. Despite the incessant rain of the last fortnight the wicket was a joy to behold. In overcast conditions, Nashball was won by ‘H-Z Surname Alphabetical Orders’ as they defeated the ‘A-H Surname Alphabetical Orders’. A tightly fought contest that saw the underdogs triumph in a match where there were few clear cut chances. Captain Clark lost the toss and was invited to bowl.

A mixed first hour saw Uni restrict the Sutherland top order in patches but also became wayward in others. Captain Clark (3-50 off 10) took an early breakthrough but then the second wicket partnership wriggled free of the Uni shackles and began to build some momentum. Sanjay Anandarajah (1-35 off 10) was introduced to great effect as he varied his pace coupled with subtle changes in trajectory, allowing Uni to slowly wrestle back some control through the middle overs. Sanjay was rewarded with the scalp of the Sutherland captain as he attempted a late cut to a flatter ball allowing Oli Zanino took a sharp catch behind the stumps. Scoring became tougher as Sanjay bowled in unison with Max Hope (0/44 off 10).

Although it was Captain Clark that did the damage on the scoreboard. Firstly removing the dangerous Barton leg before wicket. Followed by a piece of fielding that surely left scorer Russell in a spin when he was told it was executed by the generous frame of Clark. The batsman worked the ball into the legside and to the right of Clark who was stationed at midwicket, he proceeded to pounce cat-like, scoop up the ball and release one handed in a poetic piece of motion that saw the one stump he had to aim at demolished. Sutherland were now in a panic as they found themselves reeling at 4/115.

They began to rebuild and numbers five and six timed their run perfectly capitalising on some sloppy fielding and punishing any inaccurate death bowling. Their partnership swung the momentum back in the Sharks favour as they both made fifties. The Students would be chasing 262 for victory, many more than we would have hoped for at the halfway point.

The Uni openers started solidly with Hayden Storey (29) springing to life after being struck by an unfortunately directed beamer. Next ball was bludgeoned away through the midwicket region and Hayden appeared to be off and away. Top order wickets then began to fall at inopportune times and it was left to Ryan Danne (74) to pick up the pieces. He started cautiously but then began to gradually accelerate as partners settled around him. Unfortunately for Uni no one was able to go the distance with Ryan. It was a pleasure to watch his measured innings, in particular some of the lofted drives that he played against the medium pace.

The tail was left with the difficult task of chasing 8/over for the last ten overs. They tried valiantly to support Ryan but when he was run out by a sharp piece of fielding at the non-striker's end our chances were all but over. Sutherland were a class above in the field and this was a telling facet of the game when you calculate the swing in extra runs given away by Uni and runs saved by Sutherland.

Onwards and upwards as the 2s travel out to Bensons Lane this Saturday. At the time of writing Sydney is being hit by another storm so fingers crossed the Lane is not underwater come the weekend.

Jack Hill