More Success for the students
Still only 3 rounds into the season, Sydney Uni completed another undefeated round of cricket – this time against Sydney CC, winning in 4 out of 5 grades (a draw in 3rd grade preventing a second clean sweep) to maintain Uni’s spot at the top of the club championship rankings.
At Drummoyne Oval, 1st Grade were precariously poised at 3/91 after electing to bat. However, a captain’s century by Liam Robertson, who scored 105 from 125 balls, was the lone hand that ensured a defendable total of 235 from their 50 overs. After Tim Ley (3 wickets) and Joe Kershaw (2 wickets) removed Sydney’s top 4 for 37, Dugald Holloway and Devlin Malone Uni chipped in with 2 wickets each, to bowl Sydney out for 149 – securing a clinical 86-run victory.
In their first game at home, 2nd Grade elected to bat first on a wicket that demanded patience early. After Steve Hobson was dismissed for a well compiled 37, Uni found themselves in the tenuous position of 4/59…save for Nick Walker. In his first game for Uni 2nd Grade, Nick amassed a hard-hitting 104 not out from 112 balls, clearing the rope six times in the process. Not to be mistaken for the day’s understudy, Charlie Cassel went blow for blow with Nick in their unbeaten 122-run stand, to finish 70 not out from 59 balls (with five sixes) and help 2nd Grade to a commanding 6/258. Still unfinished, Charlie removed Sydney’s top 3 (finishing with figures of 4/19) while Jack Lawson (4/42) and Kieran Tate (1/20) dismissed the rest to bowl Sydney out for 171 in an 87-run victory.
After sending Sydney in on a typically damp Birchgrove Oval wicket, captain Ash Cowan would have been feeling confident at the innings break, as 3rd Grade’s stellar bowling performance – led by left arm quick Jazz Rinka (5/35 from 9 overs) – saw Sydney bowled out for 154 in the 47th over. However, after a promising opening stand from Jack Hill (22) and Ben Larkin (46), the match was abandoned due to rain, with the score at 3/81 in the 18th over.
In 4th Grade, after electing to bat, things looked dire at 3/28, however a mature innings by Tom Fullerton (59 from 102 balls) saw Uni compile consecutive 50+ partnerships to reach 9/203 from their 50 overs. In another strong bowling performance from 4th grade, Uni took frequent wickets to ensure Sydney was never a chance (8/144 from their 50 overs) and recorded their second victory of the season.
After a mammoth chase to secure victory in Round 1, 5th Grade proved they were also capable of domination with ball in hand – rolling Sydney for 51. All bowlers contributed, with Murray Miles and Brody Frost each finishing with 3 wickets (Brody with incredible figures of 3/1 from 4 balls!). Uni made light work of the total, passing it 1-down in the 15th over for their second win of the season.
The PG’s double-header on Saturday saw mixed results for the Students, losing to Randwick Petersham in the morning, but recording their first victory of the season against Wests in the afternoon. The afternoon’s victory was led by Ryan McElduff, who amassed a rapid 72 from 45 balls, in an opening stand of 96 with Varun George (41 from 42 balls) in pursuit of Wests’ total of 135 – passed in the 17th over with a hook shot from Ryan who finished not out.
