All roads will lead to Blacktown International Sports Park on Wednesday night when Sydney University take on Randwick-Petersham in the final of the Sydney Grade Cricket Twenty-20 competition.
The two clubs won their way through to the showdown after winning their quarter-finals and semi-finals in a Sunday of catch-up cricket after inclement weather played havoc to the competition on the previous weekend.
Fresh from his stint with NSW, Scott Henry top-scored for Sydney University with 51 in their comfortable Sunday morning quarter-final win over Eastern Suburbs at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Opener Ian Moran (41), David Miller (22 not out) and Greg Mail (18) also came to the party for the Students who posted 6-153 after winning the toss and batting.
Tim Ley, with 3-21, earned the bowling honours as Sydney University restricted Easts to 9-109 in reply. Other miserly leather slingers included Greg Mail (2-20), David Miller (2-22) and Stuart MacGill (2-26).
The Students had a host of contributors when they rattled up 7-173 off 20 overs in the afternoon semi-final against Western Suburbs. David Miller led the assault with 37, while Nick Larkin (32), Scott Henry (25), Ian Moran (22), Mark Faraday (18) and Greg Mail (15) all wielded plenty of willow.
Having won the toss and batted first, Sydney University then bowled out Western Suburbs for 134 off 19.4 overs, with the bowling honours being shared by Greg Mail (3-32), David Miller (2-15), Stuart MacGill (0-17), Tim Ley (2-42) and Michael Culkoff (1-27).
The final will be played under lights this Wednesday, December 7, with a 7pm start scheduled. Should Sydney University triumph, they will become the first club to hold the two-day (Belvidere Cup) title, the Limited Overs Cup title, the Poidevin-Gray Shield and the Twenty20 title at the one time.
While there was plenty of action to report on Sunday, Sydney University also progressed towards another elusive title – the Club Championship – with four wins in the five grades in a limited overs round against Mosman on Saturday.
Sydney University Firsts earned a bonus point despite being dismissed for 184 in 42.3 overs after winning the toss and batting at Allan Border Oval.
Scott Henry topscored with 86 in the total, while Ian Moran (39) and Greg Mail (17) added to the cause before Mail led the bowling honours with 3-3 as the Students dismissed Mosman for 87 in 30 overs. Stuart MacGill (3-32), Michael Culkoff (2-24) and Stuart Clark (1-9) also returned handy figures in a star-studded attack.
With wins to Third, Fourth and Fifth grades, Sydney University moved to second on the Club Championship ladder. Manly-Warringah head the way with 651 points, with Sydney University (612), Sutherland (579) and St George (555) making up the top four.
The highlights of the lower grades came from Matt Skinner (128) and Simon Cowan (96 not out) who helped Fifth Grade to 4-296 off 50 overs in their 78-run win at Balmoral Oval.
Scoreboard
Sydney Men’s Grade Twenty20 quarter-final
First Grade: Sydney University 6-153 off 20 overs (Scott Henry 51, Ian Moran 41, David Miller 22 not out, Greg Mail 18; Ahillen Beadle 1-26, Adam Ezekiel 1-13) d Eastern Suburbs 9-109 off 20 overs (Sam Robson 29, Andrew Harriott 21; Tim Ley 3-21, Greg Mail 2-20, David Miller 2-22, Stuart MacGill 2-26) by 44 runs at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University. Other quarter-final winners: Randwick-Petersham 6-74 off 17.5 overs d Sutherland 71 off 18.3 overs; Western Suburbs 2-77 off 11.4 overs d UNSW 76 off 15.3 overs; Penrith 3-90 off 16.5 overs d Northern District 89 off 19.1 overs.
Sydney Men’s Grade Twenty20 semi-final
Sydney University 7-173 off 20 overs (David Miller 37, Nick Larkin 32, Scott Henry 25, Ian Moran 22, Mark Faraday 18, Greg Mail 15; Shenal Siriwardhane 3-17, Ross DiBartolo 2-22) d Western Suburbs 134 off 19.4 overs (John DiBartolo 40. Simon McInerney 28; Greg Mail 3-32, David Miller 2-15, Stuart MacGill 0-17, Tim Ley 2-42, Michael Culkoff 1-27) by 39 runs at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University. Other semi-final winner: Randwick-Petersham 6-89 off 19.5 overs d Penrith 9-86 off 20 overs.
Final: Sydney University v Randwick-Petersham, 7pm, Wednesday, December 7 at Blacktown International Sports Park.
Sydney Men’s Grade competition – Round 6 (Limited Overs)
First Grade: Sydney University 185 off 42.3 overs (Scott Henry 86, Ian Moran 39, Greg Mail 17; David Barber 6-29, Adam Wasyluk 1-7) d Mosman 87 off 30 overs (Nicholas Death 21, Brendan Lyon 17; Greg Mail 3-3, Stuart MacGill 3-32, Michael Culkoff 2-24, Stuart Clark 1-9) by 98 runs at Allan Border Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University. Points: Sydney University 7 with one bonus point, Mosman 0.
Second Grade: Mosman 9-188 off 50 overs (Alastair Fitzpatrick 35, Patrick Francis 30 not out; Ben Joy 3-48, Shashi Keshar 2-22) d Sydney University 156 off 41.4 overs (David Miller 56, Steve Hobson 33, Tom Kierath 27 not out; Hugh Sykes 5-27, Izzy Gray 3-36, Ellery Clugston 2-26) by 32 runs at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Toss: Mosman. Batted first: Mosman. Points: Mosman 6, Sydney University 0.
Third Grade: Sydney University 6-212 off 47.2 overs (Robert Edwards 91 not out, Kevin Desai 61; Sam Roberts 3-27) d Mosman 7-209 off 50 overs (Nick Munday 56, Jack Dowd 36, Jacob List 33; Jimmy Kazaglis 2-41) by four wickets at Rawson Park. Toss: Mosman. Batted first: Mosman. Points: Sydney University 6, Mosman 0.
Fourth Grade: Sydney University 3-193 off 42 overs (Jack Hill 89 not out, Henry Clark 60; Robert Ewing 2-45) d Mosman 9-191 off 50 overs (Marcus Braid 46,Yogesh Gunaji 28; Darius Visser 2-22, Hasi Balasuriya 2-30, Ash Cowan 2-35, Charles Cull 2-47) by seven wickets at Sydney University No.2 Oval. Toss: Mosman. Batted first: Mosman. Points: Sydney University 6, Mosman 0.
Fifth Grade: Sydney University 4-296 off 50 overs (Matt Skinner 128, Simon Cowan 96 not out; Nathan Heath 2-63) d Mosman 9-208 off 50 overs (Ken Gunderson-Briggs 40 not out, Sivakumar Haran 28; Rowan Fessey 3-31, Callan Roberts 2-37, Alex Toomey 2-42) by 88 runs at Balmoral Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University. Points: Sydney University 6, Mosman 0.
Sydney Women’s Grade competition – Round 10
Universities: Bye
