Sydney University all-rounder Ian Moran hit a career best 202 not out as Sydney University batted their way to a draw with Manly-Warringah in a qualifying final at Sydney University No.1 Oval on Saturday.
Having finished second on the ladder at the end of the season proper, a draw was all the Students needed to earn a semi-final berth as their defence of the Sydney grade premiership for the Belvidere Cup advanced another week.
Moran and Nick Larkin (124) put on a 253-run third-wicket partnership as Sydney University amassed 7(dec)-450. Manly-Warringah were 7-163 when stumps were drawn on Sunday.
Moran has now scored 822 runs for the season at a healthy 43.26 and during the year he became one of just seven players to achieve the double of 9000 runs and 300 wickets.
He hit 24 boundaries and two sixes in his 338-minute occupation, while Larkin cracked 20 boundaries in a 176-ball blitz.
They consolidated proceedings after Sydney University had lost Greg Mail to a rare first-ball duck, Mark Faraday (29) and Scott Henry (14) to be 3-64.
When Larkin eventually fell with 317 in the University bank, Stuart Clark entered the fray and hit a quick-fire 50, laced with five boundaries and three sixes, to put the Students in an impregnable position.
Amazingly, given the state of Sydney’s weather and the amount of rain that had fallen on the oval during the week, only 25 minutes of play were lost over the two-day match, with stumps drawn at 5.43pm on Saturday when the Students were 3-168 having lost the toss and been sent in.
Sydney University’s Second Grade, Fourth Grade, Fifth Grade and Metropolitan Cup teams also advanced to semi-finals.
The news was not so good in the women’s ranks where Universities First and Third grades dipped out of contention, with the Brewer Shield team carrying the colours into a semi-final.
Scoreboard
Sydney Men’s Grade Cricket – Qualifying finals
First Grade: Sydney University 7(dec)-450 (Ian Moran 202 not out, Nick Larkin 124, Stuart Clark 50, Mark Faraday 29; Corrie Boss 3-125, Nick McLachlan 2-63, Stephen O’Keefe 2-78) drew with Manly-Warringah 7-163 (Tim Cruikshank 63, Mitch Cleary 48; Stuart MacGill 2-10, Stuart Clark 1-23, Greg Mail 1-23) at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Toss: Manly-Warringah. Batted first: Sydney University. Sydney University progress to semi-finals with UNSW, Randwick-Petersham and North Sydney.
Second Grade: Sydney University v Gordon at Coogee Oval. Match abandoned because of wet weather and state of the ground. Sydney University progress to semi-finals.
Fourth Grade: Sydney University 6-240 (James Larkin 72, Brendan Pryke 57 not out, Charles Arcus 31; Andrew Hoppett 2-52, Richard Colbran 2-56) d Sydney 7(dec)- 238 (Matthew Pasternasky 105, Justin Mosca 54; Darius Viser 3-47, Jimmy Kazaglis 2-35, Hasi Balasuriya 2-47) on the first innings at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney. Sydney University progress to semi-finals.
Fifth Grade: Sydney University 3(dec)- 206 (Alex Logan 120 not out, Alex Mihalyka 28) d St George 116 (James Drahalivas 37) on the first innings at Hurstville Oval. No play on day one. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University. Sydney University progress to semi-finals.
Metropolitan Cup
North Sydney 7-136 (Alex Prudence 28 not out, Dylan Munro 26, Ben O’Connell 22; Ryan Dane 3-14) d Sydney University 132 (Michael Barwick 31, Jarrod Waterlow 20; Adrian Climpson 4-23, Varun Sahni 2-27, Pahneet Bhatia 2-35) on the first innings at St Paul’s College Oval. Toss: North Sydney. Batted first: Sydney University. As highest-placed loser, Sydney University through to semi-finals.
Sydney Women’s Grade Cricket – Semi-finals (Limited overs)
First Grade: St George-Sutherland 109 off 25.4 overs (Kate Owen 4-24) d Universities 8-91 off 26.3 overs (Georgia Redmayne 32) at David Phillips North Oval. Toss: St George-Sutherland. Batted first: St George-Sutherland. Match abandoned at 6.21pm due to bad light. St.George-Sutherland won by 15 runs (Duckworth Lewis). St George-Sutherland through to semi-finals.
Third Grade: St George-Sutherland v Universities at Gifford Park. Match washed out – St George-Sutherland through to semi-finals.
Brewer Shield: Universities v Gordon at Grahame Thomas Oval. Match washed out. Universities through to semi-finals.
