Greg Mail’s 38th First Grade century in the Sydney grade competition put Sydney University in a strong position at stumps on day one of the two-day match against North Sydney at Sydney University No.1 Oval.
Mail stroked 131 in Sydney University’s total of 306 after North Sydney had won the toss and given the hosts first use of the Darlington campus’s prime real estate. The opener’s 256-minute occupation included 15 boundaries from 241 deliveries faced and a partnership of 108 with Adam Theobald, who made the most of a First Grade appearance with 56. North Sydney were 0-2 at the close.
It was Mail’s second century of the season. He opened the 2012-13 competition with an unbeaten 126 against Eastern Suburbs at Waverley Oval, a knock that established him as the most prolific century-maker in Sydney Grade cricket history with 37 First Grade centuries, surpassing legends Warren Bardsley and Victor Trumper, who each scored 36 First Grade centuries.
The prolific right-hander is also the highest run scorer in the 119 years of Sydney grade cricket, a record he set in 2011-12 when he ended the season with 12,438 runs, having moved past Greg Haynes’ career tally of 12,354.
Mail is also the only player in Sydney Grade Cricket history to score double centuries in consecutive first grade matches. Four seasons ago he scored 214 not out against Randwick-Petersham and backed that up the next weekend with 212 against Northern District.
The 2011-12 O’Reilly Medal winner, who has four 1000-run seasons under his belt, is now on track to make that five as Sydney University push for a third consecutive First Grade title in the two-day Belvidere Cup competition.
Meanwhile, Sydney University’s Poidevin-Gray Shield (Under 21) team suffered a 56-run loss to Bankstown in the Round 4 limited overs fixture at Sydney University No.1 Oval on Sunday.
The Students dismissed Bankstown for 206 in 48.5 overs but could only manage 150 in reply, with Brendan Pryke (32), Jack Hill (29), Alexander Shaw (23) and Henry Clark (18) the best with the willow.
Universities Women’s First Grade suffered an eight-run loss to Gordon in their limited overs fixture at The Village Green on Sunday.
Former Universities captain Lisa Sthalekar topscored with 53 in Gordon’s total of 214 off 48.3 overs. She also played a big role in dismissing the Students for 206 in 42.3 overs, with figures of 3-50. Alex Blackwell topscored with 62 not out and Rachel Haynes notched 37 in the Universities innings.
While Blackwell is still in a purple patch of form with the bat, she was in golden form on Saturday when she was one of six recipients of University Gold awards at the 2012 Blues Dinner. The prestigious Gold Awards are for administrators, coaches and volunteers who have performed honorary duties for sporting clubs over seven years or more.
In other news, Sydney University representative Sean Abbott scored 40 runs off just 16 balls for NSW at North Sydney Oval as they were defeated by 6 wickets in Sunday’s domestic one-day match. Abbott arrived at the crease as a pinch-hitter after Brad Haddin (35 off 44) was dismissed and made an incredible impact.
Scoreboard
Sydney Men’s Grade competition – Round 5 (Two-day matches)
First Grade: Sydney University 306 (Greg Mail 131, Adam Theobald 56, James Crowley 27, Tim Ley 24 not out; Nicholas Bills 4-37) v North Sydney 0-2, stumps, day one, at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Toss: North Sydney. Batted first: Sydney University.
Second Grade: Sydney University 131 (Joshua Richards 48, David Miller 23; Sam Baker 5-52, David Garner 4-38) v North Sydney 5-102 (Arjun Bagga 34, Jake George 22), stumps, day one, at Bon Andrews Oval. Toss: North Sydney. Batted first: Sydney University.
Third Grade: Sydney University 9-329 (Ed Arnott 94, Darius Visser 45, Henry Clark 36), stumps, day one at Sydney University No.2 Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University.
Fourth Grade: Sydney University 111 (Michael Harris 37, Sameer Malla 25; David Guthrie 6-25) v North Sydney 73 (Zohaib Qureshi 26), stumps, day one at St Paul’s College Oval.
Fifth Grade: Sydney University 111 (Michael Harris 37, Sameer Malla 25; David Guthrie 6-25) v North Sydney 73 (Zohaib Qureshi 26; Jim Ryan 5-21, Nigel Cowell 2-30, Edward Turner 2-30), stumps, day one at St Paul’s College Oval.
Poidevin-Gray Shield –Round 4 (Limited overs)
Bankstown 206 off 48.5 overs (Jack Cormick 47, Matthew Clifton 37, Ashley Paddison 26; Brendan Pryke 4-26, Henry Clark 4-26) d Sydney University 150 off 41 overs (Brendan Pryke 32, Jack Hill 29, Alexander Shaw 23, Henry Clark 18; Ashley Paddison 5-30, Mitchell Phelps 3-19) by 56 runs at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Toss: Bankstown. Batted first: Bankstown. Points: Bankstown 6, Sydney University 0.
Sydney Women’s Grade competition Round 8 (Limited overs)
First Grade: Gordon 214 off 48.3 overs (Lisa Sthalekar 53, Emma Thompson 46, Hannah Trollip 26, Emily Leys 22; Rachel Haynes 2-24, Alison Parkin 2-28, Kate Owen 2-34) d Universities 206 off 42.3 overs (Alex Blackwell 62 not out, Rachel Haynes 37; Lisa Sthalekar 3-50, Taryn Heddo 2-34) by eight runs at the Village Green. Toss: Gordon. Batted first: Gordon. Points: Gordon 6, Universities 0.