A century from Australian representative Rachael Haynes helped Universities power through to the final of the Sydney Women’s Grade Limited Overs competition with a seven-wicket win over Campbelltown-Camden at the Village Green on Sunday.
The left-hand opener’s 114 off 119 balls helped Universities post 3-240 off 42.3 overs in reply to Campbelltown-Camden’s 5-238 off their allotted 50 overs and put them into a final showdown with Bankstown, who defeated Northern District in the other knockout semi-final.
Haynes hit 12 boundaries in her 149-minute occupation and shared in an opening stand of 123 with skipper and fellow Australian representative Alex Blackwell (54). She also shared a 67-run first-wicket partnership with Kara Sutherland (15) and a 32-run second-wicket stand with Erin Burns (22 not out).
Universities had been set a decent target by the visitors, who won the toss and elected to bat. NSW Breakers representative Claire Koski led the way with 116. The captain and wicketkeeper hit seven fours in her circumspect 140-ball knock and was ably assisted by Lisa Kuschert (55) and all-rounder Celeste Raacke (38).
Universities will be chasing the double when they meet Bankstown on Sunday, having already won the Sydney Grade Twenty20 crown – their first title since the club was formed in 2003 with the amalgamation of the Sydney University and UNSW women’s cricket clubs.
St George and Northern District will fight out the women’s Second Grade final, while Universities Third Grade’s season came to an end when they lost to Gordon in the knock-out semi-final on Sunday.
Sydney University men’s cricket club will be represented by Second and Third grades in the elimination semi-finals this weekend.
First Grade, the defending premiers, finished the season proper in 12th place after posting a convincing win over Manly-Warringah in their limited overs fixture on Saturday. Fourth Grade finished in 16th place and Fifth Grade finished 11th.
Scoreboard
Sydney Women’s Grade competition – Knockout semi-final (Limited overs)
Universities 3-240 off 42.3 overs (Rachael Haynes 114, Alex Blackwell 54, Erin Burns 22 not out, Kara Sutherland 15; Sarah Coyte 1-21) d Campbelltown-Camden 5-238 off 50 overs (Clare Koski 115, Lisa Kuschert 55, Celeste Raack 38; Maisy Gibson 2-46, Emily Mifsud 2-50, Alison Parkin 1-19) by seven wickets at the Village Green. Toss: Campbelltown-Camden. Batted first: Campbelltown-Camden. Second knockout semi-final: Bankstown 5-129 off 31 overs d Northern District 128 off 46.5 overs at Grahame Thomas Oval. Final: Universities v Bankstown on Sunday, March 24. Venue to be announced.
Second Grade: St George 8-236 off 50 overs d Gordon 9-178 off 50 overs; Northern District 8-204 off 50 overs d Bankstown 156 off 49.4 overs. Final: St George v Northern District.
Third Grade: Gordon 1-30 off 8.3 overs d Universities 29 off 13.4 overs.
Sydney Men’s Grade competition – Round 15 (Final round – Limited Overs)
First Grade: Sydney University 4-168 off 39.2 overs (Mark Faraday 48, Ian Moran 38 not out, Greg Mail 38; Dylan Marshall 2-47, Luke Edgell 1-20, Ahillen Beadle 1-23) d Manly-Warringah 167 off 49 overs (Tim Cruikshank 40, Andrew Lowe 26, Nick McLachlan 21; Will Somerville 5-34, Greg Mail 2-31) by six wickets at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Manly-Warringah. Points: Sydney University 6, Manly-Warringah 0. Belvidere Cup qualifying finalists: UNSW, St George, Sutherland, Randwick-Petersham, Blacktown, Sydney. Defending premiers Sydney University finished 12th.
Second Grade: Sydney University 6-89 off 19.4 overs (Liam Robertson 32, Steven Hobson 27 not out; Aidan Bake 2-23, David Poskitt 2-29) d Manly-Warringah 85 off 28 overs (Mitch Cleary 47; Tom Kierath 4-11, Michael Culkoff 4-32) by four wickets, with a bonus point, at Manly Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Manly-Warringah. Points: Sydney University 7, Manly-Warringah 0. Abert Cup qualifying finalists: Parramatta, Bankstown, St George, Sydney, Randwick-Petersham, Sydney University.
Third Grade: Manly-Warringah 162 off 48 overs (Jarrod Rawlings 32, Thomas Kaye 30, Michael Visser 25, Craig Little 23) d Sydney University 157 off 42.2 overs (Ash Cowan 52, Robert Edwards 48; Michael Visser 3-15, Craig Little 3-30) by five runs at Sydney University No.2 Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Manly-Warringah. Points: Manly-Warringah 6, Sydney University 0. Mitchell Cup qualifying finalists: Bankstown, Gordon, North Sydney, Sutherland, Hawkesbury, Sydney University.
Fourth Grade: Manly-Warringah 9-237 off 50 overs (Warren Evans 55, Matthew Cole 34, Samuel Hole 33, James Boyer 28 not out) d Sydney University 137 off 37,2 overs (Ryan Danne 44, Anthony Lown 25 not out, Andrew Deveraj 22; Adam Gunner 3-20, Jacob Graham 2-14, Samuel Hole 2-26) by 100 runs, with a bonus point, at Graham Reserve. Toss: Manly-Warringah. Batted first: Manly-Warringah. Points: Manly-Warringah 7, Sydney University 0. Reid Cup qualifying finalists: Sydney, Western Suburbs, Bankstown, Gordon, St George, Northern District. Sydney University finished 16th.
Fifth Grade: Sydney University 9-174 off 50 overs (Edward Turner 53, Timothy Croft 26 not out, Jay Blamey 24; Joshua Sheedy 3-18, William Jonkers 2-22, Harris Rogers 2-41) d Manly-Warringah 90 off 25.3 overs (Ross Trewartha 29) by 84 runs, with a bonus point, at St Paul’s College Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University. Points: Sydney University 7, Manly-Warringah 0. David Sherwood Cup qualifying finalists: St George, Gordon, Penrith, Parramatta, Fairfield-Liverpool, Blacktown. Sydney University finished 11th.
Club Championship: St George (1482 points). Sydney University finished 10th (1099 points).
Metropolitan Cup – Round 15 (Limited overs)
Randwick-Petersham 3-179 off 41.5 overs (Neale Crawford 67 not out, Adam Pustetto 46, Darren Smith 29 not out) d Sydney University 178 off 42.3 overs) by seven wickets at Snape Park. Toss: Randwick-Petersham. Batted first: Sydney University. Points: Randwick-Petersham 6, Sydney University 0. Qualifying finalists: North Sydney, Gordon, UNSW, Penrith, Blacktown, Balmain Inner Sydney Tigers. Sydney University finished 9th.
