Sydney University Cricket Club’s two new all-rounder recruits, Will Salzmann and Hunar Verma, made their marks at different Sydney venues on Saturday.
Salzmann, a 19-year-old right-arm quick, claimed 4-48 for NSW in their two-wicket Marsh One-Day Cup win over Western Australia at Cricket Central, Olympic Park, while Verma took 5-34 off 17.4 overs for the Students to help restrict Western Suburbs to 193 on day one of the Belvidere Cup match at Sydney University Oval. Both players are on rookie contracts with NSW Cricket.
Salzmann has arrived on campus from the Campbelltown Camden District Cricket Club where he captained the Poidevin-Gray side last season. He also made his debut for Australia at the 2022 Under 19 Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean where he was the leading wicket-taker for the team.
While injury prevented him from bowling in the final of the 2022 Under 19 National Championships, he impressed with the bat, top-scoring with an unbeaten 96 and tonking a six for the winning runs. Salzmann was named Elite Sportsperson of the Year at the Wests Sports Council Annual Sports Awards presentations last year.
Verma, a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronics, Robotics and Automation Engineering) from UNSW, is a product of the Cricket NSW underage pathways system via the Blacktown and Penrith cricket clubs. He was a Basil Sellers Scholarship recipient in 2020 and has played for NSW Second XI. He also played for the NSW and ACT XI against the West Indies in Canberra last year.
Having starred with the ball at University Oval on Saturday, Verma’s batting skills might be called on this weekend when Sydney University resume at 0-12.
Sydney University Seconds will resume at 7-180 after a rain-affected Saturday at Pratten Park. A 79-run middle order stand between Hayden McCarthy (53) and Max Hope (47) added some respectability to the scoreboard when the Students were 4-47.
Sydney University Thirds had Western Suburbs 9-206 at stumps at St Paul’s College Oval; Fourths are in a better position with Wests 9-159 at stumps; and Fifths had Wests 9-183 at stumps at Camperdown Park.
Rain caused the abandonment of the women’s First Grade and Second Grade matches between Sydney University and Gordon at Chatswood Oval.
But the Third Grade limited overs match at Queens Park saw Bankstown defeat Sydney University by 10 wickets. Having been sent in, Sydney University posted 8-121 off their 29 overs, thanks to openers Maria Lagane who retired on 51 (eight boundaries) and No.3 Banita Dodhia who hit 32 (six boundaries).
Bankstown openers Claire Jones (50 retired) and Caroline Layt (41 not out) made short work of the chase as the visitors hit 0-123 off 19 overs.
