Sydney Universities Cricket Club’s First Grade team is on the cusp of securing a finals berth in the NSW Premier Cricket competition, thanks to a series of remarkable performances that have revitalised their season.
After a challenging start, the team’s resurgence has been spearheaded by seasoned players and emerging talents, showcasing the depth and resilience of the squad.
Early in the season, the students faced significant hurdles, struggling to make breakthroughs with the ball and finding themselves at the lower end of the ladder. However, a renewed focus and strategic shift led to a dramatic turnaround over the middle part of the season.
The teams sit equal sixth with Penrith, just outside the top 6 due to the net run rate. With only one round left of the regular season, momentum is firmly on the students’ side.
With some stellar performances later in the season, experienced batsman and Captain Damien Mortimer reached a significant milestone by surpassing 7,000 first-grade runs, becoming only the 115th player in the competition’s history.
Tim Cummins also showed his skills and leadership skills, with standout performances in both gloves behind the stumps and with the bat. He recently became the club’s second most successful wicketkeeper in First Grade, with 284 dismissals.
With the ball emerging, fast bowler Darcy Mooney took an impressive 5-28 against Randwick-Petersham with a standout performance, marking his first five-wicket haul in First Grade, defending a total of 192.
With only one round before Finals, Sydney University faces Northern Districts at Mark Taylor Fields this Saturday (1st of March). The blend of veterans’ experience and emerging talents position the students as a formidable contender, aiming to carry all momentum into the finals,
We urge the wider community of Sydney University to come out and support the team this Saturday and next to cheer 1st Grade on.
