Mail holds the key

Graham Croker

Sydney University will be relying heavily on opener Greg Mail and a wagging tail to secure first innings points over Fairfield-Liverpool when their two-day Sydney Grade cricket battle resumes at University No.1 Oval tomorrow.

Having dismissed Fairfield-Liverpool for 179 after the visitors won the toss and batted, Sydney University were teetering at 6-123 at stumps on day one, with the defiant Mail unbeaten on 61.

The prolific former NSW representative has amassed 575 runs at 95.8 from his seven knock this season and looks on the way to yet another 1000-run plus season. He’s also taken nine wickets at 15.9 with a best return of 4-18.

Securing points tomorrow is vital for the Students to consolidate their place near the top of the ladder.

Bankstown head the First Grade competition on 34 points, with Sydney University (33), Fairfield-Liverpool (29), Randwick-Petersham (29), St George (23) and Manly-Warringah (23) making up the top six.

A win would also help Sydney University’s destiny in the Club Championship, where they have plunged to seventh.

Bankstown also head the Club Championship ladder on 452 points, with Fairfield-Liverpool (425), Randwick-Petersham (420), St George (401), North Sydney (400) and Sydney (370) above Sydney University (364).

The Students are in good positions to collect points in Second, Third and Fourth grades tomorrow, with Fifth Grade in need of some big partnerships to come home with the bacon.

Scoreboard

Sydney Men’s Grade competition – Round 6 (Two-day matches)

First Grade: Fairfield-Liverpool 179 (Mark Liddell 82, Grant Lambert 25; Ian Moran 3-21, Josh Toyer 3-47, Greg Mail 1-3) v Sydney University 6-123 (Greg Mail 61 not out, Scott Henry 17; Luke Doran 3-12, Jeremy Maher 1-15) stumps, day one at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Toss: Fairfield-Liverpool. Batted first: Fairfield-Liverpool.

Second Grade:  Sydney University 211 (Adam Theobald 67, Liam Robertson 58, Robert Edwards 28 not out; Nathan Sullivan 4-47, Nathan Smith 2-37, Hussain Hanif 2-43) v Fairfield-Liverpool 2-84 (Wendel Delpechitra 38 not out, Robert Hearn 25 not out; Chris Withers 1-10), stumps, day one  at Rosedale Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University.

Third Grade: Fairfield-Liverpool 177 (Tim Reus 42 not out, Terry Kennedy 34, Jacob Astill 31; Ben Joy 4-40, Alasdair Grant 2-34, Charles Cull 2-37) v Sydney University 1-75 (Ken Huckle 39, Suda Sivapalan 26 not out), stumps, day one at Sydney University No.2 Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Fairfield-Liverpool.

Fourth Grade: Sydney University 195 (Jack Hammond 46, Charles Arcus 33, Ash Cowan 27; Jason Gynn 6-45) v Fairfield-Liverpool 2-33 (Ash Cowan 2-1), stumps, day one at Fairfield Oval. Toss: Fairfield-Liverpool. Batted first: Sydney University.

Fifth Grade: Fairfield-Liverpool 6(dec)- 302 (Stephen Luc 141, Jacob Grant 59, Simon Grove 44; Will Shirvington 3-21) v Sydney University 0-6, stumps, day one at St Paul’s College Oval. Toss: Fairfield-Liverpool. Batted first: Fairfield-Liverpool.

Twenty20 Cup

Parramatta 9-151 off 20 overs (Nicholas Watkins 51, Brenton Cherry 43; Stuart Clark 2-17, Scott Henry 2-18, Kevin Desai 2-28) d Sydney University 100 off 15 overs (Ian Moran 43, Mark Faraday 26; Michael Wood 4-18, Steve Karam 2-4, Daniel Jackson 2-23) at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Toss: Batted first: Parramatta. Points: Parramatta, Sydney University 0.

Poidevin-Gray Shield – Round 3

Sydney University 9-122 off 20 overs (Matthew Morgan 24, Nick Larkin 20, David Miller 20, Charles McKeith 18; Matthew Taylor 4-19, Luke Dempsey 2-17, Anthony Child 2-21) d Parramatta 118 off 18.2 overs (Nicholas Bertus 27, Bradley Smith 25, Michael Stretton 19; Liam Robertson 4-12, Kerrod McPherson 2-26) on first innings at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Parramatta. Points: Sydney University 4. Parramatta 0.

Sydney Women’s Grade competition – Round 7

First Grade: St George-Sutherland 2-89 off 18.4 overs (Leah Poulton 38 not out, Rebecca Wyborn 28 not out; Fraser Wunsch 2-19) d Universities 85 off 25 overs (Alison Parkin 23; Nicola Carey 3-14, Erin Osborne 2-4, Trudy Burke 2-14) by eight wickets at the Village Green. Toss: Universities. Batted first: Universities. Points: St George-Sutherland 6, Universities 0.