Sydney University will be relying on the vast skills of skipper Greg Mail and a wagging tail to salvage first innings points against Fairfield-Liverpool when they resume battle at Sydney University No.1 Oval on Saturday.
The Students ended day one teetering on 6-88 in reply to Fairfield-Liverpool’s 174, with Mail at the crease on 27 and youngster Jonte Pattison on one.
Next to don the pads are Tim Ley, Will Somerville and Nigel Cowell, who will need to provide support for Mail to keep Sydney University’s unbeaten run in the 2013-14 Sydney Grade competition intact.
The day had started well, with five of Sydney University’s seven bowlers taking wickets in Fairfield-Liverpool’s modest tally after the visitors had won the toss and batted.
Ley collected 3-22 off 15 overs, while Mail (2-16), Somerville (2-30), Pattison (2-30) and Cowell (1-46) joined the fray.
But the all-round performance of NSW representative Gurinder Sandhu thwarted the Students with bat and ball. The former Australian Under 19 player topscored with an unbeaten 43, before picking up 4-34 as Sydney University crashed.
Sydney University Seconds are in a similar position, finishing day one at 3-62 after dismissing Fairfield-Liverpool for 177 at Rosedale Oval.
The similarities didn’t end with scores. Gurinder’s younger brother Harmon Sandhu, 17, topscored with 62 not for Fairfield-Liverpool.
Sydney University’s hopes of remaining undefeated and securing first innings points rest with Steve Hobson, who finished the day unbeaten on 32.
Meanwhile, Sydney University’s new recruit Ryan Carters continues to impress, scoring his maiden first-class century, for NSW in their Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland, at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.
The right-hand opener scored 154 in NSW’s first innings and 67 in the second dig to put NSW in a strong position for outright points. He fell six runs shy of his maiden first-class ton playing for the Cricket Australia Invitation XI against England the previous week.
Sydney University has two other representatives in the NSW side in opener-cum-No.3 Scott Henry (10 and 31) and all-rounder Sean Abbott (29 and 1-42) at the time of posting.
Scoreboard
Sydney Men’s Grade competition – Round 5
First Grade: Fairfield-Liverpool 174 off 74 overs (Gurinder Sandhu 43 not out, Anthony Clark 32, Jeremy Cashman 21; Tim Ley 3-21, Greg Mail 2-16, Will Somerville 2-30 ) v Sydney University 6-88 (Greg Mail 27 not out, Adam Theobald 24; Gurinder Sandhu 4-35, Nathan Smith 2-19) stumps, day one at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Toss: Fairfield-Liverpool. Batted first: Fairfield-Liverpool.
Second Grade: Fairfield-Liverpool 177 off 74.3 overs (Harmon Sandhu 62 not out, Mitchell Tremain 25, Russell Wilcoxon 25; Jim Ryan 4-55, Ben Joy 3-42, Tom Keirath 2-4) v Sydney University 3-62 (Steven Hobson 32 not out) stumps, day one at Rosedale Oval. Toss: Fairfield-Liverpool. Batted first: Fairfield-Liverpool.
Third Grade: Sydney University 108 off 39 overs (no details available) v Fairfield-Liverpool 5-28 (no details available) stumps, day one at Alan MacGillvray Oval. Toss: Fairfield-Liverpool. Batted first: Sydney University.
Fourth Grade: No details available.
Fifth Grade: Fairfield-Liverpool 115 off 39 overs (Cameron Bournes 28) v Sydney University 0-9, stumps, day one at St Paul’s College Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Fairfield-Liverpool.
