Graham Croker
Sydney University’s top order fired on all cylinders to earn the points in their Twenty20 match against Hawkesbury at University No.1 Oval on Sunday.
Having won the toss, Hawkesbury had no hesitation batting. The visitors rattled up 9-133 off their 20 overs, thanks mainly to Jay Dyball (28), Shane Mott (24) and Shane Lindo (20), while Scott Henry starred with the ball, finishing with 3-17 off his four overs.
Mark Faraday and Ian Moran put on a 51-run opening stand at a run-a-ball as the Students set about chasing down the target.
When Moran departed for 23 off 18 balls, No.3 Scott Henry took up the challenge, with 32 off 26 balls. Faraday eventually fell for 51 (off 52 balls) and it was left to skipper Will Hay (19 not out) and Nick Larkin (11) to haul in the target in the 20th over.
It was the Students’ first win in three Twenty20 outings this summer. Randwick-Petersham head the Twenty20 competition, with Fairfield-Liverpool, Sydney, Western Suburbs, Parramatta and Mosman making up the top six. Sydney University are running 16th.
After a week of heavy rain, all Day 1 play of the two-day round (Saturday, December 4) was abandoned, but the Sydney Cricket Association ruled the Sunday Twenty20 fixtures should go ahead. (Day 2 of the two-day round – on Saturday, December 11 – will now be 50-over fixtures with bonus points applying.)
Bankstown head the two-day competition on 44 points, with Sydney University (43), Sydney (34), Fairfield-Liverpool (33), Manly-Warringah (33) and Randwick-Petersham (33) making up the top six.
Bankstown also head the Club Championship, on 542 points, with St George (521), Sydney (502), Randwick-Petersham (498) and Sydney University (496) making up the top five.
Scoreboard
Sydney Men’s Grade Cricket – Round 8 (Twenty20)
Wet weather forced the SCA to abandon play in most matches on December 4 and 5.
Grade Round 7 – There was no play on Day 1 (Saturday, December 4) in all matches. Day 2 (Saturday, December 11) will now be played under Game 3 of the Playing Conditions as Limited Overs matches (50 overs). Bonus point is applicable.
Grade Round 8 (Lower Grades) – Sunday, December 5: Play in all 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade and 5th Grade Twenty20 matches was abandoned.
Grade Round 8 (First Grade Twenty20 Cup) – Sunday, December 5. Having regard to First Grade’s higher status, and matches contributing to three separate 1st Grade competitions, the SCA determined to play Sunday’s fixtures.
First Grade: Sydney University 4-138 off 19.3 overs (Mark Faraday 51, Scott Henry 32, Ian Moran 23, Will Hay 19, Nick Larkin 11; Shane Mott 2-30, Jay Dyball 1-21) d Hawkesbury 9-133 off 20 overs (Jay Dyball 28, Shane Mott 24, Shane Lindo 20; Scott Henry 3-17, Michael Culkoff 2-29, Ian Moran 1-20, Kevin Desai 1-20, Nigel Cowell 1-28) at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Toss: Hawkesbury. Batted first: Hawkesbury. Points: Sydney University 4, Hawkesbury 0.
Sydney Women’s Grade Cricket – Round 10
First and Second grade matches scheduled between Universities and Parramatta-Blacktown were abandoned due to inclement weather.
