The big wet caused havoc to the Sydney Grade cricket scene over the past two weeks, with Sydney University First Grade one of the worst affected teams.
The second day of their two-day match against Northern District at Mark Taylor Oval was abandoned because of the wet conditions, with the hosts 3-80 after a rain-shortened first day. As a result, the match was drawn, with neither side gaining any points.
And that resulted in defending premiers Sydney University dropping another two places down the competition ladder to ninth. Manly-Warringah still lead the First Grade competition on 32 points after six rounds, with Bankstown (24), Randwick-Petersham (24), Mosman (18), Hawkesbury (18), Sutherland (18), Penrith (16) and Gordon (16) above the Students on 12 points.
Sydney University Seconds carried the day with a nail-biting three-run win over Northern District at No.1 Oval.
The Students, who are the defending Second Grade premiers, declared at their overnight score of 8-301 off 90 overs and rolled the visitors for 298 off 90 overs to claim a valuable six competition points, along with some stubbed finger-nails and grey hairs.
Will Hay (91), Adam Theobald (64), Max Hope (63) and Steven Hobson (30) helped the hosts to a competitive tally on day one, while Tom Kierath (4-99), Joe Kershaw (3-54) and Ben Joy (3-79) shared the spoils on day two. Northern District’s David Ball (90), Tom Felton (55), Jason Hayward (47) and Daniel Friedrich (29) kept things interesting until the death.
Sydney University lost Third, Fourth and Fifth grades, but collected the points in a Poidevin-Gray Shield match against Penrith on Sunday to leave the club eighth on the Club Championship ladder on 384 points.
Manly-Warringah sit atop the ladder on 514 points, with Sutherland (462), Northern District (450), St George (446), Eastern Suburbs (412) and Penrith (390) ahead of the Students.
The competition continues with 50-over matches on December 20 and January 10, with Sydney University up against UNSW this Saturday and Randwick-Petersham in the new year. Both First Grade encounters will be at Camperdown Oval.
Meanwhile, it was almost a case of Sydney University v Queensland when NSW collected outright points against the Banana Benders at the Sydney Cricket Ground last week.
NSW rolled Queensland for 268 in their first innings and replied with 447, before dismissing the visitors for 99 in their second visit to the wicket. Sydney University’s Sean Abbott collected 2-53 in the first innings and career-best 6-14 in the second to finish with match figures of 8-67 and Man of the Match honours.
Sydney University team-mate Will Somerville snared 2-31 and 2-18 with his off-tweakers, while opener Ryan Carters anchored the NSW innings with 198, his fourth, and best, Shield century. He hit 24 boundaries in his 432-ball occupation, which extended over three, rain-affected days, and included a 212-run, fourth-wicket partnership with Kurtis Patterson (126).
Sydney University’s Scott Henry and Nick Larkin also participated in the win.
Scoreboard
Sydney Men’s Grade competition – Round 6 (Two-day fixtures)
First Grade: Northern District 3-80 off 37 overs (Jon Whealing 34, Jonathon Webb 20 not out; Tim Ley 1-8, Will Somerville 1-18, Darius Visser 1-20) v Sydney University, stumps, day one at Mark Taylor Oval. Day two washed out and match declared a draw. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Northern District. Points: Sydney University 0, Northern District 0.
Second Grade: Sydney University 8(dec)-301 off 90 overs (Will Hay 91, Adam Theobald 64, Max Hope 63, Steven Hobson 30; Daniel Friedrich 2-64) d Northern District 298 off 90 overs (David Ball 90, Tom Felton 55, Jason Hayward 47, Daniel Friedrich 29; Tom Kierath 4-99, Joe Kershaw 3-54, Ben Joy 3-79) by three runs at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University. Points: Sydney University 6, Northern District 0.
Third Grade: Northern District 103 off 36 overs (Ben Fisher 33, Nic Badings 17) d Sydney University 96 off 46 overs (Ed Arnott 21, Dugald Holloway 15;Matthew Johnson 4-43, Max Webber 3-12) by seven runs at Asquith Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Northern District. Points: Northern District 6, Sydney University 0.
Fourth Grade: Northern District 9-221 off 75.2 overs (Ryan Bolger 69, Chris Peebles 59, Shannon Bills 31; Jonathon Craig Dobson 3-25, William Clayton 2-32) d Sydney University 139 off 55 overs (Ryan Danne 51, Jack Maddocks 31; Joel Foster 4-26, Aaron Bills 2-13) by 82 runs at St Paul’s College Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Northern District. Points: Northern District 6, Sydney University 0.
Fifth Grade: Northern District 8-235 off 75.3 overs (John Anderson 85, Matthew Woodcock 61; Hayden Kerr 2-29, Jarrod Waterlow 2-37) d Sydney University 221 off 65.1 overs (Michael Harris 59, Hayden Kerr 27, Joseph Dorph 22; Matthew Woodcock 5-33, John Anderson 2-17) by 14 runs at Storey Park. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Northern District. Points: Northern District 6, Sydney University 0.
Poidevin-Gray Shield – Round 5 (Limited overs)
Sydney University 168 off 49 overs (No details available) d Penrith 162 off 49.3 overs (Kishen Velani 34, Adrian Isherwood 34) by six runs at Howell Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Penrith. Points: Sydney University 6, Penrith 0.
Metropolitan Cup – Round 6 (Two-day match)
Sydney University 6-255 off 69.1 overs (No details available) d Randwick-Petersham Green 112 off 65.1 overs (Bala Mohan 25, Sean Rushton 21) by 143 runs at Marrickville Oval. Toss: Randwick-Petersham Green. Batted first: Sydney University. Points: Sydney University 6, Randwick-Petersham Green 0.
