The battle of the campuses always provides earnest competition and day one of the tilt between Sydney University and UNSW at the Village Green was no exception.
Having won the toss and batted, the honours belonged to UNSW, who were all out at stumps for 336 off 99.4 overs.
The big tally was built on the back of a Charles Wakim century and solid contributions from his middle order mates.
Batting at No.6, Wakim joined forces with No.5 James Day with UNSW faltering at 4-64. The pair put on 153 before Day departed for 70.
Wakim was then joined by his brother Benjamin, who contributed 64 as the Whales pushed past the 300 mark.
Charles Wakim cracked 20 boundaries in his 183-minute stay, before he fell to the off-spin of Will Somerville, who ended the day with 5-65 off 27 overs.
Sydney University head coach Gary Whitaker said his troops will back themselves to get the runs and maintain their winning streak. “If we’re still in the hunt late in the day, we’ll need some ammo in the sheds to counter the second new ball and get them in the last session,” he said.
The coach said he was pleased with the work of Somerville. “He’s really turned the corner with his bowling,” he said. “He’s tall and gets bounce and turn. He just needed more consistency.”
Sydney University are undefeated in the top three grades and, while the pressure will be on Firsts next Saturday, Second and Third grades ended day one of their matches in strong positions.
Playing at Sydney University No.1 Oval, Sydney University Seconds posted 7-365 before declaring late in the last session and claiming a wicket, with UNSW ending the day at 1-15.
The big score was built on a fine 110 from Joshua Richards, a young medical science student, and an unbeaten 101 from Steve Hobson.
Thirds also pushed past the 300-mark, ending the day at 8-322, with half centuries from Ash Cowan (52) and Steven Birch (51) and 47 from Jack Holloway helping the tally along. Birch backed up with another half century in the Poidevin-Gray match against Penrith on Sunday. The match was washed out with Sydney University 1-97, with Birch (52 off 33 balls) and Bathurst youngster Max Hope (44 not out off 36 balls) putting on 96 in just over 11 overs.
Fourths were 0-8 at stumps in pursuit of 260 for first innings points, while Fifths posted 264 on the back of Jarrod Waterlow’s 115.
Scoreboard
Sydney Men’s Grade Cricket competition – Round 3 (Two-day matches)
First Grade: UNSW 336 off 99.4 overs (Charles Wakim 117, James Day 70, Benjamin Wakim 64, David Dawson 25; Will Somerville 5-65, Tim Ley 2-21, Nigel Cowell 2-69), stumps, day one at The Village Green. Toss: UNSW.
Second Grade: Sydney University 7(dec)-365 off 93.5 overs (Joshua Richards 110, Steven Hobson 101 not out, Josh Toyer 41 not out; Marcus Atallah 2-57) v UNSW 1-15, stumps, day one at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Toss: Sydney University.
Third Grade: Sydney University 8-322 off 80 overs (Ash Cowan 52, Steven Birch 51, Jack Holloway 47) stumps, day one at David Phillips South Oval. Toss: UNSW.
Fourth Grade: UNSW259off 71.5 overs (Hayden Nicholls 81 not out, Jack Roach 56, Ankit Patel 42) v SydneyUniversity 0-8, stumps, day one at Sydney University No.2 Oval.
Fifth Grade: Sydney University 264 off 70 overs (Jarrod Waterlow 115, Stuart Hastings 26, Kieran Tate 20, Kalindu Kariyawasam 20) v UNSW 0-18, stumps, day one at David Phillips North Oval.
Metropolitan Cup – Round 4
Sydney University 1-51 off 15 overs v Penrith 175 off 55.3 overs (Michael Edwards 87 not out, Joshua Heins 30), stumps, day one at St Paul’s College Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Penrith.
Sydney Men’s Grade Cricket – CSG Twenty20 Cup – Round 3
First Grade: Sydney University 6-149 off 19.4 overs (Nick Larkin 62, Liam Robertson 39; Joshua Lalor 3-27) d Penrith 7-145 off 20 overs (Peter Betros 34, Matthew Hopkins 32, Patrick Jackson 29; Tim Ley 2-21) at Blacktown International Sports Park. Toss: Sydney University. Batted First: Penrith. Points: Sydney University 6, Penrith 0.
Poidevin-Grey Shield – Round 3 (Limited overs)
Sydney University 1-97 off 11.4 overs (Steven Birch 52, Max Hope 44 not out) when rain stopped play at Blacktown International Sports Park No.2 on Sunday. Toss: Sydney University.
