Graham Croker
With Sydney University First and Fifth grades bowing out of the Sydney Grade Cricket competition in the qualifying finals at the weekend, the club’s hopes now rest with Second Grade – chasing a third consecutive title – and Sixth Grade, who play in the Metropolitan Cup.
In a high-scoring First Grade qualifying final, the Students came within 45 runs of chasing down Sutherland’s mammoth first innings total of 387 at Glenn McGrath Oval.
The hosts won the toss, elected to bat and lost opener Nic Maddison – run out without scoring with the score on five. Enter Matthew Hughston, who cracked 23 boundaries in his 184 and shared a 170-run first wicket stand with Phil Jacques (80).
Had the Students held chances when Hughston was on 98 and 105 the result might have been different as Sutherland’s middle order wilted. At one stage they were 5-203 before all-rounder Andre Adams came to the rescue with a hard-hitting 75 off 70 balls, including 11 boundaries and three sixes. He later opened the bowling and picked up 3-71.
Tom Keirath (3-67) and Greg Mail (3-73) were the pick of the Sydney University attack.
The Students began the big chase well with openers Mail (54) and Will Hay (63) putting on 103 before Mail departed courtesy of Leon Talay, who also snared University No.3 Ian Moran for 11.
Sydney University battled it out through Scott Henry (42), Ben Larkin (23), Mark Faraday (88) and Tom Keirath (49) but couldn’t haul in the big target.
Sydney University Seconds overcame an early disaster to win their way through to a semi-final berth.
After winning the toss and batting at Sydney University No.1 Oval, the Students soon found themselves 3-9 with openers Josh Ryan (0) and Nick Larkin (1) and No.3 Adam Theobald (0) back in the pavilion.
Dave Miller (67) and Paul O’Halloran (38) resurrected proceedings and later order contributions from Tim Ley (40) and Jim Kazaglis (28) helped the hosts to 197.
Ley then turned in two wonderful spells of fast bowling on Saturday evening – Bankstown were 4-12 at stumps – and Sunday morning to collect 5-29 off 13.2 overs as the visitors were dismissed for 102. Sydney University will meet Sutherland in a semi-final.
In the Metropolitan Cup, Sydney University replied to Blacktown’s 286 with 8-287 to book a semi-final berth. (Scorers not to hand.)
Scoreboard
Sydney Grade Cricket – Qualifying Finals (Two-day matches)
First Grade: Sutherland 387 Matthew Hughston 184, Phil Jaques 80, Andre Adams 75; Tom Keirath 3-67, Greg Mail 3 73) d Sydney University 343 (Mark Faraday 88, Will Hay 63, Greg Mail 54, Tom Keirath 49, Scott Henry 42; Andre Adams 3-71, Nic Maddison 2-16, Louis Talay 2-57) on first innings at Glenn McGrath Oval. Toss won by: Sutherland. Batted first: Sutherland.
Second Grade: Sydney University 197 (David Miller 67, Tim Ley 40, Paul O’Halloran 38, Jim Kazaglis 28; Scott Truashiem 4-27, Brendan Scott 2-47) d Bankstown 102 (Chris Ridley 36; Tim Ley 5-29, Michael Culkoff 4-37) on first innings at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University.
Fifth Grade: Campbelltown-Camden 403 (Jaydyn Simmons 118, Simon Peddle 77, Todd O’Keefe 58, James Pitt 39, Peter Vale 31, Reece White 27; Virosh Poolagasandrum 3-72, Charles McKeith 3-75, Angus Glynn 3-108) drew with Sydney University 5-179 (James Walsh 75, Nick Burke 35, Justin Younes 30; Jamie Malskaitis 2-28) at Raby No.1 Oval. Toss: Campbelltown-Camden. Batted first: Campbelltown-Camden.
Metropolitan Cup
Sydney University 8-287 d Blacktown 286 on first innings at Sydney University No.2 Oval. Toss: Blacktown. Batted first: Blacktown.
Women’s Sydney Grade competition – Semi-finals
Second Grade: Bankstown Sports 9-180 (Rebecca Cady 86, Sheree Robinson 20) d Universities 129 (Ellie Newman 3-15, Erin Cosgrove 2-23) at Grahame Thomas Oval.
