Centuries were the order of the day for Sydney University batsmen on Saturday, with four players across the grades bringing up three-figure scores on the opening day of Round 3 competition against Sutherland.
On a day where University skippers won the toss and elected to bat in each of the five grades, their batting troops mostly backed the judgments and, when stumps were drawn, four of the five teams were in good positions of at least securing first innings wins.
Nick Larkin backed the judgment of First Grade captain Scott Henry to crack a classy 113 and help steer Sydney University to a competitive 303 at Sydney University No.1 Oval.
Larkin entered the fray with Sydney University 2-14 and shared an 87-run partnership with Mark Faraday (43) to right the ship. He then shared a 97-run stand with Sean Abbott (79) and a 66-run stand with Adam Theobald (32) in his 205-minute occupation which included 10 picket-finders and a six.
Sutherland were 0-8 at stumps and, given good weather, Saturday could provide an intriguing day’s play.
Liam Robertson and Steven Hobson went on the warpath for Sydney University Seconds in their stoush with Sutherland at Glenn McGrath Oval.
Robertson came to the crease with the Students 3-31 and cracked 16 boundaries in an innings of 117 that took up 238 minutes. More importantly, he figured in a 238-run stand with Hobson, whose 88 included 15 boundaries. The Students declared at 8-301 and had the hosts tottering on 2-15 at stumps.
The other century-makers were in Fourth Grade where No.5 Alex Mihalyka (119) and No.6 Darius Visser (104) shared in a186-run partnership that allowed the Students to declare at 7-404. Sutherland were 0-21 at stumps.
In Third Grade, Sutherland were 3-94 in reply to Sydney University’s 204 at Sydney University No.2 Oval, while Fifth Grade had Sutherland 2-23 at stumps in reply to their 214 at St Paul’s College Oval.
Scoreboard
Sydney Grade competition – Round 3 (Two-day matches)
First Grade: Sydney University 303 (Nick Larkin 113, Sean Abbott 79, Mark Faraday 43, Adam Theobald 32; Nathan Fitzgerald 4-32, Adam Zampa 4-66) v Sutherland 0-8, stumps, day one at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University.
Second Grade: Sydney University 8(dec)-301) Liam Robertson 117, Steven Hobson 88; Trent Smith 2-36, Nathan Whittingham 2-49) v Sutherland 2-15; Josh Toyer 1-4, Nigel Cowell 1-11, stumps, day one at Glen McGrath Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University.
Third Grade: Sydney University 204 (Peter Murray 43, Alex Logan 35, Suda Sivapalan 24; Joshua Zywitz 4-31) v Sutherland 3-94 (Duncan Maddison 33 not out, Ryan Maguire 22 not out) stumps, day one at Sydney University No.2 Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University.
Fourth Grade: Sydney University 7(dec)-404 (Alex Mihalyka 119, Darius Visser 104, Matt Skinner 40, Edward Lewis 39 not out, Ash Cowan 39; Alexander Watkiss 4-84) v Sutherland 0-21, stumps, day one at Sutherland Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University.
Fifth Grade: Sydney University 214 (Stuart Hastings76, Jarrod Waterlow 32, Kim Garling 20 not out, Anthony Lown 20; Steve Karouche 3-34) v Sutherland 2-23, stumps, day one at St Paul’s College Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University.
Poidevin-Gray Shield – Round 1 (20-over match)
Sydney University Sydney University 1-108 off 18.1 overs (Jack Hill 43 not out, Sean Abbott 38, Brendan Pryke 25 not out) d Mosman 7-106 off 20 overs (Patrick Francis 24, Matthew Baillie 24, Glenn Fairweather 20; Kerrod McPherson 3-14, Jonte Pattison 2-14) at Rawson Park. Toss: Mosman. Batted first: Mosman. Points: Sydney University 4, Mosman 0.
Sydney Women’s grade competition – Twenty20
First Grade: Universities WCC: Bye
Second Grade – Round 4: Universities 2-162 off 20 overs (Charlotte Mizzi 64, Felicity Goodwin 55) d Parramatta-Blacktown 8-119 off 20 overs (Melissa Holton 39, Cherie Denner 36; Natalie Cowen 2-18, Caitlin Murray 2-19) by 43 runs at the Village Green. Toss: Universities. Batted first: Universities. Points: Universities 6, Parramatta-Blacktown 0.
Third Grade – Round 3: Universities 4-165 off 20 overs (no details) d Northern District 3-151 off 20 overs (Elena Martin 35, Karmen Fong 27 not out, Jacinta Martin 21) at Roselea Park. Toss: Universities. Batted first: Northern District. Points: Universities 6, Northern District 0.
Brewer Shield – Round 4: Universities 1-124 off 20 overs (Jade Christie 33 not out, Clara Iemma 30 not out) d Penrith 8-66 off 20 overs (Holly Wilson 21 not out; Renee Hebden 3-4, Grace Puckett 2-9) at the Village Green. Toss: Penrith. Batted first: Penrith. Points: Universities 6, Penrith 0.
