1st Grade:
Sydney University 10/267 (D Mortimer 115, T Ley 55, M Day 5/39) Defeated Mosman 10/262 (T Ley 4/36, D Holloway 3/31, D Dassanayake 107)
We arrived at Uni No 1 to find a good batting surface to try and defend our score of 267. Good aggression and sustained pace from Timmy Rogers had the visitors literally on the back foot early. When Rogers got through the oppositions captain’s defence and Dougal chipped in to remove M Day, things were looking comfortable for the students, Mosman reeling at 5-61.
In a similar fashion to the Gordon game, the middle order dug in, the ball lost a bit of its hardness, and we struggled to make inroads. This week we were missing the services of Devlin Malone, who is away on u/19 duty and through the middle session we started to notice how effective he has been so far this year. Looking around for a replacement, captain Larkin opted for the man closest in stature to Malone, settling on the miniature poodle that had been strutting around at cover. Cowan was remarkably effective, entertaining us with tales of wickets taken in the 90s and channeling Mo Matthews by predicting shots and what he was going to bowl next. I think he has covered the entire University database with his figures, but if by chance he has lost your email address, check out the celebration here. https://twitter.com/eddiecowan/status/807778860901101568 After that was all taken care of, Mosman came out playing shots after the tea interval, and threatened to overhaul the total. A fast, reverse inswinging Yorker from Holloway (3/31) and thin edge through to BTJ from a Tim Ley (4/36) outswinger were enough to get us the six points. Just. A solid team bowling display, Tim Ley had his best game in recent memory and Dugald returned to First Grade with immediate impact. Onwards and upwards.
2nd Grade:
Sydney University 9/289 (C Litchfield 103, D Miller 43, H Kerr 38, T Slack 4/69) Def Mosman 10/284 (N McCamley 64, J Procajlo 50, N Doyle 40, H Kerr 2/30, D Miller 2/17)
Mosman set about chasing our 289 aggressively as their opening batsmen took the attack to SUCC opening bowlers K Elley and Jonathon “Dibblie Dob” Craig-Dobson (FYI Crowls did not keep up to the stumps to the new ball). The opening pair found the boundary on several occasions but it always felt like a chance was looming. Hayden “dos-man” Kerr was the one to create that chance and regular wickets fell for the next 30 0vers.
A particular highlight was Crowls’ stumping on the first ball after tea to end Mosman’s major partnership of the day. It was a ‘well-planned’ manoeuvre; Skipper Miller speared one down the leg side forcing the batsmen to fall off balance leaving Crowls to whisk the bails off.
To have Mosman 7/180 just after tea, the students were in the drivers seat however a 90 run 8th wicket stand put the game well and truly back into the balance. Hayden Kerr made the crucial breakthrough again to have Mosman 8/270 still requiring 20 to win, Jack Holloway then grabbed his first for the game to have Mosman 9/279.
11 needed to win, 1 wicket in hand. Mr 305 (Charles Litchfield) left the field early to attend his dad’s 50th, enter SUCC nicest member Vinnie Umbers… the last wicket had progressed the score to 284, 6 needed to win, I wicket in hand. A quick single was pushed to mid-on, where sub fielder Lumbers attacked the ball, collected and threw down the stumps in one motion. How did we do it? Easy! (not quite)
3rd Grade:
Sydney University 8/296 (M Powys 68, TKierath 55, A Shaw 53, M Ali 3/57) Def Mosman 10/170 (L Hearne 100, L McMahon 5/39, R Danne 2/9).
Rolling into Fortress Pauls with 300 on the board confidence was high.
In another heated encounter on the Nash field, 'Young' turned in a spirited defensive effort partnered with an electric display of counter attack to, against all odds (notably 'Olds' dubious application of the rules, spirit and duration of the game), finally break a losing streak running back to last seasons finals series.
The day's play began equally frenetically. 3 wickets in the first 4 overs of the day and a 4th before the score had reached 20 had us firmly on our way. The ladder leading Whales would not lie down easily, digging in with a curiously abrasive wicket quickly taking the shine off the ball. Two breakthroughs on the stroke of the break made the pilgrimage down to No. 1 for tea slightly less punishing, 6-101.
The dogged rearguard effort continued into the afternoon session, led by a stoic 100 from a still Green Shield eligible Lachlan Hearne. But with the abrasive wicket now offering the elusive prize of reverse swing, the last 4 wickets fell quickly to close out another dominant display for the 3s juggernaut. Mosman all out 170. Lewis McMahon was the pick of the bowlers, combining fantastic control and late reverse swing, and despite claiming “this is probably the worst I’ve bowled all year” he finished with handy figures of 5/39.
Four wins on the bounce mean the defending premiers once again find themselves on top of the Sydney Grade pile with 8th placed Sydney waiting in the last round before the festive break
4th Grade:
Mosman 10/165 (L Kimber 66, N Heath 37, AJ Grant 5/53 off 26, A Peek 4/32) Sydney University 8/167 (T Galvin 40*, L Hughes 37, N Fitzgerald 26)
Arriving at Rawson Park at 1/8 chasing 166 the Students knew we’d have a fight on our hands to grab the 6 points. After reversing the batting order last week and sending out three nightwatchmen, we got off to a rough start and quickly found ourselves at 3/30. Liam Hughes or “Walshy” as he likes to be called, started to steady the ship with Nick Fitzgerald as we slowly crawled towards the target. With some tight spin bowling, Mosman broke the partnership and brought about a mild collapse. Tom Galvin and Christian Lorenzato came together, clearly inspired by his MOM Nash performance Galvin controlled the ship with a mature 40* and Christian worked well down the other end with a crucial 19. Christian was dismissed within touching distance of the total, with AJ joining Galvin at the crease. AJ had only just recovered after bowling 26 overs on day one, and worked hard for 9* to get us over the line 8 down.
5th Grade:
Mosman 7/343 (D Patel 69, A Carre 62, A Nouree 55, Z Islam 3/42) Def Sydney Uni 10/261 (A Bell 85, B Dilley 81, D Patel 5/40)
Chasing 343 was always going to be difficult for the Students, however Alex Bell (85) and Braydan Dilley got us off to the best possible start putting on 150 for the first wicket. These two batted with superb patience and control, waiting for the bad ball and then punishing it to all areas of Camperdown Oval. Unfortunately, losing these two in quick succession brought upon an unfortunate procession of wickets, with 5 of the first 6 wickets to fall adjudged LBW. Despite an aggressive cameo by the number one Groundsman Angus Cusack (37) we were unable to capitalise on the strong start and ultimately fell 82 runs short.
Metro Cup:
Georges River 10/243 (A Salgueira 145) Defeated Sydney University 10/151.
After the mixed day on day one, the students arrived 3/42 requiring another 201 for victory. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be with Georges River’s bowlers proving too strong as we were dismissed for a disappointing 151. Our inability to form any meaningful partnerships ensured chasing was difficult. Hopefully we can learn from this experience and be better come round 8 next weekend.