Before the Futures League existed, there was an earlier, similar, competition known as the Cricket Australia Cup. In that competition, back in 2008-09, Usman Khawaja scored double-centuries in two consecutive innings. Last week’s Futures League match was noteworthy mostly for the fact that Nick Larkin scored his second successive double-century in the competition, matching Khawaja’s effort – but the striking thing about it was that Ed Cowan, who scored 157 himself, played in all four of the matches in which Khawaja and Larkin hit their double-centuries.
Nick Larkin’s 212 against Victoria was his highest score, and fifth century, in the Futures League. In Futures League matches this season, Nick has 521 runs at 104.20.
Ed Cowan’s appearance against Victoria was only his second Futures League match, although between 2002-03 and 2008-09 he played a few matches for New South Wales in the earlier versions of the competition, known as the Australian Cricket Board Cup and later the Cricket Australia Cup. His 157, scored in an opening stand of 337 with Nick Larkin, was his first Futures League century.
Greg Mail extended several of his own records on the weekend, including the most centuries in a First Grade career (his match-winning 107 not out against Blacktown was his 44th); the most First Grade centuries for Sydney University (31); the most runs in a First Grade career (15,145) and the most First Grade runs for Sydney University (10,150).
Tom Kierath hit his first Third Grade century in the match against Blacktown, and in the process passed 5000 runs for the club. He has become the 22nd player to score 5000 runs for the Club, and none of those players has taken as many wickets as he has (currently 465). Three other players (Greg Mail, Ian Moran and Ash Cowan) have scored more than 5000 runs for the Club and taken over 100 wickets; Mail has 221 wickets, while Moran took 337.
Nicky Craze’s 58 against Blacktown was his fifth half-century in Second Grade, but his first for Sydney University in that grade.
Kevin Jacob, with 76 in Third Grade against Blacktown, hit his highest score for the Club.
Nick Fitzgerald, with 72 against Blacktown in Fourth Grade, hit his highest score for the Club.
Ryan Kurtz’s match-winning 47 not out in Fourths against Blacktown was his highest score for the Club.