First Grade
Toss
UNSW won the toss and batted first Result Sydney University won on first innings
Game scores
UNSW 336 def by Sydney University 6/337
Notables
Will Sommerville 5/65, Mark Faraday 119, Nick Larkin 72
Report
Sydney University's unbeaten start to the season was extended by another win on Saturday despite the inclement weather and the chunky target total set by UNSW.
Continuing the trend of solid opening partnerships set by the absent Scott Henry and Ryan Carters (who both peeled off first-class half centuries through the week), Nick Larkin and Mark Faraday combined for 153 runs for the first wicket. In one bizarre mid-pitch conversation, Larkin, seizing upon both openers' love of the slice (both of the variety served at afternoon tea and the variety that results in a cricket ball whistling past backward point), offered the following batting advice to his partner: "mate, I know the hands are hungry but they can only eat when the ball is wide enough, okay?". Okay, Nick...
Larkin's departure for 72 brought Adam Theobald to the crease. Theo made batting look particularly easy during his 40-odd ball 39. During his innings, Theo took the risky option of batting in a cap against the opposition opening bowler, so as to delibertaly procure short-pitched bowling. This tactic worked beautifully and, as Theo swatted ball after ball off his nose for runs, the reverse swing that was occurring when the ball was pitched full disappeared. Unfortunately Theo's sparkling innings was cut short by a great piece of fielding that saw him run out at what was not considered to be the 'danger end' in a tight attempted two.
Mark Faraday eventually fell for 119 from 195 balls. Faraday's imaginary 'chatty little man on the shoulder', who notoriously loves the lofted drive, was left out in the cold until Mark's score was on 99, when, faced with off-spin and an assisting southerly wind, his powers of persuasion became irresistable. Thankfully, in this rare case, the little man's judgment was spot on and Mark's century was brought up with a six. The little man is, however, dismayed by his landlord's recent corpse-with-pads-like batting at the top of the order and is in the market for a new, more welcoming home on someone else's shoulder.
When Theobald, Faraday, Mail, Miller and Richards all fell within 50-odd runs of each other before the the 300 mark had been surpassed (and with the weather becoming increasingly threatening), a win by Sydney University was far from a fait accompli. However, Liam Robertson showed he has developed into a mature first-grade batsman with a cool hand of 39 not out. Liam's fine innings eventually saw the university with sandstone buildings and grass tennis courts to victory over the less architecturally endowed university in the fading light at Village Green. Tim "have you won the Pepsi Challenge if you make 25 not out and win?" Ley's cameo 'red inker' was also very handy. No doubt your scribe will be ticking a task off Tim's weekly 'to do' list by reminding readers that he is now averaging 80 in first grade this summer.
This was a particularly pleasing win for Sydney University on the basis that a large run chase was achieved in the very rare circumstance of the team's past and present first-class batsmen only contributing a handful of runs.
Second Grade
Toss
Sydney University won the toss and elected to bat first
Result
Sydney University won on first innings
Game scores
Sydney University 7/365 def UNSW 118
Notables
Joshua Richards 110, Steve Hobson 101*, James Ryan 3/36, Ben Joy 3/39
Report
Turning up on day 2 to the uni fortress the good guys were faced with some grim overhead conditions and the haunting image of puddles across the oval. There were some early concerns of the one that might get away but eager to follow up the South Africans' brutalising of the opposition attack the students got to work on having the oval ready for the salivating quick men. Some generous individuals even willing to part with the beloved past time of nashball.
Play was under way approximately an hour behind time and the UNSW bats got off to a steady start with JT and the English man asking questions but not being able to find a way through. Enter the St Paul's Honorary, Jim Ryan, who made the double break through in his third over. Lunch arrived with the UNSW boys sitting at a similar position to us from the first week at 3 - 65 on a pretty flat uni #1 wicket. A short rain delay was the catalyst required to get the SUCC 2s men going with the big Ben "Barnaby" Joy revealing in his familiar conditions of light rain and dark clouds. After a hard grind to get the UNSW team to 5 down, SUCC were able to settle into the work of taking the last 5 poles for 20 runs. A mentionable appearance was made from the blue helmet sporting UNSW batsmen who only needed one delivery from Barnaby and was comprehensibly bowled.
The 2s remain undefeated after a strong performance from the group of the back of some great batting in week 1.
Third Grade
Toss
Result
Game scores
Notables
Report
Fourth Grade
Toss
Result
Game scores
Notables
Report
Fifth Grade
Toss
Result
Game scores
Notables
Report