Strong Showings on Day 1

In the first 2-day fixture of the season Sydney Uni faced off against Easts and are poised for another successful round across the grades.

At University Oval No. 1, 1st Grade were in the field after Easts won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket that promised an even contest. Easts’ patient opening stand of 65 was broken by Devlin Malone, who continued his form with the ball to remove Easts’ top 4 and finish with figures of 6-73 from his 27 overs. Tight bowling from Sydney Uni restricted the flow of runs and saw wickets fall at regular intervals, ensuring no Easts batsman passed 50. Ben Joy swooped to clean up the tail and bowl Easts out for 215. With 22 overs to negotiate, Sydney Uni lost 3 wickets and are currently 3/44 with Ben Trevor-Jones and Liam Robertson not out on 27 and 0 respectively.

With Waverley unavailable, 2nd Grade primed themselves for a long day in the field after Easts elected to bat on the fast outfield and flat wicket offered by Trumper Park. An early wicket each to Charlie Cassel and Kieran Tate saw Easts’ top and middle consolidate to build several 50+ partnerships, eventually finishing the day 7/290. With an early, if not immediate, declaration looming for next Saturday, 2nd Grade’s batsmen will be put through their first real test of the season to chase down a sizeable total.

Despite losing their Round 1 centurion to 1st Grade, 3s continued their form with the bat to post 293 on Day 1. Jack Hill was circumspect and assured as he passed 50 and closed in on a century, only to be stopped short on 92. Hayden Storey however, managed to negotiate the nineties and was free-flowing in amassing his first 3rd grade century – acknowledging both the support of his teammates and those at the Toxteth Hotel in his celebration (setting the standard for sponsor appreciation in the process).

A wicket to Murray Watts on the first ball of the day put 4th Grade in a strong position early. However, like all grade wickets that ‘do a bit early’, the wicket flattened, and Easts capitalised to finish the day 8/276. All bowlers contributed – Aidan Peek led the pack with 2 wickets and Tom Fullerton, Sanjay Anandarajah, Shehan Canagasingham and Murray Watts each claimed 1.

An opening stand of 80 by Liam Coelho (44) and Will Masojada (60) as well as a decisive innings by number 3, Zohirul Islam (72), promised a dominant day for 5th Grade at St Paul’s Oval. However, Easts regained control with a flurry of wickets that saw Sydney Uni bowled out for 256 in the 74th over. The Students made the most of their last 4 overs, with Tom Hill claiming a wicket – and another opening batsman’s Saturday – to place Easts on a precarious 1/8 at the close of business.

 With all 5 games in the balance (if not in the Students’ favour), expect big performances and tight finishes to come next Saturday.  

Meet the PG’s Coach: Tim Carter

While addressed generally in the Club’s welcome, we thought it prudent, in the week preceding the opening round of the Poidevin-Gray competition, to have a get-to-know-you with Sydney Uni’s new PG’s Coach (and the Senior Club’s Assistant Coach), Tim Carter.

We asked Tim some quickfire questions to get the ball rolling.

What is a personal cricket highlight of yours (playing or coaching)?

“Coaching Samoa’s National Men’s Team and seeing each of the players improve each tournament.”

What are you most excited about for this season with SUCC?

“Being involved with a professional club with great facilities. There are some very talented and, as important, coachable young cricketers at Sydney Uni Cricket Club.”

Any coaching philosophies/mantras?

“I ask all the players I work with to be coachable, ask lots of questions and be open to questioning and feedback.”

Pre-game soundtrack: “Anything by AC/DC.”

Nashball Position: Goalkeeper and occasional running back (off the record).

Tim’s impact has already been felt in his contribution to the pre-game warm up and talk at 2nd Grade games as well as in the composure, insight and awareness he brings to individual discussions with players. We wish him and the PG’s squad the best of luck this season.

The PG’s Squad will have a centre-wicket session this Thursday at St Andrew’s from 4pm, as they prepare for their opening T20 against Bankstown (at Bankstown Oval) on Sunday at 10.00AM.