The opening weekend of cricket fixtures for Sydney University Cricket Club hit off with a bang on Saturday with a debutant century, solid bowling displays and some remarkable comebacks against Manly.
The outstanding result of the weekend was Club debutant, Ben Trevor-Jones, compiling a patient and resilient century at Uni No. 1 Oval for the 2nd Grade side.
With the side teetering at 4-82 Trevor-Jones set himself for an innings lasting 182 balls and over 3.5 hours at the crease, and together with fellow youngster Joe Kershaw (49 runs) put on a steadying partnership of 95 runs.
Trevor-Jones pushed on with the talented lower order before he finally fell for an impressive 115 runs, laying the platform for a solid day one total of 9 - 260 runs.
First Grade fought hard all day to restrict Manly to 250 runs from 90 overs before losing star bat Scott Henry to fellow NSW representative, Steve O'Keefe, in the search for late runs. SUCC finished play on 1-24.
Spinner, Will Somerville, shouldered the bulk of the bowling work, sending down 31 overs and claiming 4-76. He was well supported by Sean Abbott (2-28 from 12 overs) continuing his off-season success with Australia A, and Tim Ley claiming 3-52 from 17 overs.
Third Grade suffered a tough day in the field as they were set an imposing total of 4 dec. for 301 with Manly's J Rawlings compiling an impressive 169 not out. Fortunately, SUCC survived a tough 2 over period at the end of play and will have the full 10 wickets to chase down the total next weekend.
Comeback of the weekend went to the Fourth Grade side battling back from 8 - 82 to post a competitive total of 168 runs. Late wicket partnerships involving Andrew Deveraj (33 runs), Anthony Lown (28 runs), Kieran Tate (48 runs) and the not out Will Clayton, ensured they would at least have something to bowl at. Bowl at they did, with a devastating final half hour with ball in hand to leave Manly 4-10, quicks Will Clayton and Hayden Kerr both ending the day with 2 wickets for 5 runs.
Fifth Grade were held to a late start with water on the wicket block preventing play until early afternoon, and allowing only 64 overs to be played. Our SUCC boys fought hard throughout the day however, and Manly finished play on 6 - 251. New skipper, Mike Harris, shared the ball around looking for some breakthroughs, using 8 bowlers and with the wickets being shared by Jono Craig-Dobson, Jarrod Waterlow, Cam New and Liam Whitaker.
Play continues this Saturday with 1st and 2nd grade starting at 9:30am and lower grades at 11:15am. Get down to the grounds and support our lads.