Uni’s Day Out
After another dominant weekend in the final round of the regular season, Sydney University Cricket Club has won the club championship, claimed four minor premierships and cemented finals berths for all six of its senior grades. In need of a clean sweep and a couple of bonus point wins to secure the all-time club championship record, Uni went about their business in textbook clinical fashion to achieve the feat – finishing the regular season with 1624 points, the highest total ever achieved in the competition’s history.
At Uni No. 1, after losing the toss, 1st Grade struck early after a seaming delivery from Joe Kershaw had the visitors 1/1. After a good fightback saw Wests close in on triple figures, Kershaw struck again to give Uni’s bowlers a good look at the Pies’ middle order. Tim Ley (2-32) and Ryan McElduff (3-33) partnered to claim wickets at regular intervals – eventually bringing Wests’ innings to a close at 161 in the 40th over. Impending weather threatened the Students chase, playing on the wicket and the minds of the batsman, as Uni found themselves 4/35 inside the first 10 overs. However, in pursuit of a revised target, Ryan McElduff starred with the bat to hold Uni’s innings together – amassing a classy 65 not out from 89 deliveries (with 7 fours and 1 six) to see the Students to victory in the 34th over. With this win, 1st grade secured their position as minor premiers and will face Sutherland this weekend at Uni No. 1.
At Pratten Park, 2nd Grade looked to bounce back after a tough last Saturday saw them concede their first match of the season to Sutherland. And, after Wests won the toss and elected to bat, the Students did just that through Charlie Cassell – whose return to 2nd Grade saw him claim 2 wickets in 2 balls in his first spell. With the hosts 2/8, the Students looked to capitalise, however a consistent shower meant a wet ball, which offered little for the bowlers. Despite this, Uni drew wickets intermittently, with Kieren Tate, Dugald Holloway and Dave each claiming 2. Wests rallied in their last 5 overs, to post a competitive 9/191 in trying conditions. It would be a difficult chase for Uni, with over an hour spent off the field due to weather. However, Ryan Danne saw a timely return to form to post a match-winning 84 – supported by Nicky Craze (37 from 41) and Dave Miller (33 not out) – and see the Students to victory in the 44th over. 2nd Grade also claimed minor premiership rights and will face Penrith at Coogee Oval – their adopted home-ground for the finals.
In what was the performance of the round, 3rd Grade put on a show at St Paul’s Oval after Wests’ won the toss and elected to bat. It was a day (morning) out for the quicks who tore through the visitors’ line-up, led by a rampant Murray Watts who claimed 5-2 in his 4 overs, including a hat-trick to round out the innings. Supported by Brody Frost (3-12) and Josh Toyer (2-26), Watts ran through the Pies, bowling them out for a mere 53 inside 20 overs. In chase, Uni dismissed of the total in quick fashion, Jack Hill finishing 25 not out to see the students to a 9-wicket victory inside 10 overs. After claiming the minor premiership, 3rd Grade will face up against Northern Districts, in this weekend’s quarter-final clash.
At Blick Oval, 4th Grade were sent in by their hosts on a wicket that demanded patience early. After a faltering start, the Students rallied, to eventually post a competitive 8/221 from their 50 overs. Their innings was led by Michael Robinson, who amassed an important 57 – striking the ball cleanly and consistently – before Liam Coelho (44) and all-rounder Tom Fullerton (39 not out) combined well to boost the Students’ total. In reply, Sydney Uni were typically relentless with the ball in hand, strangling the hosts run-scoring options. Jack Lawson led the way through the middle, claiming 3 wickets for just 25 runs, after Tom Hill opened the Students’ tally with 2-15 of his own. Sydney Uni eventually secured an 82-run victory in the 42nd over, cementing themselves as minor premiers ahead of their clash with Penrith this weekend.
At Camperdown Park, 5th Grade were sent in after Wests won the toss and elected to bowl. Skipper Andrew Wilkinson led by example with a gritty 53, before the swashbuckling Tom Galvin struck a vital 76, dispatching Wests’ bowlers at will, to help Uni to a competitive 200 before being bowled out in the 42nd. In need of a strong bowling performance, Uni’s pacemen went to work on Wests’ top order – combining well to have them 3-30 and then 6-63. Billy Barge (2-13) and Shehan Canagasingham (1-19) opened Uni’s account, before Murray Miles and Matthew Johns chipped in with 2 each to restrict Wests to 8/125 and ensure victory. Finishing the season in 5th position, 5th Grade will face-off against Mosman at Allan Border Oval in this weekend’s quarter-final.
Not only is Sydney Uni dominating on-field (more to come later today), but our members are also going above and beyond off the field with a number of our members supporting the T20 Charity Match at St Ignatius College Riverview on Monday 18th March.
The ‘Celebrities’ team will have a distinct SUCC flavour with Ed Cowan, Ryan McElduff, Tim Croft and potentially a surprise appearance by SCG MacGill all slated.
Club legend, James Rodgers, will be coaching the Riverview side.
The charity T20 match is in memory of James’ son, Patrick, whose idea this was over 9 years ago.
Proceeds of the event go to support Jarjum College Redfern, a small primary school for indigenous kids who would otherwise not go to school. Last year, this event raised over $25,000 to the cause.
Anyone interested in supporting the fundraising efforts of James and the Riverview team, please visit https://www.riverview.nsw.edu.au/t20/ and purchase a raffle ticket. Some amazing prizes on offer, and all money goes to a good cause.
A Wet Saturday
Saturday’s weather saw no play in 1st grade and heavily affected games across the other grades.
At Uni No. 1, 2nd Grade elected to bat on a good wicket that (despite the overcast conditions) offered an even contest. And, after only 13.5 overs of play, are currently 3/55 – Nicky Craze and Matt Moran not out on 34 and 3 respectively.
At Sutherland Park, 3rd Grade were sent in to bat by an energetic Sutherland side – keen to have ball in hand. However, a solid opening stand – led by a half-century from Jack Hill (53) – staved off any chance of early wickets. After 52 overs of play, Uni are 2/120 with Ben Larkin on 37 not out and Will Masojada not out on 11.
In 4th Grade, after 2 overs of play, Sydney Uni have Sutherland 1/1 – Tom Hill claiming the sole wicket before play was stopped.
In 5th Grade, Sydney Uni elected to bowl and have Sutherland 0/3 - play stopped after only 2 overs.
A SUCCessful Sunday
On Sunday, Sydney Uni hosted Gordon in their 1st Grade Limited Overs semi-final clash.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Gordon’s top order were dismantled by the evergreen partnership of Joe Kershaw and Ben Joy – the visitors finding themselves 4/33 and then 6/61 (after Malone and Robertson combined to remove the middle order). A brief, but potent lower order order resistance eventually saw the Stags to 8/227 from their 50 overs – well below par on the true Uni No. 1 pitch.
The Students were largely in control throughout their chase, as partnerships were regularly built and wickets fell few and far between. Hayden Kerr opened the innings with a typically entertaining 48 from 39 deliveries (including 3 sixes) – combining with the in-form Mortimer (38) to have Uni 3/107. Ed Cowan then made sure of it – striking another cool half-century (64 from 61 deliveries – including 2 sixes) – to finish not out along with Ryan McElduff (who scored a classy 34), victory secured in the 44th over only 4-down.
Captain’s Call
This Sunday, Sydney Uni 1st Grade face-off against Sydney CC at Drummoyne Oval in a bid to defend their title as the 1st Grade Limited Overs Champions. By way of preview, I caught up with 1st Grade captain Liam Robertson to get his thoughts on the match-up.
Apart from being Runners-Up in this season’s Kingsgrove Sports T20 Tournament, Sydney Uni 1st Grade are also the defending champions in the Limited Overs competition. What is it about this group of Students that makes them so successful in the shorter formats of the game?
LR: As a group we generally play our best cricket regardless of the format when we are positive and look to take the game on. Both T20 and 50 over cricket force that out of us and so naturally white ball cricket tends to suit us. It has also helped that of the 11 players we turn out, all are capable of winning us the game one way or the other, so regardless of who has the ball or is at the crease we are confident they are able to do the job. Last year in winning the limited overs competition, we used 15-16 players which is a good example of depth we are fortunate to have.
Playing against Sydney CC at Drummoyne Oval will not be a stroll down Eastern Avenue. What are the challenges you expect to face against such a consistent opponent like Sydney?
LR: We expect a tough challenge on Sunday. Sydney have been consistent performers for a number of years now and are definitely a club we respect. They play an aggressive brand of cricket and deserve their spot in the GF on Sunday. They have a good quality bowling attack and a long batting line-up, so we need to be ready to compete for 100 overs.
Does anything change this week in terms of the squad’s preparation for the grand final – physically or mentally?
LR: Nothing changes. Without being cliché, we still have another important on fixture on Saturday that we are also preparing for and so I can’t see our week being any different. There will no doubt be an extra buzz around the squad which is great, and we will have a long overdue team dinner on Thursday evening.
Uni’s 1st Grade has made a habit of getting out of difficult positions to win games consistently and convincingly. What are the key points the squad will go back to, particularly with the bat, should things go awry early?
LR: As touched on earlier, having 11 players capable of winning us the game always helps when it comes to difficult situations. It’s not something we prepare for, but have the confidence to continue playing a positive brand of cricket regardless of the situation we find ourselves in. There isn’t a better example than last year’s Grand-Final where Tim Cummins made a match winning hundred from number 7 after we had lost a few early wickets.
4 From 5 vs Stags
Sydney Uni capitalised on their strong Day 1 performances with 4 wins (including an outright) across 5 grades in their match-up against Gordon. Here is how it happened:
Having set a solid score of 316 on the back of a defiant resistance from the middle and lower order, 1st Grade took their momentum into the morning’s session in the field. However, after a resolute start from Gordon’s openers, Uni were made to wait for their first strike (a textbook caught behind from the persistent length of Ben Joy) before Gordon entered the break only 2 down for 130. After lunch, Joy continued his work to slowly pick-off Gordon’s remaining top order with precision and patience – eventually finishing with figures of 4-65 – to have Gordon 5/200 with the game in the balance. After tea, any semblance of balance was quickly dismissed by Dugald Holloway, who tore through the tail with pace to claim 3-62 – rounding off a terrific bowling performance to secure 1st innings victory for Uni.
With 125 runs to chase and 8 wickets in hand, Uni’s undefeated 2nd Grade resumed the day’s play with confidence. An early wicket proved only a minor hurdle, as Max Hope led the Students with a measured 78 (partnering with Varun George (35) and Nicky Craze (25 not out) – seeing Uni to 1st innings victory just before lunch. In pursuit of further club championship points, captain Dave Miller declared on a deflated Gordon line-up. However, a docile wicket and bad luck meant there was little penetration in the afternoon’s session – the captain’s eventually shaking hands with Gordon 2/128.
An immediate declaration from captain Jack Hill saw 3rd Grade with ball in hand and a lead of 99, having already completed 1st innings victory on Day 1. And, while Gordon’s top order offered slightly more resistance than last week, the odd coupling of Lewis McMahon’s steep bounce and Henry Clark’s extra pace again proved too much. The pair claimed 4-16 and 3-17 respectively, supported well by Will Masojada with 2-25, to bowl the hosts out for 116. The 17-run chase was then ensured by Uni’s openers without the loss of a wicket before celebrations commenced for another outstanding outright victory to 3rd Grade.
At St Paul’s Oval, play resumed with the visitors 4/63 (in pursuit of Uni’s 128) and Uni 4th Grade in need of a strong bowling performance. For one of the few occasions this season, the Students were unable to muster such a bowling effort and spent the morning chasing leather as Gordon’s middle order dictated terms. With a lead of 86, Gordon eventually declared on 5/212 in pursuit of an outright victory. However, despite suffering the 1st innings loss, Uni staved off outright loss with gritty determination, led by captain Ash Cowan and Ed Arnott (39).
Away from home, Uni 5th Grade secured a much-needed victory against a formidable Gordon outfit to edge closer to a top 6 position (currently 7th – 1 point behind 6th). Resuming at 1-24 in chase of Gordon’s 116, the Students made light work of the total in good time, after a classy 55 from James Robertson. Declaring immediately after ensuring 1st innings victory, Uni went in pursuit of further points only to be stifled by the defence of Gordon’s top order. With the hosts 1/57 the captain’s shook hands and the Students sung loud in the Castle Cove changerooms.
Mortimer and Malone take Students into SF
At Sydney University Cricket Club’s inaugural FDC Family Day, the stage was set for a heavyweight clash as 1st grade faced up against an experienced Penrith side in their Limited Overs quarter-final.
And, after winning the toss and electing to bat, the Uni batsman came out with aplomb – the powerplay overs seeing runs flow (Nick Walker providing the entertainment in the first 10 on his way to 43 from 54 deliveries). Liam Robertson then took up the scoring challenge – striking 32 from 34 deliveries (including 2 sixes). With the students at 3/147, an innings-defining partnership between Damien Mortimer and Ed Cowan took the game away from the visitors. Cowan was characteristically at ease during his knock – his long swing saw him deal primarily in sixes (8 to be precise) on his way to 89 from just 70 deliveries. Not to be overshadowed, Mortimer was easy on the eye and simply a class above as he reached his seventh 1st Grade century before eventually finishing the innings not out on 129 from 130 deliveries – a vital display of skill and fitness that took Uni to 4/312 from their 50 overs.
In chase, Penrith felt the pressure of an ever-growing run-rate that was never curtailed throughout their innings. Wickets fell at regular intervals and often to spin. Again, Devlin Malone remained the pick of Uni’s bowlers, as his leg-spin saw him claim yet another 5-wicket haul from his 10 overs, this time for only 34 runs. In support, Ryan McElduff claimed his best 1st Grade figures of 3-34 as his off-spin cleaned up the Penrith tail to bowl Penrith out for 186 – a 126-run thrashing that sees the Students through to a semi-final clash against Gordon this Sunday at Uni No. 1.