Week 5 – ‘The Opening Spell’

First ball – Slay!

St George-Sutherland Slayer, Rhiannon Dick, ripped through the Manly Warringah first-grade line-up in their match-up on Sunday, claiming figures of 7-8 from four overs. Yes, you read that correctly…7-8! Well bowled.

_{Cover pic: Rhiannon Dick in action for St George-Sutherland}

Second ball – Trademark Clarke provides Magpies spark!

Western Suburbs talisman Josh Clarke came in to bat with his side at 1-18, having been sent in by Randwick Petersham. Clarke, together with Liam Sparke 92 (209 balls) added 194 runs for the second wicket, with Clarke batting throughout the rest of the day, to be 142* (not out) at stumps. It was Clarke’s 23rd century. It took him to 9301 first-grade runs, past Australian sporting legend Victor Trumper (9244).

Third ball – Time in the middle!

Penrith second-grader Callan Kean tallied 168* runs (not out) on a sizzling Saturday at Howell Oval against Bankstown. The Panther’s opening bat spent six hours, and 96 overs at the crease without losing his wicket. Over at Grahame Thomas Oval, the Penrith fifth-grade side streaked away to 6/373 with fourth-drop batsman, William Bell, notching 166* runs (not out) by the end of day’s play.

Fourth ball – Three in three and ten in two! These first-grade bowlers are firing:

- Mosman’s Angus Parsons snared figures of 6-58, including a hat-trick, against Sutherland at Glenn McGrath Oval to help dismiss the Sharks for 165.
- Henry Railz took five wickets in an innings for the second successive match. His 5-49 for Campbelltown-Camden against the University of NSW being the fourth of his first-grade career.     

Fifth ball – Representative for a reason!

Australian and NSW junior representative, Callee Black, was at her best over the weekend, scoring 52 runs before taking 2-25 with the ball against Northern District.

Sixth ball – Hawks and Bears trade 7-fa’s.

- Hawkesbury’s Nygel Shah dismissed seven UTS batsmen on day one of their fourth-grade clash at Bensons Lane Oval 2. Shah finished with figures of 7-86 as UTS ended their first-innings on 275 all out.
- In the fifth-grade match-up between the same clubs, UTS’ skipper Patrick Lindsay completed his spectacular spell with seven Hawks wickets, finishing the day with figures of 7-42. The Bears fifth-grade side have chased down the Hawks 110-run first-innings total and now lead by 3 runs with 7 wickets remaining going into day two.

Second Over

First ball – Standouts!

Parramatta won the toss and opted to bat first in their fifth-grade fixture against Blacktown. Both openers were dismissed for ducks, six other batsmen failed to reach double figures and two more were trapped for less than 20. However, Two Blues captain Liam Gillies clawed his way to a well made 70 (178 deliveries) to elevate his teams score to 123.

Moments after Blacktown took to the crease, they found themselves 6 wickets down with only 16 runs on the board, courtesy of a Naveen Patil masterclass. Patil finished the day with figures of 6-6, and Blacktown sit at 6/28 with a full day of play to come.

Second ball – Understanding your role!

The Parramatta women’s third-grade side have surged to victory in their match against Sydney University on Saturday. Three of the top four batters – Chaitra Madala, Marlie Pathirana and Melissa Halton – retired not out after reaching respective half-centuries, before their bowling unit - Vrusti Valani 3-3, Alicia Welsh 2-1, Zoe Dawkins 2-2, Georgie Telfer 1-2 and Emma Brown 1-6 – finished the job. Parramatta claimed a 209-run win.

Third ball – Hope you had the camera ready!

Veteran Ahillen Beadle, 37 years of age, opened for Manly-Warringah with Joel Foster, and scored 60 runs (105 balls) before he was run out, the two having put on 124. Foster made 74 runs (145 balls). Jay Lenton (52 runs) and Joel Davies (89 runs) put on 100 for the 3rd wicket, with Ryan Farrell (58* runs) making it half-centuries to each of the top five. Manly were 7-398 at stumps, after 96 overs. Beadle’s innings, his first of the season, took him to 9160 career runs.

Fourth ball – Runs in the family!

Sydney University’s Tim Cummins scored his 5th first-grade century on Saturday, notching 106 runs (169 balls) for the Students away from home against Fairfield-Liverpool. Sydney University finished the day at 9/341.

Fifth ball – Next-Gen on show!

The Poidevin-Gray shield pits the next generation of male cricketing talent in Sydney up against each other. Here’s a few names that stood out on Sunday:  
- Northern District’s Lachlan Shaw, who holds a rookie contract with the NSW Blues, led the round in scoring after despatching Sydney University for 121 runs (82 balls) in an innings that included eleven 4s and four 6s. Northern District won by 145-runs.
- Australian U19 squad member, Ethan Jamieson, piled on 119 runs (93 balls) for his UNSW side against Sutherland.
- Sutherland’s Kobey Freer reached triple-figures, scoring 104 runs (90 balls), to defeat Jamieson’s UNSW by 96 runs.
- Western Suburbs defeated Fairfield-Liverpool by 62-runs. Cooper Brien put together an explosive innings of 109* runs (71 balls) for the Magpies before teammate Jayden Wheeler claimed 6-44 with ball in hand.
- Last season’s AW Green Shield winning captain, Nilaathan Kulendran, has wasted no time adapting to the U21 competition, claiming figures of 5-38 to see his Parramatta team defeat Hawkesbury by 66 runs.

For a comprehensive round recap including an extensive image gallery - see the Daily Telegraph website: HERE

Sixth ball – Premier Cricket x WBBL

Wishing all our NSW Premier Cricket superstars the best as they undertake their WBBL seasons!

Pictured: Lauren Smith (Northern District/Sydney Thunder), Ebony Hoskin, Sam Bates and Saskia Horley (Manly Warringah/Sydney Thunder). Pic supplied by Ian Bird.

Pictured: Hannah Darlington, Anika Learoyd (Campbelltown Camden/Sydney Thunder), Sarah Coyte (Campbelltown Camden/Melbourne Renegades), Lauren Cheatle (Sydney Sixers/Campbelltown Camden). Pic supplied by Lauren Cheatle.

Pictured: Sammy-Jo Johnson (Sydney Cricket Club/Sydney Thunder), Maitlan Brown (Sydney Cricket Club/Sydney Sixers). Pic by Ben Churcher.

Pictured: Jade Allen (Parramatta Women’s Grade Cricket Club/Sydney Sixers), Claire Moore (Parramatta Women’s Grade Cricket Club/Sydney Thunder). Pic by Jazz Chalouhi.

Pictured: Phoebe Litchfield (Sydney University Cricket Club/Sydney Thunder). Pic by Ian Bird.

Pictured: Tahlia Wilson (St George-Sutherland Cricket Club/Sydney Thunder). Pic supplied by St George-Sutherland. 

+ Alyssa Healy (Sydney Cricket Club/Sydney Sixers), Erin Burns & Ash Gardner (Bankstown Sports Women’s Cricket Club/Sydney Sixers), Stella Campbell (Northern District Cricket Club/Perth Scorchers), Kate Pelle (Parramatta Women's Grade Cricket Club/Sydney Sixers)