Week 9 – ‘The Opening Spell’

^{Daniel Solway in action for Bankstown | Pic taken by David Clifton}

First ball – Bulldogs bite first against Sharks!

• Daniel Solway opened the batting for Bankstown in their first-grade battle against Sutherland at Glenn McGrath Oval. Some 257 deliveries later, Solway’s innings came to an end, having accumulated 149 runs (13 fours, 1 six). He became the second player to pass the 500-run mark for the season and reached 8,000 first-grade runs in the innings. Solway sits at 8,050 first-grade runs at an average of 44.23 and has now achieved 24 centuries in the top division of NSW Premier Cricket.
• Ryan Freeman walked to the crease in Bankstown’s second-grade clash against the Sharks with his side 2-down for not many. Freeman would depart from the middle later in the day, not due to dismissal, but rather having run out of batting partners, after adding 168* (not out) runs of his own. Freeman notched 28 boundary 4s in his innings.

Second ball – Have yourself a day, Dharmini and Grace!

• Bankstown Sports Women’s Cricket Club celebrated consecutive first-grade victories as well as a first, first-grade centurion of their 23-24 season! First-drop batter, Dharmini Chauhan hammered 119* (not out) runs from 136 deliveries to guide her team to an insurmountable first-innings total.
• Campbelltown Camden’s Grace Lyons achieved a similar feat for the Ghosts, tallying triple figures in a 33-run first-grade win over Gordon. Lyons’ 100 runs came from 121 deliveries and included eight boundary 4s.

Third ball – Like a fine wine!

St George District Cricket Club mainstay, Stephen Wark, enjoyed a decent day out with ball in hand against a higher placed Manly Warringah squad.

Wark’s figures read:

• 17.2 overs
• 10 maidens
• 16 runs
• 8 WICKETS

St George went to stumps at 5/70 on day one, chasing Manly’s first-innings total of 87.

Fourth ball – More than most for Tony Clark!

Tony Clark of Bankstown District Cricket Club, has taken to the pitch for his 700th grade cricket fixture, suiting up in the Bulldog’s fourth-grade clash against Sutherland at Kelso Park North. Clark’s illustrious career has seen him represent Sutherland, Campbelltown-Camden, Blacktown and Bankstown, tallying over 7,000+ first-grade runs, and taking more than 600+ wickets.

Fifth ball – Hughes, Hughes and Moss show who’s boss!

Manly Warringah’s second-grade women’s premier cricket side strode home to a 10-wicket win over Campbelltown Camden at Graham Reserve, after three players took complete control of the fixture. Manly’s Lara Hughes claimed figures of 3-4, Hannah Moss took 2-7 and Stephanie Hughes grabbed a stumping, a catch and a run-out to end the Ghosts innings at 21 all out. The Waratahs reached their target in the third over.

Sixth ball – Young guns of first-grade!

• Campbelltown Camden’s Blake Smith produced his second consecutive five-wicket + 50-run performance, snaring 5-30 from 14 overs, before notching 60 runs (69 balls).
• Northern District wicket-keeper/batsman Lachlan Shaw reached his first, first-grade century, striking 105 runs* (not out) from 130 balls, in an innings that has included 11 boundary 4s and three 6s. Shaw, who turns 21 next month, had scored four half-centuries in his six previous innings.
• St George Saint, Raf MacMillan, took 6-35 against Manly Warringah. The 18-year-olds’ best bowling figures of the season.
• Mosman’s Ryan Hicks continued his consistent form with the bat, the 18-year-old adding 57 against Randwick Petersham, to a string of 49* (not out), 45, 40 and 50.
• Gordon’s Connor Cook claimed figures of 5-73 to help his side limit Hawkesbury to 200.

Second Over

First ball – Bears dig their claws in for crucial wins!

Sophia Mavros and Sameeksha Kuncham have guided their respective UTS North Sydney squads to crucial victories over the weekend.

• Sophia struck an unbeaten 77* (115 balls) to chase down St George-Sutherland’s 182-run total and leapfrog the Slayers on the second-grade ladder.
• Sameeksha held her nerve to score 58* (not out) from 74 deliveries against the Slayers, guiding her side to a thrilling 2-wicket Brewer Shield win.

Second ball – Parramatta strike one-two punch in push for maximum points!

The Two Blues had the Bears on the ropes early into the opening day of their first-grade encounter. Michael Sullivan produced a wicked spell to claim six wickets whilst only conceding 33 runs, before opening bat, Andrew Calvert accrued 103* (not out) runs to push Parramatta well passed the Bears’ 75-run first-innings total. This was Calvert’s first, first-grade century, having scored a century in second-grade in 2019-20, and third-grade in 2018-19.

UTS will begin day two trailing by 73 runs with 10 wickets in hand at Old Kings Oval.

Third ball – Perfect pairings!

• Gordon third-grade duo, Dylan Ranjan and Rory McLean, met at the Benson’s Lane crease with their Stags four down for not enough. The pair put on a double century partnership to flip the momentum of the match and break the club’s fifth-wicket partnership record. Ranjan (102) was run-out late in the day after raising the bat, whilst McLean (111) was trapped in front shortly after, also reaching the triple-figure milestone.
• Bankstown fourth-grade pair, Anthony Melnyk and Chris Stefanish claimed five-wickets a piece to dismiss Sutherland for 78. Melnyk returned figures of 5-18 and Stefanish 5-31. Bankstown hold a 35-run lead with seven wickets in hand, going into the second day’s play.

Fourth ball – Holland has hosts on front foot!

Fairfield-Liverpool second-grader, Coby Holland, produced a standout batting performance to propel his Lions side to a defendable first-innings total of 235 all out against Blacktown at Rosedale Oval. Holland struck 137 of his sides’ runs in an innings that included 16 boundary 4s and one 6.

Fifth ball – Swans show-off new feathers!

The Southern Swans Brewer Shield team showcased their sharp new uniforms at King George V Oval on Sunday.

Sixth ball – Powerful Poidevin-Gray performances!

• Andrew Salian added an enormous 153 runs (145 balls) for the Ghosts, in a 35-run win over Sydney University.
• Western Suburbs defended 266 against Blacktown Mounties in a battle that saw both sides cheer on a centurion. Cooper Brien scored 105 runs (91 balls) for the Magpies whilst Kunj Changela tallied 103 runs (117 balls) for Blacktown. Mounties skipper, Guarav Dogra finished his innings unbeaten on 99* (not out) from 106 deliveries, unable to reach triple figures and unable to chase down West’s total, falling 5 runs short at the end of their allotted 50 overs.