Kaya Kumar following her unbeaten 75* for Parramatta in Brewer Shield
Quarter final action, next gen shines and Josh Clarke's century streak continues in this edition of The Opening Spell.
First Over
First ball – McCaughan hits career-best
Manly Warringah handed Sydney just their third defeat of the season in women’s first grade, in what was a top of the table clash at Manly Oval. Manly’s Ella McCaughan hit a mammoth 140*, including 15 boundaries to bring up her highest career score. The unbeaten knock is the highest ever individual score in first grade for Manly, surpassing the previous record set by Saskia Horley (129) in 2021/22.
Second ball – Ayre’s golden hands
Riley Ayre had the hottest hands at Coogee Oval over the weekend, picking up 4-50 off his 26 overs and taking a catch at first slip on day one in men’s first grade. The catch was Ayre’s 100th for Randwick Petersham in first grade, becoming the first player to achieve such a feat for the club.
Third ball – Quarter final showdown
Poidevin-Gray Shield action returns this weekend with Bankstown, Gordon, Manly Warringah, Mosman, Northern District, Parramatta, Sydney University and UTS North Sydney advancing to the quarter finals. Finals will take place on Sunday, February 16, starting at 10:00am as follows:
Mosman v Gordon at Allan Border Oval
Parramatta v UTS North Sydney at Old Kings Oval
Sydney University v Bankstown at University Oval No.1
Northern District v Manly Warringah at Mark Taylor Oval
Fourth ball – Sydney smashes St George
Sydney had a mammoth 126-run victory over St George-Sutherland in women’s second grade, thanks to an unbeaten half century to Sinduja Sureshkumar (57*) and an all round performance from Laura Metry. After hitting 31, Metry went on to cause chaos with the ball, claiming five wickets for just seven runs from her nine overs to see St George-Sutherland bowled out for just 60 runs. After 15 rounds, Sydney sits atop the table - 12.5 points clear of second placed Manly.
Fifth ball – Bears stunned
Manly sit in top spot in men’s fourth grade, enjoying a 132-run victory over UTS North Sydney. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Manly went on to post 188 before being bowled out in the 48th over. North Sydney started the chase on the back foot, losing opener Karen Sharma for a golden duck to the bowling of Ryan Bishop-Perrett. The hits kept coming for the Bears as young Kai Croft got to work with the ball in hand – taking five wickets for eight runs off his seven overs, to see them bowled out for just 56.
Sixth ball – Kumar’s killer knock
In December last year, 12-year-old Kaya Kumar made her McDonald’s Women’s Premier Cricket debut, lining up for Parramatta in Brewer Shield. Now, in just her third match in the competition, Kumar finished unbeaten on 75, including five boundaries and two sixes. Parramatta managed just 75 runs outside of the youngsters knock and were eventually bowled out 167 in their pursuit of 186.
Second Over
First ball – Mortimer’s milestone
Sydney University’s Damien Mortimer racked up his 500th run for the season, scoring 20 against Randwick Petersham in men’s first grade. It's now the seventh time Mortimer has hit this milestone in first grade.
Second ball – Robson’s rapid run
Kayla Robson led UTS North Sydney to victory in women’s third grade, with an explosive 53 runs off just 29 balls. Robson hit five boundaries and four sixes before retiring as North Sydney went on to post 254 and run out winners over Sydney University by 156-runs.
Third ball – Easts soar
Eastern Suburbs recorded a thumping 149-run win, overpowering Gordon in men’s fifth grade. Chasing of 293 to win, William Powell went to work for Easts – smacking 147, including two sixes and 16 boundaries. Easts move into fourth on the ladder, 10 points behind St George in third and two points clear of Penrith in fifth.
Fourth Ball – Bowling brilliance
Penrith cruised to victory in men’s third grade, dismissing Fairfield-Liverpool for a dismal 38 runs. Riley Brandl and Pete Gregersen did the damage with the ball, with Brandl taking four wickets for a mere six runs across nine overs. Gregersen went on to finish with figures of 4-8 (7.3) and finish third behind Brandl in this week’s fifth grade performances.
Fifth Ball – Maiden Five-fa
In men’s second grade, Manly enjoyed a 10-run win over UTS North Sydney that was headlined by a six-wicket haul from Josh Lawson. It was a maiden second grade 5fa for Lawson, including three wickets in the 40th over to finish with figures of 6-31 off his 10 overs.
Sixth Ball – Clarke’s century streak continues
If there’s runs to be scored, you can be sure that Western Suburbs’ Josh Clarke is amongst them. In a men’s first grade clash against UNSW, Clarke brought up his fourth century of the season with an unbeaten knock. In notching up his 28th career century, Clarke joins Tommy Andrews in the record books, behind only Greg Mail (44) and Victor Trumper, Warren Bardsley and Bob Simpson, each with 36 to their name.