Round 2 UTS North Sydney vs Hawkesbury (Week 2)
1st Grade UTS North Sydney vs Hawkesbury at North Sydney Oval
UTS North Sydney 259 (TL Reynolds 92, JN James 73, R Aitken 34) and 0/34 def Hawkesbury 140 (M Alexander 4/28, R Aitken 2/0, W Graham 2/31) and 149 ( J Campbell 5/40, O Knight 2/21, M Alexander 2/42)
UTS North Sydney achieved a brilliant outright win in the darkness of Day 2 where only three batsmen passed 50 for the game. With the clouds disappearing momentarily, the men in red and black resumed at 2/144. Jack James fell for 73 in the first over, before Robbie Aitken joined Tim Reynolds for a 48-run partnership. Aitken provided great entertainment in his 34 off 29, as did Olly Knight who scored in boundaries or dots for his 21 runs. Reynolds capitalised on a solid start from the previous week to move into the nineties. His 92 runs came off 143 balls - a maiden fifty in 1st Grade cricket. However, when 4 wickets fell for just 2 runs, the team was all out 259 – a lead of 119.
The bowling innings started well with two quick wickets to James Campbell (pictured) in the 11 minutes of play before the lunch break reducing Hawkesbury to 2/8. After lunch Campbell, who was the star of the day, continued to bowl an excellent line claiming his third wicket with an outstanding catch at deep fine leg by Will Graham. At the end of his 9 over spell Campbell had 5/30, his 6th 1st Grade 5-wicket haul. He almost grabbed a 6th wicket in the field with a diving effort at one that was smashed hard into the gully. With Norths pressing for the outright, Shinwari (49) and Forrest (49) had other ideas, putting together an 81 run partnership for the 6th wicket to pass our score. Rain interruptions also played their part as overs began to be lost. At 6/130 and Shinwari out to a good catch to James on the boundary off Aitken, the Bears had a sniff. However, Forrest was once again the key wicket. It took some sharp wicketkeeping from Max Papworth, to dismiss him, standing up to the stumps to Olly Knight taking an awesome catch. At 7/143 the Hawks lost their final three wickets for 6 runs with Knight claiming his second and Matt Alexander cleaning up the tail. Hawks were all out 149.
The equation was 31 runs in 10 overs in fading light. Jack James (13*) and Tom Jagot (19*) got it done in just over 5. The Bears song was sung with gusto with the 3rd Grade boys in the change rooms and 10 valuable competition points had been gained.
2nd Grade UTS North Sydney vs Hawkesbury at Owen Earle Oval
Hawkesbury 186 (RG Van Kemenade 4/41, J Aitken 3/24, S Alexander 2/13) drew UTS North Sydney 5/109 (J. Leary 49, C New 36)
With plenty of rain about, twos were looking for a good start to mop up the Hawkesbury tail. After taking the new ball at the start of the day there was immediate success with James Aitken (3/24) grabbing a wicket LBW in his first over. Ryan Van Kemenade (pictured) took the last two wickets to record figures of 4/41 from 14.2 overs, with Hawkesbury only adding 6 runs to the total.
Norths made a positive start with James Leary and Cam New opening the batting and hitting the rock freely to all parts of the ground. The total of 186 looked to be easily achievable. Norths were 0/77 off just 14 overs when the rain came to spoil the party. Six hours worth of blowing, super-sopping and drying the ground with sawdust eventually got the game back on.
Resuming at 6:10pm with 12 overs left in the day, the batters valiantly attempted to reach the total. Bad light stopped play with UTS North Sydney 70 odd runs short. Leary (49) and New (36) did a great job to put on an 80 run partnership for the first wicket. If it had not rained, UTS North Sydney would have easily come away with the win. It was a wet and disappointing day.
3rd Grade UTS North Sydney vs Hawkesbury at Bon Andrews Oval
UTS North Sydney 9/290 (dec) (J Graham 67*, J Vilensky 64, R Alexander 55, D.Thorat 30, N Whyte 28) def Hawkesbury 151 (JJ Ninness 4/51, Graham 3/29, B Knox 2/3)
With the constant threat of rain, the innings was declared at the previous week’s score of 9/290, so 10 wickets were required for victory.
The Black and Reds got off to a steady start with the ball, With Fletcher May and Jarrad Ninness (pictured) taking the new ball. The Hawks were steering the ship nicely with no wickets down after 9 overs. Enter Ninness, affectionately known as the sea captain, who blew the Hawks out of the water by snaring two in two balls in the 10th and a 3rd wicket at the back end of his first spell to have Hawkesbury 3/40 after 12 overs. May (1/42) then chimed in during the 15th, taking out the remaining opener and leaving Hawkesbury 4/53.
At 4/82, the Hawks were starting to build some momentum until skipper Jacob Graham took two wickets in the one over to reduce the opposition to 6/82. Graham (3/29) grabbed his 3rd wicket with the score on 102 for 7 after 28. One of the Hawks batsman then started swinging and connected with a few to race to 50 before tea. At tea the Hawks were 7/130 and still required another 161 runs. Their only real hope was the rain, which had been threatening all day.
After tea Ben Knox (2/3) took the prized wicket of the half centurion. Ninness missed a runout chance from 45 on the ring, but made up for it with another wicket finishing with 4/51 from 11. Knox finished the game, claiming the no. 11 LBW and play was called just as the rain was approaching.
A great job by Jacob Graham organising his bowlers and setting fields, with Chris Lloyd taking back the captaincy next week when we take on the Whales.
4th Grade UTS North Sydney vs Hawkesbury at Bensons Lane 3
Hawkesbury 3/135 v UTS North Sydney 89 (F Nixon-Tomko 27)
There was no further play at Bensons Lane no: 3 as a result of rain falling fairly soon after the scheduled start time. In a disappointing game, Finn Nixon Tomko (27) was the best of the batsman with Will Abbott, Baran Kumar and Shivam Vohra all taking a pole each.
5th Grade UTS North Sydney vs Hawkesbury at Tunks Park
UTS North Sydney 4/256 dec (J Shaw 115*, G Jansson 65,C Madala 56) def Hawkesbury 98 (P Lindsay 3/13, R Brown 2/7, J Shaw 2/23, C Savage 2/27) and 1/20
Fives returned for Day 2 to Fortress Tunks, buoyed by an early report from Groundsman Bernie that the ground was in good shape after the downpour on Friday. Play started on time, however, the drama started almost immediately after, with the big quick Ross Brown succumbing to a hammy, pinged by a sniper hiding in the Tunks trees.
Jamie Shaw showed he is a dual threat after his ton last week, taking the ball and jagging a wicket shortly after. Chris Savage warmed into his work and also grabbed one in his first spell and the Hawks were reeling at 4/41. The Hawks batted very conservatively from here on, probably hoping for the rain, which to be fair looked likely to arrive at any time. The Bears were frustrated but were able to grab wickets semi-regularly.
With the Hawks eight down, and a man short, the session was extended by half an hour. However, after a dropped catch, the final Hawk arrived and now two wickets were needed. Spin wasn’t getting it done, so Shaw and Savage were reintroduced and they struck quickly, wrapping the game up and securing the 6 points, bowling Hawkesbury out for 98.
After this the rain fell steadily and the Bears’ hopes of an outright victory faded. Play was called with Hawkesbury 1/20 in their second dig. All in all a comprehensive victory for 5s, who are two from two, and sit atop the ladder.
Poidevin-Gray Shield T20 UTS North Sydney v Sydney at Drummoyne Oval
UTS North Sydney 7/128 (JN James 45) def by Sydney 5/132 (B Knox 2/18)
On Sunday the young Bears took on Sydney Cricket Club in a Poidevin-Gray Shield T20 fixture. After being sent in, Tim Reynolds (19) and Jack James (45) were eyeing up a 140+ score. Reynolds, the aggressor, hit 4 fours, but was dismissed in the 4th over. James kept the scoreboard ticking with 25 singles, a four and a pull shot for six. Several batsman made starts and after 10 we were 3/75 and well on track for a big score. A slow outfield and some tight bowling combined with some rash shots to bring the rate under 7. Two big shots from James Leary (11*) at the end elevated the score to a very defendable 128.
Some outstanding early bowling from Fletcher May (1/24) and Mac Jenkins (0/15) had the opposition crawling along at 1/13 after 4. The run rate required continued to climb for the opposition. When Ben Knox (2/18) took a wicket in his second and third overs and Jack James’s first two overs resulted in a wicket courtesy of a sharp stumping and then a brilliant run-out to James Leary, the game was well and truly in our favour. It was 5/60 after 14 with 69 needed off 6. While the Irish import, Sewell was scoring off almost every ball, his partner was dropped on 2 off 6 balls. He went on to make us pay scoring 38 off 28 balls as gaps appeared in the field everywhere and the ball was running regularly to the fence. In an agonising finish, Sydney passed our score with two balls to spare.
Kingsgrove Sports T20 UTS North Sydney v Sydney at Drummoyne Oval
UTS North Sydney 8/121 (T Jagot 49) def by Sydney 3/124
In the 1st Grade game North’s started well with a 40 run opening stand in four overs between Justin Avendano (19) and Tom Jagot who top scored with 49. Daniel Leerdam (20) also made a strong contribution, putting on 43 for the 3rd wicket with Jagot. Once Leerdam was caught behind, wickets fell regularly and a moderate total of 8/121 was achieved.
An early wicket to Jenkins (1/17 off 3) gave us some hope, but former BBL player Dan Smith upped the anti belting 47 from 28, with 5 sixes, including 4 sixes in Matt Alexander’s first over (one into his own car!). Robbie Aitken (1/25) eventually knocked Smith over. Olly Knight (1/20 off 2) also chipped in for a wicket with Jenkins taking a fantastic catch. Sydney passed our score in the 15th over and the Bears will regroup before our next T20 fixture against defending champions Sutherland on 27 October.
Pictures courtesy of Tony Johnson, David James and team captains