Round 3 UTS North Sydney vs Mosman (Week 2)
1st Grade UTS North Sydney vs Mosman at Allan Border Oval
UTS North Sydney 5/385 (B Bryant 101, JN James 91, J Avendano 82, T Jagot 61) lost to Mosman 9/389 (M Alexander 5/75, J Campbell 3/90)
In the third round of what is already a rollercoaster season, First Grade was pipped to the post by Mosman in a thrilling local derby at Allan Border Oval.
Justin Avendano declared before play on 5/385, and by the end of the first over the Whales had already lost Matt Calder after James Campbell got one through his defences. Mosman could easily have been two down after seven balls, but a huge caught behind shout against Nathan Hinton off Will Graham’s bowling was turned down. Harry Dalton fell to Campbell for 7 and the Bears were on top with the score 2/24, but Hinton combined with first Lachie Hearne (22) and then Anthony Adlam (92) to blunt the North Sydney attack.
After Hearne was brilliantly caught by Tom Jagot at backward point off Matt Alexander (pictured), Hinton and Adlam came together for the decisive partnership – 180 runs over nearly three hours including the whole afternoon session. Adlam opened his account with a six off his first ball, before settling in watchfully against tight bowling from Campbell and Olly Knight. But after lunch as the bowlers toiled, he hit a flurry of fours and moved to a chanceless 50 off 78 balls. Hinton, on the other hand, could be considered fortunate to still be at the crease, having been dropped on 43 and 56 – both at mid-wicket and both off Knight, who bowled with discipline but without reward. Hinton made the Bears pay, bringing up his hundred off 161 balls.
The Whales were now in the ascendancy and frustration was showing in the field, but 20 minutes after tea the partnership was broken by Will Graham who found Adlam’s edge and George Lavelle took a straightforward catch behind the stumps, his first First Grade dismissal. Shortly after, Hinton was finally caught (ironically by Knight, at mid-wicket, off Campbell) for 135, and Danul Dassanayake (27) and Ash Doolan (4) both perished to Matt Alexander. 7/319, 67 still needed and two new batsmen at the crease. Game on.
Luke Shelton (28) and Dean Crawford (37) kept their cool and built a partnership for the eighth wicket that inched closer to the target of 386. In a final throw of the dice, Avendano took the new ball at 7/350, and at 7/370 Alexander returned to the attack for his 19th over and immediately had Shelton caught behind. Two overs later, Crawford was brilliantly caught by Campbell at deep fine leg, Alexander had five wickets for the second time in three games, as well as his hundredth wicket in First Grade, and the Bears were rampant. The last man, Jayden Park, came to the crease with the score 9/379, and narrowly survived a tight maiden from Campbell with the scores level. The following over, Jake Turner squeezed one past the third man fielder and the Whales were home, while the Bears were left to rue their mistakes in the field.
Kingsgrove T20 Cup UTS North Sydney vs Sutherland at Glenn McGrath Oval
UTS North Sydney 7/143 (T Jagot 43, O Knight 35) def Sutherland 8/139 (O Knight 3/31 from 4, M Jenkins 2/20 from 4, W Graham 2/31 from 4)
In the second First Grade nail-biter of the weekend, the Bears emerged victorious by just four runs in a Kingsgrove Sports T20 Cup fixture against reigning champions Sutherland. 
After Justin Avendano won the toss and fell early, Tom Jagot (43) and Tim Reynolds (15) set a solid platform but struggled to find the boundary. After nine overs the score was 1/47, and this quickly became 3/57 off 11. Enter Olly Knight (pictured leading the team from the field), who started as he meant to go on by hitting his third ball for six over the bowler’s head and kick-started the scoring rate. He and Jagot added 37 off just 18 balls before Jagot was caught on the fence, but the mantle was picked up by George Lavelle who made a run-a-ball 15. Knight was dismissed in the 16th over for 35 off just 16 balls with three sixes and two fours (and only two dots!), and UTS North Sydney ended on 7/143.
In reply, the Sharks looked comfortable at 1/66 in the ninth, the one wicket being a sharp stumping by George Lavelle off the left-arm spin of Mac Jenkins who later completed his four overs with 2/20. Will Graham made the breakthough, removing Jarryd Biviano (24) and Tom Doyle (33) who’d compiled a half-century stand. Knight followed up his runs with 3/31 including two caught-and-bowled to keep the pressure on and leave Sutherland 7/135 with one over to go. Ten were required to win off the final over but only five were made, as Matt Alexander bowled Dan Fallins for 21 and held his nerve to restrict the Sharks to singles off the remaining balls.
2nd Grade UTS North Sydney vs Mosman at Bon Andrews Oval
UTS North Sydney 293 (M Papworth 73, J Leary 69, AA Shaikh 54*, R Van Kemenade 37) def Mosman 117 (J Aitken 4/19, AA Shaikh 4/40) and 4/201
Second grade took to the field in week two brimming with confidence. The side only required 8 wickets to secure victory and had posted a total just shy of 300 in week 1.
The Bears got off to a strong start with Ali Shaikh capturing a wicket in the first over of the day. After that Mosman rallied and formed a strong partnership that took the score to 3/83. However James Aitken seamed one through the set English batsmen, Dell, cartwheeling his off stump.
Shortly after, James took another two wickets in consecutive deliveries reducing the Whales to 6/88. At that point, Mosman were undoubtedly on the ropes. Mac Jenkins deceived another Whale into skying an over-ambitious shot and Mosman were reeling at 7/94.
Ali Shaikh returned to clean up the tail, taking the last two wickets. All the bowlers kept a consistent line and length and ensured Mosman never got a sniff. The fielders backed up their bowlers in a great all-round effort to ensure second grade continued its unbeaten start to the season.
3rd Grade UTS North Sydney vs Mosman at Rawson Oval
UTS North Sydney 5dec/301 (C Lloyd 147, J Graham 56*, R Alexander 38 ) def Mosman 254 (JD Graham 4/76, A Amir 3/58, B Knox 2/26)
The second day of third grade’s fixture began with the Bears declaring on their overnight score. Mosman started well, putting on 60 for the 1st wicket before Graham struck. From there a steady stream of pressure bowling brought about wickets and poor shots, on what was a very flat pitch. Ahmer Amir claimed 3 top order scalps in his debut for the Bears while Jacob Graham (4/76) and Ben Knox (2/26) reduced Mosman to 9/179.
However the Mosman number 11, Habib, took the long handle to all comers in the next 13 overs and took the score along to 9/254, needing only 48 more with 8 overs to spare. Skipper Chris Lloyd brought himself on and forced him to sky one where a confident Jacob Graham took an excellent outfield catch to end the game.
After a strong start, the Bears now sit 6th in 3rd grade.
4th Grade UTS North Sydney vs Mosman at Tunks Park
UTS North Sydney 8dec/245 (B Kumar 59, J Holmes 44, T Robson 31, A Cavenor 26) def Mosman 148 (H May 6/49, B Kumar 3/35)
Day 2 saw fourth grade arrive at a hot and windy Tunks International Sports Park with a solid total to defend. Skipper Tim Robson opted to declare on the overnight total to use whatever moisture remained in rapidly drying surface.
Mosman’s openers started very strongly and after an hour had taken the total past 50 for no loss. They were particularly harsh on anything wide. After taking some early punishments Harry May (pictured) got the breakthrough and then proceeded to destroy the Whales' middle order, taking 6 wickets in his pre-tea spell.
Skipper Robson kept it tight from the other end without luck then Baran came on and in his second over showed some pace, taking 2 in 2. After going into the break with only one wicket in hand, Chapman showed fight after the break and staved off any chance the Bears had of securing an outright victory.
Nonetheless, Kumar collected the final wicket and fourth grade celebrated the first win of the season.
5th Grade UTS North Sydney vs Mosman at Balmoral Oval
Mosman 227 (N Stokes 6/23, P Lindsay 3/80) v UTS North Sydney 2/42 (M Lloyd 28*)
The Bears arrived at Balmoral with a simple equation - 186 runs needed for glory with 8 wickets in hand.
The early loss of Lloyd was a tough blow and the Mosman bowlers bowled well and asked a lot of questions of the fifth grade batting order. Izaak Merlehan carried his bat for a stand-out innings of 72* (his highest score for the Bears) however it was not enough as wickets fell regularly at the other end.
Ultimately fifth grade fell more than 80 runs short for a disappointing result. The team will reload for next week’s fixture against Sydney Uni.
Pictures courtesy of Tony Johnson, Sarah Berman and team captains