4th Grade Round 11: UTS North Sydney v Sydney University at Blacktown International Sports Park 2
UTS North Sydney 144 (53.3 Overs) (R Alexander 53, A Nigul 27, B Wilson 26) v Sydney University 3/81 (24 Overs) (B Wilson 2/21)
The Bears made a venture out to Blacktown to play a home game at the ‘other’ international sports park in Sydney against the Sydney Uni Students.
The day was off to a great start when Perry won the toss and elected to bat on an unknown entity of a wicket. Hard underneath and grassy on top, it seemed as though there would be a good day of cricket in store.
Singh and newly promoted Jennings strode out to the middle to face the new ball, which as always, was doing a bit early. The pair saw off the early overs, however both fell caught at 2nd slip shortly after.
Nigul and Alexander went about resurrecting the innings and getting some momentum back in the game, as the pair took the score past 30 at the first drinks break. The pair continued, picking the loose balls to put away, both off to great starts. This was before Nigul tickled one to the keeper, which triggered a middle order collapse, with Perry and Broom coming and going without troubling the scorers.
After tea, Alexander continued to hold the innings together and was looking to again build momentum for the Bears with Matt Cole, before Cole was given a tough leg before decision, turning the game on its head.
Alexander soon passed 50, and was set for a big score on a pristine outfield, however a freight train running behind the sight screen broke his concentration matrix and he, like Nigul, tickled one to the keeper to be dismissed for a well made 53.
A swashbuckling innings of no fear from Wilson and some grit and grind from Greenies skipper Riseborough helped push the Bears total up to a defendable 144.
The Bears has 24 overs at the end of the day to make some inroads into the Students batting lineup, and the side had a dream start, Cole picking up the skipper for 2. The other opener continued to flash at the ball despite the situation, giving a chance and half chances, but the bears couldn’t hang on.
Cole and Wilson had the ball hooping around corners, making it difficult for the batsmen. Wilson picked up his first with Perry taking a catch behind the stumps, and soon picked up his third with a second catch at midwicket to Riseborough.
Some tight pressure spin bowling at the death of the day from Kumar and Jennings created a couple more chances, the bears again couldn’t hang on.
A day of missed opportunity in the field, potentially having the visitors many more down for much less runs, as the opener is 69 not out of the Students 81.
Very much still in the game, the Bears will head out to BISP in search of early wickets to put the Students on the back foot early…