Round 11 Match Reports v Campbelltown-Camden + Metro
MATCH REPORTS (Liam ‘LJ’ O’Loughlin)
1st to 5th Grades – Round 11 v Campbelltown-Camden (1st Grade: Saturday & Sunday / 2nd – 5th Grade: One-Day Matches)
Metropolitan Cup – RPC Gold v Mosman, RPC Green v Sutherland & RPC Green v Gold – Coogee Derby
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Lefand Group 1st Grade @ Coogee Oval
Result: Randwick Petersham 301 (Ayre 64, Sams 52) def. Campbelltown-Camden 158 (Singh 3/27, Ayre 3/48) and 120 (Ralston 5/14, Ninan 3/28)
It was Randy Petes’ day on this Australia Day at Coogee Oval with the home side completing a resounding outright win in the 1st Grade cricket match over Campbelltown-Camden.
Sending the Ghosts in to bat after Friday storms proved a good decision with early breakthroughs bringing about a score-line of 3-33. A 61 runs partnership was brought to an end with a run-out and from there it was all downhill for the visitors to be all out for 158. Seamer and skipper Daya Singh (3/27 off 9) and spinner Riley Ayre (3/48 off 18) did most of the damage in the first innings.
In reply, Will Affleck (42) took his season tally passed the 500-run mark with a quality dig at the top of the order, while Shaun Eaton (29) also started well. Jason Sangha (41) and keeper Anthony Sams (52) contributed nicely in the middle-order. But it was all-rounder Riley Ayre (64) who would top score and prove yet again why he is one of the Randy Petes biggest assets with both bat and ball. The innings was the team’s eighth score over 300 in 11 games this season.
In the second dig it was a similar story with an early 3-58 score-line for the Ghosts. The introduction of tearaway fast bowler Jason Ralston (5/14 off 6.1) with heavy storms rolling in soon put the issue beyond doubt with him having a major hand in the last 6 wickets falling for just 23 and the visitors bowled out for just 120 runs.
The win confirmed Randwick Petersham at the top of the 1st Grade leader-board with four rounds to go before the finals.
Sutton City 2nd Grade @ Raby No. 1
Result: Randwick Petersham drew with Campbelltown-Camden
Turning up to Raby #1 and looking to keep their slim finals hopes alive, the Randy Petes were made to wait for quite some time before they could get on the field after the pitch was not prepared.
Unfortunately, the game would only last three balls after Caelan Maladay rattled the Ghosts opening batsman with a blow to the helmet. The decision was made by the umpires to halt play, and despite the best efforts of skipper Jack Lyle and the rest of the side, there would be no further play and the Randy Petes would have to cop a draw in very frustrating fashion.
Petersham RSL 3rd Grade @ Kensington Oval
Result: Randwick Petersham 200 (Sharma 54) def. Campbelltown-Camden 160 (Loth 3/29)
The Randy Petes were back at home for a clash with the Ghosts, and looking to get a much-needed victory. The lads struggled with the bat in the early goings, but a gutsy knock from Ash Burton (38) got us back on track somewhat.
A half-century from experienced campaigner Scott Sharma (54) and some steady contributions from skipper Ben Stares (24) and Pommy Luke Radford (27) got the hosts to a defendable total of 200.
With a very strong bowling attack on paper, it was always going to be in our favour if we could get a few early poles. The three-prong pace attack of Radford (2/22 off 6), Jamie Hemphrey (2/28 off 10) and Doug Loth (3/29 off 8.3) set in motion a pretty steady bowling effort that saw us bowl the Ghosts out for 160 in the 48th over at Kenso.
Mellick Wealth Management 4th Grade @ Raby No. 2
Result: Randwick Petersham 4/290 (Mullins 125*, Murdita 57, Holland 54) def. Campbelltown 144 (McNamara 3/10)
While 2s were unable to get on at the same complex at Raby, 4s were able to start at the scheduled time on what looked to be a tricky deck. The plan was to bowl first, but we lost the toss and were sent in to bat.
Early doors the lads struggled to score freely in tough conditions, but the plan was to keep wickets in the shed late and try lay a platform. Kel Mullins (125*) did exactly that at the top of the order, taking his time to get himself in and played a tremendous innings to bring up his second century of the season.
The Randy Petes began to put the foot on the pedal once Jaya Murdita (57) entered, as ‘Mal’ scored freely and took on the Ghosts bowling attack hitting five fours and one six. The momentum continued once he departed, as Tom Holland (54) came in and maintained the pressure. But it was Mullins’ day out, as he showed that he is clearly a class above Fourth Grade and guiding the visitors to a huge score of 4/290.
The bowling attack for the Randy Petes had plenty to be excited about, and openers Hayden Fox (2/13 off 8.4) and Ryan Miskella (1/18 off 10) were exceptional in the early stages as the Ghosts fell to 3/15. Spinners Sayem Sultan (1/26 off 8) and myself (1/18 off 6) kept things tight, but it was in the injection of left-armer Reid McNamara (3/10 off 6) that tore through the middle-order.
The Randy Petes would bowl their opponents out for just 144 runs in 43 overs to claim a bonus-point victory in what was just the third win of the season in 4th Grade.
Bendigo Clovelly Community Bank 5th Grade @ Marrickville Oval
Result: Randwick Petersham 151 def. Campbelltown 58 (A Deller 5/9, D Coombs 4/25)
RPCC lost the toss and were sent it to bat on a wicket that had lots of grass cover at both ends of the wicket and soft in the good length areas due to the overnight rain. The outfield although lush and green looked very slow and value for shots hit along the ground was definitely going to be hard to come by.
The top 4 batsmen were asked to ensure that they built partnerships and rotate the strike, as running between wickets was important on a very slow outfield. If we had wickets in hand by the 35th over then we could accelerate. The target was 200-plus.
However, the wicket assisted the Ghosts bowlers with its variable bounce and RPCC were reduced to 2 for 21 in the 10th over with Sean Rushton (0) and debutant Ashan Shahid (5) out to a ball lifted off from a good length. Neale Crawford (24) and Akther Hussain (16) started to build a partnership with Akther the aggressor. But unfortunately with the score on 43 and in the 23rd over Akther was bowled playing defensively forward to a ball that hit a crack.
Angus Beaumont (9) was getting settled but unfortunately holed out to midwicket to the experienced Ghosts Leg spinner. Neale Crawford soon followed, run out. RPCC were under pressure at 5 for 81 in the 30th over. Will Deller (23) and Fabian Heaton (24) once again had to dig deep to get to a fighting target of at least 150+. But, with the Ghosts tail up and the slow outfield Will and Fabian had to run hard between wickets.
But, after a fighting partnership of 35 runs, Fabian was adjudged LBW in the 42nd over stepping right down the track to attack a ball that pitched outside leg by the Ghosts medium pacer. With the score on 116 and 8 overs to go and the deck being 2 paced RPCC needed a cameo innings from one of the incoming batsman. Mitch Winslade (21 not out) was the man for the moment and belted a valuable dig off 13 balls as RPCC were all out for 151.
With 151 runs to defend on a wicket with unpredictable bounce and a sluggish outfield, the new ball bowlers were asked to bowl one side of the wicket and back of a length as this was where the ball would sometimes take off or skid through.
Alex Deller (5/9 off 8) returning from injury and Dane Coombs (4/25 off 8) were absolutely brilliant and bowled with great control. Alex bowled the left-handed Ghosts opener with the second ball of his first over and got his next 3 wickets of consecutive overs. Skipper Heaton said ‘it was one of the best bowling performances I have been part of in the many years’ after the win. Deller baffled the batsmen with his late swing and enticed them into snicking to the keeper. Dane on the other hand skidded the ball through and varied his pace intelligently. Coombs definitely deserved a five-wicket haul but unfortunately did not get a chance to come back as the RPCC wrapped up the game in the 26th over.
Metropolitan Cup: Cartwright Insurance Green v Sutherland @ Tonkin Oval
Result: Randwick Petersham Green 6/149 (F Whalebone 39, D Saeed 30) defeated Sutherland 148 (H Schultz 5-16, M Robinson 2-31)
Green arrived at Tonkin with probably its strongest side all season ready to take on a strong Sharks side boasting a number of their Green Shield and led by former Randy Pete and current Sutherland First Grader Liam Hehir.
Humid conditions and a green wicket were taken advantage of after winning the toss and the opposition were in early disarray as Schultz and Coombs (1/16) scythed through the top 3 batsmen with 6 runs off the bat and the score 3/10. The middle order resisted before Dodd (1/20), Whalebone (1/23) and Robinson (2/31) made crucial breakthroughs. With the tail wagging Schultz was reintroduced to the attack cleaning up with 3 wickets in four balls to end the innings in the 42nd over and completing another clinical 5 wicket haul (his second for the season).
Daany Saeed (30) and Xu opened the chase but with Taronga gone early Robinson (16) went about setting a platform. The middle order all made contributions with Whalebone (39) leading the way in partnership with Will Dodd (22). With the equation 33 from 33, Green Shielder Luke Takacs (16*) stood tall against his contemporaries and in an over put the ascedancy back in the Randy Petes favour seeing the target passed with Jackson Dodd (8*). A strong win against the 4th placed side and set up the team for the Derby v Gold on the Monday. Belief is high in the side to make a late surge for finals cricket with 3 rounds remaining.
John Stewart
Metropolitan Cup: Titan Fitness Gold v Mosman @ Balmoral Oval
Result: Randwick Petersham Gold 112 (F Munro 30, D Davies 30) defeated by Mosman 3-113
A sultry day and a full parking lot greeted the Gold team on their trek to the end of Military road and the promised land of Balmoral. Having had a few good results here over the past few seasons, the boys were hopeful again of putting up a strong showing, despite being sent in on a slightly soft wicket. All signs were positive, as the run rate went on at a decent click, while top order bats Finlay Munro (30) and Daniel Davies (30) put up strong showings in very stifling conditions. At 3/100 after 26 overs, the team was on track for a very competitive total. That all unfortunately unfortunately unraveled, as the Mosman bowlers tightened the screws and sent a shudder through the middle and lower orders to bowl out the Golds for 112.
After a disastrous start with the ball, the Golds got back into the game with a direct hit run-out from Jack Braithwaite, before Charith De Silva tightened the screws with a superb spell of swing bowling that had the batsmen groping in desperation to hold onto their wickets. But even as the Mosman batsman rode out the Chaz wave, Vijay Dharman at the other end also produced a superb spell of controlled outswing. Had there been more runs to defend, they may have seen more success, but at least were able to ensure that Mosman didn’t get the full complement of bonus points.
Metropolitan Cup: Titan Fitness Gold v Cartwright Insurance Green @ Coogee Oval
Result: Randwick Petersham Green 8-183 (L Takacs 41, P Iosifidis 36) defeated Randwick Petersham Gold 58 (S Suresh 4-12, H Schultz 3-12)
Seizing the initiative and pushing the much-awaited return of the Metropolitan Cup derby being played at Coogee Oval back a week turned out to be a planning masterstroke, as the rain from the previous Sunday probably wouldn’t have allowed the game to go ahead. Attempting to make use of the humid and overcast conditions upfront, the Gold team bowled first and kept things tight for the first half of the innings, barely allowing the Green team to get away. Peter Iosifidis played the long game, and was ready to unleash some powerful stroke play, but It wasn’t until Freddy Whalebone was joined by Luke Takacs that the innings really got a kick-start. Staring at a chase of 200+, the gold team did well to ensure that the total remained at 183.
It wasn’t the best start for the Golds, as in-form quick Harry Schultz cut a deadly scythe through the top order to leave his club mates reeling at 3/5. Jackson Dodd got into the act and the scoreline looked a tad morbid at 5/10. A brave recovery followed from Marley Besgrove and the enigmatic ‘Falafel Kebab’, to ensure that the side wasn’t completely decimated, but Sriram Suresh put an end to the resistance with four wickets, while E-Young Khoo finished off the show that he put on for his fan club in attendance with two wickets in two balls to go along with some Jonty Rhodes-esque fielding.
While the result was one-sided, the atmosphere and spirit of play through out the day was exemplary, as players no doubt appreciated their experience on playing on a first grade deck next to the seaside paradise. Positively as well, the Green team is well within catching distance of the finals now as well.
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