QF 1ST GRADE MATCH REPORT V MANLY WARRINGAH
Randwick Petersham have booked a place in the 1st Grade semi-finals next weekend with a 5 wickets win over Manly-Warringah at Coogee Oval over the weekend.
Lefand Group 1st Grade @ Coogee Oval
Randwick Petersham 5-108 (38.1 overs) A Sams 30 C Hawkins 26 A Docos 26 def. Manly Warringah (35.2 overs) R Ayre 3-4 D Singh 2-16
Singh started the slide with 18 runs on the board but it was champion all-rounder, Adam Semple, bowling as well as he ever has in his 16 seasons, taking 2 wickets in his 6th over which was the telling factor. He firstly snapped up skipper, Jay Lenton, off a forward diving catch from his own bowling for 5, then 3 balls later bowled Ryan Farrell for a duck. Lenton had made 159 and Farrell 92 the previous week. Not to be outdone, Jason Ralston immediately drew a catch behind to Anthony Sams off Ahillen Beadle, for a 4-25 score-line. The return of Singh and the introduction of Ryan Ninan brought 3 more wickets for a teetering 7-49. However, Elliott Herd was timely in bringing up his season top-score with 49 off 59 balls before Riley Ayre, fresh from taking a maiden wicket in Sheffield Shield cricket on Friday, caught him off his own bowling. He then wrapped up the remaining 2 wickets for a return of 3-4 off 5.2 overs. Singh (2-14), Semple (2-26), Ninan (2-36) and Ralston (1-23) were the other wicket-takers.
The target of 105 was never going to be a walk-in-the-park against one of the best attacks in the Sydney competition. State fast bowler Mickey Edwards showed the way with wickets in his second over from successive balls, to dispose of Will Affleck and Riley Ayre for a rare “golden” duck. But Camden Hawkins, after making 96 last weekend, and Anthony Sams, were resolute, taking the total to 3-51 off 15.1 overs before Hawkins was caught behind for a solid 26 off 48 balls. Sams looked in good touch hitting a customary six off Steve O’Keeffe. The former Test left-armer however, suffered an injury and took no further part in the match. Sams went on to make 30 off 57 balls and was dismissed by Edwards after striking a brilliant square cut for 4. Interestingly, his 30 runs brought up a career milestone of 7,000 1st Grade runs—a remarkable achievement and only the 113th player to do it in the 128 years of the Sydney 1st Grade competition.
At 4-66, Ben Mitchell joined Adam Docos (3*) and the pair showed outstanding skill in a pressure situation. There were no wild swings, no rush of blood, no brain explosions. They played each ball on its merits until Docos was dismissed just one run short of the target. He made 26 off 73 balls with only one boundary and is clearly the most improved batter in the club. Together, the pair faced 93 balls in a partnership of 38. But only one more ball was required as Mitchell smashed a four to bring up the victory. He remained 16* off 43 balls in a quality innings which defied his tender years. It was the team’s 12th win in succession and 14th in its past 15.
The team now face Mosman at Allan Border Oval in the semi-final next weekend. That will be a triumph for both clubs as they were admitted to 1st Grade together, 100 years ago this season (Randwick Petersham via the old Marrickville and Randwick clubs).
Lyall Gardner OAM
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