Randwick Petersham Cricket Round 4 vs Sutherland & Metro Round 5 Warringah & Blacktown + T20s Rd 1 and Rd 3

NSW Premier Cricket Round 4 vs Sutherland, Metro Cup Round 5 v Warringah & Blacktown + T20s Rd 1 v St George & Rd 3 vs Gordon

Round 4 was dominated by the Randy Petes, earning wins in four out of five grades against Sutherland and multiple players having strong individual performances. Metro performed strongly as well, with a win and a dominating draw.

1st Grade proved way too classy for Sutho, with the likes of Anthony Sams and Daya Singh shining, while 2nd Grade picked up a great win at home off the back of a starring performance from skipper James Mahony-Brack.

3rd Grade continued their brilliant start to the year, with Max Robinson and Blake Weymouth both posting centuries and Guru Chandar taking five wickets against the Sharks.

Poidevin-Gray made it two wins from three games, getting home against St George and Gordon, while the 1st Grade T20 side fell short against the Saints and Stags.

See below for a bumper recap from the past two weekend’s of action!

Lefand 1st Grade: RPC 349 (Sams 83 Ayre 66 Docos 56) def. Sutherland 171 (Singh 5/36 Ayre 4/30)

RPC’s 1st Grade team had a resounding win over Sutherland at Glenn McGrath Oval. Chasing 349 – Randwick Petersham’s highest score at the ground—the Sharks were all out in the 58th over for 171 after being 3-91 at lunch and 7-154 at tea.

Under rare sunny skies and in warm conditions on the first day of play, Randwick Petersham enjoyed a batting bonanza at Glenn McGrath Oval, Caringbah. Playing against Sutherland, the final score was a huge 8-340 off 96 overs. The total at lunch was 1-86 and at tea 2-155, with another 185 runs coming in the final session. It was the club’s highest tally across the 14 occasions the sides have clashed at the ground since 2001. The team’s previous top score was 6-273 in 2017-18.

Best with the bat was Anthony Sams with 83 off 112 balls, hitting 12 fours. He and Riley Ayre, who made 66 from 155 balls with 9 fours, put on 126 for the third wicket after Adam Docos (56 off 111) and Camden Hawkins (40 off 85) had laid the foundation for a big score. It was Sams’ 28th fifty for the club and Ayres’ 18th, while Docos’ half-century was his second in his 11 matches in the top grade.

Stars of the second day were skipper Daya Singh, who took his second “five-for” for the club with 5-36 off 14.5 overs and left-arm spinner, Riley Ayre, with 4-30 from 18 well-controlled overs. Ben Mitchell starred in the field with three catches. It was the team’s 14th win over Sutherland from 28 matches since 2001. It is also the side’s 8th from 16 at Glenn McGrath.

Lefand 1st Grade T20: St George 3/136 def. RPC 134 (Hawkins 54)

Defending Kingsgrove Sports Twenty20 Cup premiers Randwick Petersham lost to St George in its Twenty20 clash at Hurstville Oval. Winning the toss and batting, Camden Hawkins was quickly into stride with 54 off 46 balls including seven boundaries. But he received little support from team-mates on a wearing wicket with uneven bounce. Only skipper Daya Singh (19), Tawanda Muyeye (16) and Anthony Sams (14) made double figures.

After being 2- 82 from 10 overs it was a regular procession back to the pavilion as the final 8 wickets fell for just 52 and a final tally of 134 off 19.5 overs. It looked about 20 runs short and that’s the way it turned out with the locals revelling in the conditions to take the match 3-136 off 18.4 overs. Dan Sams was Randwick Petersham’s best bowler with 1-20 off 4 overs.

The loss was the club’s third of four T20 matches played at Hurstville Oval although it was just the 19th out of 74 played, with 52 wins (including four premierships) since the competition began in 2009-10.

Camden Hawkins

The Investment Collective Poidevin-Gray Shield: RPC 0/72 (Mitchell 41*) def. St George 9/71 (Macbeth 2/6 O’Riordan 2/5)

Randwick Petersham gained their first Poidevin-Gray win since January 2021, belting St George on Sunday afternoon at Hurstville Oval.

After losing the toss and bowling first, RPC started with a bang as Irish import Scott Macbeth (2/5) took two wickets in the first over. He would go for just five runs from his four overs, proving his right-arm off-spin to be a massive game-changer on a tough batting deck. Angus McTaggart (2/23) would also help tear through the Saints top-order, leaving the hosts scrambling.

1st Grade duo Ben Mitchell (1/14) and Shivansh Pathak (2/16) both added to the wicket tally, before Connor O’Riordan (2/5) blitzed through two lower-order batsman to put the Red V in disarray at 9/43 at one stage. The home side would rally late, putting on 28 runs for their final partnership and adding a few runs to their tally, finishing 9/71 from their 20 overs.

However, the score from St George would be nowhere near enough, as opening sticks Mitchell (41* off 34) and Zak Keogh (27* off 34) batted with intelligence and chased down the low total in 11.1 overs. Mitchell would hit three maximums in his classy knock, while off-season recruit Keogh launched two horns of his own.

PGs will look to improve their record to 2-1 when they take on Gordon next Sunday morning at Petersham Oval.

Ben Mitchell

Lefand 1st Grade T20: Gordon 5/192 def. RPC 7/161 (Singh 44)

It was a truly wonderful day at Petersham Oval on Sunday for the opening of the Hughes Family Long Room in the pavilion and the re-opening of the Dudley Seddon Memorial Grandstand. It was also great to have such a large attendance from past players, life members, supporters and cricket lovers joining in what was an outstanding tribute to the Seddon and Hughes families by Inner West Council. Many friendships were renewed amidst day-long cricket story telling. A day to remember.

The news wasn’t so great from the afternoon 1st Grade match with Gordon scoring a convincing 31 run win. Batting first, Gordon chanced their arm early hitting many shots over the heads of fielders as they peppered the boundary. And while the bowlers tightened the score from 1-131 to 5-192 off 20 in the latter overs it left us with an imposing chase. And so it turned out, with only skipper Daya Singh (44 off 30 balls with a four and four mighty sixes) getting going along with the newly promoted 19 year-old Angus McTaggart, who showed few nerves in smashing 27* off 20 with four boundaries. Gordon’s 5-192 total was the second highest score behind Sydney’s 4-206 in 2020-21 against us in 75 Twenty 20 matches. It was also our third defeat from five matches playing them. We will need to win the final three matches in the competition to have a shot at defending our title won so superbly last season.

The Investment Collective Poidevin-Gray Shield: RPC 4/143 (McTaggart 57*Tector 52) def. Gordon 6/139 (Mitchell 3/21)

The day began in great style with our under 21 Poidevin-Gray team leading the way with a narrow win over Gordon in the round 3 Twenty20 match, 4-143 to 6-139 after we were 2-6. Stars were new recruits Tim Tector from Ireland hitting 52 off 45 balls with five fours followed by Angus McTaggart who blasted 57* from just 31 balls with eight fours and a six. Connor O’Riordan’s 2-13 off three overs helped keep the Stags within four runs of the target at the end. The win put the side into third place on the points ladder.

Suttons 2nd Grade: RPC 9/363d. (Mahony-Brack 98 Maron 95) def. Sutherland 332 (Mahony-Brack 4/41)

2nd grade won the toss at Coogee Oval and elected to bat on a flat wicket against Sutherland. The score ticked along quickly in the morning session, with Manish Malhotra reaching his 50 before lunch. A couple of ‘nothing shots’ saw wickets fall before the lunch interval, the score 4/117 at the break. McTaggart and Dubey fell in quick succession after the lunch break, bringing Zac Maron to the crease together with JMB. A 169-run 7th wicket partnership between the two took the score to 328 before Maron was dismissed for a brilliant 95. JMB also fell just short of 100 when he was out LBW on 98. Some quick runs from Widerstrom (22) put the icing on the cake for day one. Randwick declaring at 9/364.

Day Two was a grind with a flat wicket offering little assistance and not much swing on offer. Sutherland went to lunch 0/86 and both openers passed 50 shortly after the break. Wickets were hard to come by with the score moving from 0/134 to 3/230 and then 5/300. The boys did well to stick to their plans throughout the day, turning it into an effective one day match with Sutherland needing 63 from 17 overs with 5 wickets in hand. Randwick went bang bang after taking the 2nd new ball, and when skipper Pinson was dismissed by Montedoro and a great snare from Zak Keogh, the score read 9/331 with 8 overs left. A direct hit run-out sealed a terrific win for the home side. JMB 4/41 off 15 and Widerstrom 2/66 off 18 the pick of the bowlers.

Randwick head to Penrith next round with some momentum, looking to climb higher up the ladder.

James Mahony-Brack

Petersham RSL 3rd Grade: RPC 3/303 (Robinson 111 Weymouth 100*) def. Sutherland 201 (Chandar 5/66)

3^rd Grade arrived at Sutherland Oval 1 to a pitch that more resembled part of the A1 and a lightning outfield and after losing the toss were asked to bowl first. Sutherland got off to a fast start until Dane (2-48 off 22) picked up 2 wickets in quick succession to open our accounts, followed by a big breakthrough from Jaya (1-7 off 2) to dint the Sharks progress. From there Guru (5-66 off 34.5) began his spell and locked down one end whilst we rotated the bowlers from the other. Ben Tracey (1-31 off 7) picked a key wicket in the middle, as did Sadeep (1-41 off 10) at the end, whilst Guru plied his trade and picked up the last 4 wickets of the day as we restricted the Sharks to 201 off 78.5 overs. Our fielding and bowling as a unit was fantastic to be able to restrict them to 201 on a deck that offered no assistance and with a ball that was torn to shreds after the first 40.

We arrived on Day 2 to a deck that was much the same and an outfield just as quick with a simple plan: set up the platform in the first 40 and then capitalise in the second 40. This plan was executed perfectly with Josh (47) and Mahsen (38) putting on 70 for the first wicket and laying the foundations with beautiful stroke play and great running. But the day would belong to Blake (100*) and Max (112) who put on 206 for the 3^rd wicket, a new 3^rd Grade record eclipsing the previous 144* which has stood since 2004-05, and got us over the line comfortably in the 63^rd over.

Both Blake and Max batted beautifully in a skilful display of power hitting and clever running with great manipulation of the field and we gave them the best chance at bringing up their maiden tons for the club which they both did in style, first Max, then Blake in the penultimate over of the day as we finished up 3-303.

3^rd Grade has been chasing the perfect game now for a few years and that would go close to being the best game we’ve played in a long time, both with bat and ball. A great result for the boys and banks another 6 points to keep us in 2^nd place on the table.

Roll on next week!

Guru Chadar – 2nd 5fa on the trot

Mellick Wealth 4th Grade: RPC 202 (Macbeth 56) & 4-121 (Josh Segal 50) def. Sutherland 153

RPC have produced a convincing victory over Sutherland in 4th Grade, winning by 49 runs in the first innings at Petersham Oval.

Batting first at the ‘Home of Cricket’, the hosts started well through Luca Lopes (30) and Ryan Lynch (39), but neither man were able to go on with it for a bigger score. The same can’t be said for Irish import Scott Macbeth (56), who continued his strong start to his Randy Petes career with a an entertaining half-century that included six fours and three maximums. RPC would push towards a very defendable total, with the likes of Jordan Segal (19) and James Apostolakis (26) helping the lads finish with 202.

An early wicket overnight heading into the second day of play was a huge boost, but a big-hitting innings from Kenso groundsman Shaun Thornton for the Sharks put the result in some doubt. However, the Randy Petes proved too strong once he was dismissed, as Alan Mathews (3/34) and Nigel Singh (3/29) both assisted the side in bowling Sutho out for 153 in the first innings after less than 50 overs.

RPC would go into bat for the second innings, with Josh Segal (50 off 28) playing a dominant hand at the top of the order with four huge horns. In the end, an outright result was a little too far out of reach and RPC would settle for the six points, cementing themselves inside the 4th Grade top-six.

Scott MacBeth

Clovelly Community Bank 5th Grade: Sutherland 206 (Whalebone 6/56) def. RPC 175 (Rao 77)

RPCC lost the toss and was asked to bowl on a wicket that was dry and hard. The outfield looked green and with the grass cut low there would be good value for shots.

The team congratulated Aman Rao who was playing his first grade game for RPCC and also welcomed Cullen Hathurusinghe and Adam Coombs who were returning from injury and playing their first game of the season.

The RPCC bowlers were asked to bowl stump to stump and back of a length and consistently make the batsmen play at every ball. Adam Coombs (0-25 off 10 overs) and Cullen Hathurusinghe (2-34 off 15.4 overs) opened the bowling. It was tough going with the wicket not doing much although the odd ball from Cullen’s end was keeping low. Cullen finally got the 1^st Sutherland wicket in his 7^th over.

RPCC bowlers James Stirton (0-17 off 8 overs), Freddy Whalebone (6 for 56 off 19 overs), Jake Myers (0-16 off 4 overs), Qasim Ali (0- 27 off 14 overs and 8 maidens) and Rhythm Singh (2-31 off 8 overs) toiled hard for the next 17 overs as the Sutherland batsmen at the crease batted with determination. Off spinner Rhythm Singh finally got RPCC the break getting the well set number 3 batsman LBW. Then it was Freddy Whalebone all the way with a fine 6fa when the side were going for the runs towards the end of the day.

Randy Petes were brilliant in the field to be able to restrict Sutherland to 206 on a dry and flat wicket. Highlight of the day with regards to fielding was Sayem Sultan taking a spectacular catch in gully.

RPCC returned on day 2 on Saturday 05/11 to a similar wicket as previous week. With a good batting team on paper the team was confident to get to the target only losing handful of wickets.

RPCC batsmen were asked to bat conservatively and play cricket shots as the outfield was quick and there was no reason to slog shots over the top off the infield.

But, shockingly RPCC lost 2 wickets in 2 overs for 0 runs on what we thought was a dead wicket. Thankfully Rhythm Singh (23) and Aman Rao (77) stuck it out in a 52 run partnership and consolidated the RPCC innings. With plenty of batting still to come and only 155 runs to get RPCC were quietly confident to get to the target.

However, Sutherland slow bowlers had a different plan and in a flash they had RPCC reeling at 6 for 72 with 3 wickets falling to their leg spinner in 5 balls. But next man in Cullen Hathurusinghe (41- last out) and Aman batted with determination for a partnership of 78 for the 7^th wicket. Just when they were looking to bring home the goods Aman was LBW. RPCC 7 for 150.

With the wicket deteriorating the remaining batsmen could only add another 25 runs. RPCC all out 175. Very disappointing loss

Mr Taxman Metro Gold: RPC 7/276 dec. (C Litchfield 84, A Bhat 52) drew Warringah 6-217 (E Khoo 3-64)

Gold won the toss on week 1 and elected to bat on a rare sweltering day during this La Nina phase, and got off to a solid start, with Ashish Bhat (52) and Rishabh Goyal (29) holding strong early. Bhat was the aggressor, while Goyal was the anchor, as the former brought up his third fifty for the club. Taking tea at 1-83, the Gold team put on the accelerator, as Cotter Litchfield (84) played a power packed innings to firmly swing the game in our favour, and was ably supported by Archie Robinson (24). Even though Cotter was unable to bring up his century, falling unselfishly looking to increase the scoring, John Stewart and E-Young Khoo had some fun in the late afternoon to take the score to 7/276 at the close.

Declaring overnight, Ben Thomas and Mark Tape bowled with fire and fervour, but the breakthrough eluded them. The young Warringah outfit performed creditably to keep their wickets in hand, though we did not help ourselves with the odd bit of errant bowling or fielding. With the score 1-80 at tea, the chase kept getting bigger and bigger, and with the field set aggressively, encouraged the cagey batters to finally hit out. While six wickets were taken – with 3 to the ever burgeoning tally for E-Young Khoo – Warringah finished the day well off the target. Despite being unable to convert the win, there were a number of positives to be taken from the game.

Cotter Litchfield

Cartwright Insurances Metro Green: RPC 6/173 (A Syed 60, N Desai 50) def. Blacktown Mounties Gold 158 (C Parthenis 4/50, D Brar 3/32)

Blacktown Mounties Gold won the toss and, understandably, chose to bat. However, old Snape was back at its finest, making the scoring slow and bringing the slow bowlers into the game. Chris Parthenis (4/50) and Daman Brar (3/32) the pick of the bowlers, as players were rewarded for sticking to the task and bowling Blacktown out for 158.

Starting the second day at 0/8, the team set about occupying the crease, knowing that if they bat the overs, they’ll definitely reach the score. Azaan Syed continued his impressive vein of form with a powerful 60, while Nimesh Desai dropped anchor and scored a well deserved even 50 – complementing his self-administered moniker. Bits and pieces contributions all round ensured that the team finished with a first innings win on a hard fought day.