Lyall’s Preview Round 13 v UNSW and Metro Cup

Once again we have a two-day round, this time taking on neighbours, University of NSW in the 5 grades. In Metro Cup, RP Gold plays Sydney University at Kensington over the next two Saturdays while RP Green plays Blacktown at Petersham over the next two Sundays.

While 1st Grade went down to Penrith last round, as did 3s and 5ths, wins by 2s and 4s have kept us in the hunt for a good finish in the Club Championship. Strangely last round, we lost all 3 home games but won the 2 away games which were washed out on the first day. We are 10th on 808 points in the Club Championship but Fairfield-Liverpool, who occupy 6th place are just 72 points ahead on 880. We could make some giant strides if we can come home strongly over the final 4 rounds. Uni. of NSW are directly ahead of us in 9th place on 826. They clearly are our target this round.

Despite the Penrith loss, 1st Grade remain in the top 4 in 4th position. The interesting grades are 4ths and 5ths. While not sighted early in the season, 4ths are now 10th but only 5 points from 6th place. It’s the same with 5s. They are 11th but just 4 points out of 6th place. The top 6 play finals cricket. If those three teams can get on a winning streak, we could have plenty to cheer about come finals time. Our Metro teams are also not too far away from cracking a place in the finals. Gold is 9th but 5 points from 6th while Green has a bit more to do from 14th but can make it if they come home with a wet sail. Plenty to look forward to, but we need to hit top form—especially our batters, as batting has been our problem, particularly in the lower grades this season.

The big news is that our 1st Grade team has made the semi-final of the Limited Overs Cup. We play Gordon on Sunday week, 2 February, for a place in the Grand Final scheduled for Sunday 23 February. Keep these dates highlighted in your diary!! And wasn’t it good to see our promising all-rounder, Angus McTaggart, back and playing in the qualifying final last Sunday. He’s been out injured since late September. His two sixes in last Sunday’s game helped get the innings going against Easts.

Some of the highlights (and lowlights) from last round v Penrith, Metro Cup and in the Easts LO Qualifying Final:

  • After 4 dismissals, wicketkeeper Anthony Sams took his career total to 539– just 3 behind the 1st Grade record of 542.
  • Anthony Sams scored 49 runs bringing his career total to 8,969–just 31 needed to get to 9,000.
  • Riley Ayre’s 64 runs take him to 3,984 1st Grade runs for the club–16 more will give him 4,000.
  • Riley Ayre’s 5-107 was his third “5-for” this season and takes his career record to 287 1st Grade wickets.
  • Eknoor Singh scored 73 taking his season total to 592–8 more required for 600.
  • 1st Grade lost 8-40 for a total of 154 which was less than the 159 scored by Penrith’s Ryan Gibson in their score of 263
  • In the Limited Overs QF v Easts, only 11 fours were scored in our total of 208 with 6 batters hitting 1 each.
  • 2nd Grade produced their best batting performance of the season to score 4-192 (53.4) and defeat Penrith 189 (62.5).
  • Ben Tracey had 3-2 off 3 overs to break the back of the Penrith batting before finishing with 3-29 off 14 in 2nd Grade.
  • Jake Myers took 4-9 off 14 overs with 7 maidens in 3rd Grade.
  • Third Grade were 6-39 in their chase of 137 before finishing with 104 of which 42 was scored by Jordan Segal.
  • An 82 runs partnership for the 8th wicket by Ben Chaplin (67) and Nathan Stares (57) took the 4th Grade score from 8-115 to 9-197 and finally 222 before bowling out Penrith for 165 with only 8 balls remaining.
  • Penrith 4th Grade lost 7-20 to slump from 3-145 to all out 165 with skipper Nathan Stares taking 5-57 (23).
  • Devesh Negi (aged 19) bowled 31 overs with 7 maidens in taking 3-62 in 5th Grade.
  • In Penrith’s 5th Grade score of 177, the last pair put on 48 for the 10th wicket facing 181 balls between them.
  • The first innings score of 60 was a record low score for 5th Grade playing Penrith.
  • RP Gold in Metro Cup was washed out both days.
  • Rory Steinberg (35 off 76 balls) and Mekael Khawaja (15 off 65) took RP Green’s score from 7-93 to pass Hawkesbury’s 134 in Metro Cup

Nathan Stares

This weekend’s two-day matches v University of NSW

1st Grade @ David Phillips; 2nd Grade @ Coogee; 3rd Grade @ Cahill; 4th Grade @ Petersham; 5th Grade @ Alexandria.

Metropolitan Cup: RP Gold v Sydney Uni. @ Kensington.; RP Green (Sunday) v Blacktown @ Petersham.

RESULTS: While reports will appear on the club’s facebook page at the end of each playing day, team results may be viewed by clicking on https://matchcentre.premier.cricketnsw.com.au/. If you scroll down and click on a match involving any of our teams, the scorecard will appear.

Best of luck to all Randwick Petersham teams!!

GO THE RANDY PETES!!!

Lyall Gardner OAM

THIS PREVIEW IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Ooshman – Modern Lebanese Bakehouse.