Cricket Ireland with Randwick Petersham
Leading up to the 2015 Cricket World Cup hosted in Australia, the idea was pitched to reach out to (then) Associate cricket nations that were in line to qualify for the Cup. Fresh off winning the 2011-13 ICC World Cricket League Championships, retaining their one day international status and booking a trip to Australia, Cricket Ireland were the first to answer to the call to be hosted for warm-up match leading into the World Cup. While only very new to international cricket, Ireland had already made a name for themselves when they upset Pakistan at the 2007 World Cup in Jamaica (on St Patrick’s Day!) and by undertaking the highest successful run chase in a 2011 World Cup match against England in 2011 in Bangalore – a record that still stands.
Since Randwick Petersham hosted the Irish national team leading up to the 2015 World Cup in Australia – where they only missed out on the quarter finals on net run rate – Cricket Ireland has sent over a player every season on the Cricket Ireland Official Overseas Programme. As part of this programme, an Irish player spends the Australian summer with Randwick Petersham, often representing a higher grade. A number of Irish players outside of the Overseas Programme have represented in the Lower Grades and Metropolitan Cup over the years.
In 2017, Randwick Petersham also sent a touring team to England and Ireland, with the blessing of the Irish Consulate in Sydney. The team played at the Leinster, Merrion, Malahide and Pembroke Cricket Clubs.
In 2022 Cricket Ireland returned to Coogee to prepare for the ICC T20 World Cup further cementing our relationship.
See the Honour Roll of Cricket Ireland Scholarship Recipients below:
Randwick Petersham team photo at Pembroke Cricket Club,
Sydney Parade, Dublin prior to the final match of the tour.
Randwick Petersham vs Ireland – 6th February 2015
Randwick Petersham are proud to have hosted Cricket Ireland on Friday 6th February 2015 at the sea-side paradise, Coogee Oval; a result of 18 months of meticulous planning by John Stewart and John McLoughlin before the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
In the week leading up to the match, the Irish team stayed around and trained at Coogee Oval, while assisting the community by holding clinics for local children and giving Randwick Petersham players a chance to train against an international team.
In what was a career highlight for many players, Randwick Petersham finished victors on the day, winning by 5 wickets with 6.1 overs to spare. After Ireland captain William Porterfield with 74 (107) and Ed Joyce with 49 (62) led their side to a creditable 7-255 (wickets spread around) off their 50 overs, all the Randwick Petersham batsmen contributed, with Anthony Sams 80 (84) and Nathan Price 51 (71) in particular leading the way to the Waterford Crystal Trophy used to commemorate the match.
Less than two weeks later, the Irish would go on to open their World Cup campaign with a resounding win over the West Indies in Nelson, justifying their assertions that their preparations with Randwick Petersham were the best lead in they could have had.
For more information, check out the full match report and scorecard here.
Randwick Petersham vs Ireland – 4th October 2022
Blazing sunshine greeted Tuesday October 4 and Coogee was picture-perfect for the first T20 between Ireland and Randwick Petersham’s 1st Grade side. Daya Singh called correctly and took advantage of a flat looking pitch with Camden Hawkins and Ben Mitchell striding to the crease. Hawkins (6) fell cheaply to Barry McCarthy (2-11) to have the home side teetering 1-10. Anthony Sams was the next to depart to the spin of Gareth Delany (2-10) before Ayre (27) combined with Mitchell for a 53 runs stand. The other bats pushed the score to 7-125 in the allotted overs as the Irish bowlers tightened the screws backed up by good fielding.
In response Balbirnie fell early to Ayre and Lorcan Tucker (9) fell to a good catch by Sams off Ralston and when Campher (4) fell the scoreline read 3-31. But Doheny stood tall and showed his knowledge of the Coogee wicket to hold the innings together with a well-constructed and powerful innings with 65* from 54 deliveries to give Ireland a 3-wicket win. Doheny was a well-deserved Man of the Match presented by Michael Anker and Randwick Petersham Co-Patrons Robin Gardner and Alan Turner presented Andrew Balbirnie and his team with the beautiful Waterford Crystal Lismore trophy made specially for the match.
Unfortunately, rain intervened the following day for the match between Ireland and an SCGXI to be captained by Chris Green. But a Civic Reception, unveiling a commemorative plaque, attended by the Consul General, Mayor, local MPs and sponsors was a fine occasion to cement relations between Cricket Ireland and our Club. Furthermore, the showcase match v NSWXI on Friday also fell victim to the weather as 90mm of rain decided the outcome.
Randwick Petersham is eternally grateful to the Consul General of Ireland Ms Rosie Keane and her staff for their enthusiastic assistance from the outset and their engagement of partners for the week notably Waterford and Teelings Whiskey. Appreciation is also extended to naming rights partner Lefand, long term partners O’Neills Sportswear, Petersham RSL, Titan Fitness and Mellick Wealth Management for their eager support from the beginning as well as Cricket NSW, NSW Office of Sport, The Lansdowne Club, Randwick City Council, Hydralyte and Zing. Additionally, a huge thanks to Temple Bay Coogee for hosting the welcome cocktail event on the Wednesday evening and finally to Courtyard Coogee and Chargrill Charlies providing nutritious breakfasts and lunches throughout the week.
