CITY AND SUBURBAN ROUND 7 v SYDNEY UNIVERSITY VETERANS  AT ST PAUL’S OVAL, SYDNEY UNIVERSITY ON SUNDAY 8 JANUARY 2023 FOR THE BROOKS-MANNING-MOORHOUSE SHIELD: REPORT BY HARRY BRIDGE

CCNSW retain the Shield

Most players were excited to be playing on the picturesque St Paul’s Oval at Sydney University for the first time to defend the Brooks-Manning-Moorhouse Shield. Conditions were perfect but parking restrictions in the University grounds caused early chaos. Jim Hadley dropped a regulation catch at first slip first ball off Avinash Bhandari, who had another dropped behind in his five overs to leave him wicket less in an impressive spell. The wicket proved more conducive to spin and  the catches began to stick, seven  in all. The University Lions crumbled, with our spinners picking up a couple of wickets each with some nice variety. The Lions were all out in 31 overs for 145. 

The University Lions started their bowling strongly and rattled Tom Robertson and Rhys Longbottom with some chin music. Longbottom was caught behind for 6 off a short ball and then Robertson was yorked for 11 soon after. Karthick Subramanian was out for a duck, lured into driving a full ball early which cut in through the gate, leaving us looking precarious at 3-18. Longbottom then came on to umpire and perhaps swept up by the Lions’ momentum, gave Harry Bridge (scribe) out for a fifth ball duck, to a ball with so much bat on it (feet and pads well clear behind the ball) that the University skipper at first slip didn’t appeal. 

This left us in trouble at 4-18 in the sixth over. Fortunately we knew we had a solid batting line-up. Both Jamie  Murtha (44) and Brett  James (65*) soaked up the pressure and carried on their good form to turn the game and take us to 105 before Murtha was out for 44, with some lovely clips to the short boundary into St Paul’s college. In the end we came home comfortably in the thirtieth over with 7 down, retaining the shield and enjoying a few celebratory drinks with the opposition.

The Team was (playing 12): – Tom Robertson 11, Rhys Longbottom (w) 6, Karthick Subramanian  0, Harry Bridge 0, James Murtha 44, Brett James 65*, Peter Constantinou 6, Matthew Edge 2; Tim Litherland 4*, Adam Khamis dnb, Jim Hadley (c) dnb and Avinash Bhandari dnb

The Result was: 

Sydney University Lions: – 10-145 (31 overs) 

Lost to

C.C.N.S.W.: – 7-146 (29.2 overs) (B. James 65*; J. Murtha 44)

By 3 wickets

FoW: – 1-15 (R. Longbottom); 2-18 (T. Robertson); 3-18 (K. Subramanian); 4-18 (H. Bridge).5-105 (J. Murtha); 6-135 (P. Constantinou); 7- 139 (M. Edge)

The Bowling was: – A. Bhandari 5-0-15-0; B. James 5-1-34-1; J. Hadley 7-1-30-2; T. Litherland 7-0-22-2; A Khamis 3-0-24-1 , J. Murtha 3-0-15-2; M. Edge 1-0-3-2

The Fielding was: –

Stumpings: – Nil

Catches: – Two to H. bridge and one  to each of A. Bhandari,  H. Bridge, M. Edge, B. James, R. Longbottom (w), and  J. Murtha 

Run outs: – Nil

Player points (awarded by captain): – 3 points to B. James; 2 points to J. Murtha; one point to T. Litherland

MASTERS ROUND 7 v SCHOFIELDS CC  AT OAKVILLE RESERVE, OAKVILLE ON SUNDAY 8 JANUARY 2023  

Cancelled by rain

VINTAGE ROUND 7 v HUNTER TAVERNERS VETERANS AT CAMPERDOWN OVAL, CAMPERDOWN   ON SUNDAY 8 JANUARY 2023: REPORT BY STUART RIDGE

After a wet week, summer returned to Camperdown with a fine Sunday afternoon for cricket. The Hunter skipper won the toss and spotting a couple of damp patches from a leak in the new covers, put us in to bat.

Following a steady start from Frank Baliotis and Gerry O’Shea, that decision looked vindicated when Gerry got a couple of nasty lifters, nicking one to the keeper for 15. Joe Scarcella then joined Frank, both working the ball around well and, with good running between the wickets, put on 44 in the next 9 overs before Frank retired for a well made 30.  Without any further addition, Joe popped up a leading edge to square leg to depart for 21 to bring Greg Brooks out to join Peter Rolls as the two new batsmen. 

The skipper and president upped the run rate bringing the 100 up in the 22nd over. Brooskie in particular was looking threatening with four well struck boundaries before missing one to be bowled for 18, leaving us 3-100 in the 22nd over. Mick McCormick and Peter then added another 28 to set us up for a big total with wickets in hand and 12 overs remaining at 3-128. Looking to hit the accelerator, Peter (22) hit a glorious sweep to the long boundary but trod on his stumps in the process. 

We still had high hopes of a total close to 200 but after Mick (24) miscued to be caught, Mel Lucas (4), Garry Winney (9) and Garry James (4) quickly followed in a collapse of 4-10 to take the wind out of our sails. Stuart Ridge (11) and Paul Georgiadis (13*) eked out another 20 runs and a returning Frank Baliotis was stumped in the last over for a total of 180 all out.

While not what we had hoped, 180 was still a defendable total with a strong CCNSW bowling attack and things were looking good when Greg Brooks removed Hunter danger man Spruce leg before in his first over. Stuart Ridge was looking dangerous from the other end but the next Hunter pair were able to consolidate. 

Mick McCormick and Garry James kept things tight but were unable to dislodge a frustrating 50 partnership for the second wicket. Finally another bowling change brought the breakthrough with Paul Georgiadis picking up a wicket first ball and with the opener reaching 30* shortly afterwards, we had two fresh batsmen to bowl at. 

Hunter reached drinks at 2-82 with the game evenly poised. However, straight from the break, new bowler, Joe Scarcella jagged one back sharply to take a wicket with the first ball of his spell before Garry James deservedly struck in his last over with the help of a smart catch by Paul Georgiadis. Joe then hit the stumps again and Gerry O’Shea kept up the trend of first over wickets to leave Hunter 6-100 after 26 overs with the required run rate climbing. 

Hunter stemmed the flow of wickets but required 65 runs off the last 10 overs before some good counter attacking and a couple of expensive overs swung the pendulum back their way. Brooksie returned to break the partnership with another lbw but Hunter’s injured captain maintained the onslaught, regularly striking boundaries to spare his runner. Another retirement and late wicket to Mick McCormick brought their number 11 to the crease with 8 down and 11 needed. Stuart Ridge  came back but despite shaving both leg and off stumps could not make any further breakthrough with Hunter completing the chase with 4 balls to spare.

A lot of ifs, buts and maybes and a result to bring us down to earth in the New Year after finishing last year a couple of points off the top of the ladder. It was disappointing not to be able to defend 180 but Hunter batted well and deep. Having batters to come back makes a big difference and we definitely missed an opportunity to set a larger target with all of our top 6 making good starts  but with only one reaching retirement. 

The Team was: –  Gerard O’Shea 15, Frank Baliotis 34, Joe Scarcella 21, Peter Rolls (c) 22, Greg Brooks 18, Mick McCormick 24, Garry Winney 9, Mel Lucas 4, Garry James 4, Stuart Ridge 11, and Paul Georgiadis 13*

The Result was: –

C.C.N.S.W.: – 10-180 (39.5 overs) (F. Baliotis 34)

Lost to

Hunter Taverners: – 8-184 (39.2 overs) 

By 2 wickets

FoW: – 1-23 (G, O’Shea); 2-67 (J. Scarcella); 3-100 (G. Brooks); 4-128 (P. Rolls); 5-143 (M. McCormick); 6-148 (M. Lucas); 7-149 (G. Winney); 8-153 (G. James); 9-173 (S. Ridge); 10-180 (F. Baliotis).

The Bowling was: – M. McCormick 5.2-1-30-1; S. Ridge 6-1-15-0; G. Brooks 7-1-31-2; G. James 7-1-26-1; P. Georgiadis 2-0-14-1; J. Scarcella 6-0-24-2; G. O’Shea 5-0-30-1

The Fielding was: –

Stumpings: – Nil

Catches: – One to each of P. Georgiadis, M. Lucas and G. Winney

Run outs: – Nil

Player points (awarded by umpire): – 3 points to G. Brooks; 2 points to F. Baliotis; one point to J. ScarcellaSee: https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/org/sydney-masters-cricket-association/vintage-summer-202223/vintage/game-centre/0dd26857