Liverpool and Campbelltown are one from two after the completion of round two in the Sydney Grade cricket competition on Saturday.
The Fairfield Liverpool Lions lost just four wickets on their way to first innings victory at Rosedale Oval against North Sydney. The visitors got first use of the batting crease last week and amassed 283, with Luke Doran, who finished with 5 for 59 off 25 overs, doing most of the damage for the Lions.
Middle order batsmen Mitch Williams and Jeremy Cashman steered the Lions to 4 for 283 and the six points for first innings victory. Both batsmen finished unbeaten on half centuries, Cashman on 53 and Williams on 55.
Openers Dean Attard and Wendel Delpechitra got the side off to a good start with a stand of 75, before Attard fell on 41. His partner went on to make 79 before he was out lbw to Norths bowler Aitken.
The Lions will travel to Blacktown for round three of the competition this Saturday.
Over bat Raby Sports Complex, the Camden Campbelltown Ghosts were defending the 336 runs they amassed the previous Saturday, albeit on a perfect batting wicket. A scintillating 115 from Ryan Gibson, his second consecutive ton, was the backbone of the Ghosts innings. At stumps had Sydney had progressed to 17 without loss in reply.
On day two, despite missing opportunities throughout the day in the field, the Ghosts managed to close the game late in the last session to defeat the Sydney CC by 19 runs.
The Ghosts got away to a good start with the Coyte brothers, Scott and Adam, taking early wickets to put the visitors on the back foot inside the first half hour of play. Scott’s first spell of bowling was quick as brother Adam applied pressure from the other end.
When the clouds disappeared, the Raby wicket settled to a slow pace and through tight bowling the Ghosts slowed the Sydney run chase regardless of there being only two dismissals at lunch. The early pressure that the Ghosts bowlers applied was too much for the Sydney batsmen as they tried to chase down 336 runs.
Scott Coyte capitalised on this and took out the Sydney middle order finishing the day with 5-68 off 22 overs. Brother Adam supported him well with 1-54 off 18 overs, whilst Tylar Edwards 2-43 and spinner Wayne Bull 2-59 off 21 collected the rest. Abdul Kerkhah, although wicketless, bowled tightly.
The Ghosts are back at Raby next Saturday when they will host Sutherland in round three of the competition.
In second grade, the Ghosts were outplayed by the Tigers, losing outright on a day they would rather forget.
Taking advantage of last weekend’s conditions and posting 329 on Raby #2, the Tigers made short work of the Ghosts dismissing them for 140 and 115 in front of their home crowd. Only captain David Ward (26 runs) and Tristian Muir (31) provided any resistance throughout the day.
The Ghosts Third Grade have started the season with two wins and sit second on the ladder after convincingly defeating the Sydney Tigers by 125 runs. Defending 247 at Raby, the Ghosts were ruthless with the ball dismissing the Tigers for 122.
Youngsters Jack Bray and Kane Flynn-Duncombe were responsible for the round two win for the locals. Kane, batting at number 8 last week, scored a wonderful 99 runs as Jack Bray knocked the visitors over on day 2 taking 5-27 with the ball. Jack finishing with the only second innings wicket to give him six wickets for the day. Tom Rogers, returning from injury, also bowled well to claim 3-28 from 17 overs. Tristan Ross took 2-15 off 7 overs.
The Ghosts 4th Grade score of 164 last week was always going to be a tough total to defend at Ryde Oval on day two. The Sydney Tigers made short work of the Ghosts declaring at 8-300 after 71 overs and invited Campbelltown-Camden to bat again. The Ghosts avoided an outright loss and when stumps were drawn were 4/135. Mitchell Taylor’s 51 runs and three wickets were a highlight of a disappointing result for the Ghosts.
Fifth Grade had a dominant win in their match against the Sydney Tigers. Defending 205 the young Ghosts rolled Sydney CC inside 50 overs for 129 runs allowing them an opportunity for an outright win. The Ghosts closed their 2nd innings after a hasty 3 declared for 93 but had to settle for first innings points when they failed to dismiss Sydney in the last session.
Lachlan Bolwell, who took 5-32 off 15 overs, and Chaitnya Sharma 80 and 43 runs were the stars in a very satisfying win for the Ghosts.
