The Campbelltown Camden Ghosts have seen off Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood and are in the box seat in their round four match against St George.
Ghosts openers Aaron Yabsley and Mitchell Carruthers faced 30 hostile overs, including 10 from Hazlewood, but survived to stumps having accumulated 94 runs in reply to St George’s first innings total of 189.
Campbelltown skipper Jarrad Burke won the toss and asked St George to bat first on Raby 1.
When St George quickly collapsed to be 4 for 30, it was obvious Burke had made the right call.
But the St George tail wagged and they managed to scrape together 189 runs before they were all dismissed.
Most of the damage with the ball was caused by Ghosts captain Burke, who is having a huge season after rejoining Campbelltown from Bankstown.
Burke took four wickets for 58 and he was ably supported by Samuel Skelly with 3 for 27 and Iain Carlisle, who bagged two scalps for 32 runs.
Burke’s four wickets have pushed his season’s tally to 18 in three and a bit matches.
Ghosts opener Aaron Yabsley hit four boundaries on his way to an undefeated 57 as Cambelltown Camden set out to chase down the St George total of 189.
St George had rushed Hazlewood into their starting line up, but the Test fast bowler managed 10 overs for no wicket at a cost of 33 runs.
Having finished with 94 at stumps, the Ghosts need another 96 runs for first innings points when the two day match resumes next Saturday at Raby.
This is a home match for St George, who had to forfeit the advantage because their ground was unavailable for this game and it was transferred to Raby Sports Complex.
The Ghosts are undefeated so far this season, with two first innings victories and a draw after three rounds of NSW Premier Cricket.
♦ On Sunday, the Ghosts boarded a 24 seater from Platinum Shuttles, courtesy of Steve Devine, and headed to Manuka Oval in Canberra for their first 2017-18 Kingsgrove Sports Cup T20 clash against the Australian Capital Territory.
With captain Jarrad Burke leading from the front once again, the Ghosts were too good for their hosts, returning to Macarthur with victory points.
Ghosts batted first and made 7/157, and in reply A.C.T. were all out for 148.
Round 2 and 3 of the Kingsgrove Sports Cup will be on Raby #1 when the Ghosts take on Fairfield -Liverpool and Hawkesbury in a November 19 double header.
RESULTS Lower grades:
Seconds: Campbelltown Camden 9 dec 341 St George 0-28, V. Hreszczuk 73; J Bray 72; N. Appleton 65; A. Paddison 64; F. Nasim 27x;
Thirds: Campbelltown Camden 10 – 119 St George 2-173, C. King 60;
Fourths: Campbelltown Camden 10 – 246 St George 2-8, J. Campbell 85; L. Miner 49; J. Warwick 45; C. Corscadden 40;
Fifths: Campbelltown Camden 10-138 St George 0-6, T. O’Keefe 31.
