The Campbelltown-Camden Ghosts cricket club came within a whisker of winning its round five match against North Sydney at Raby Sports Complex on Saturday.
Despite negative tactics by the visitors, who decided to bat on and use up some overs on the second day of the match, the Ghosts were unlucky not to pick up six first innings points.
North Sydney finished the first day a week earlier at nine for 338 runs.
On Saturday they batted on until they lost their last wicket when they had reached 351.
But critically they used up time available and at least five overs and in the end the victory target of 352 was just beyond even the aggressive 2017 version of the Ghosts.
The home side lost eight wickets in reaching 343 at stumps, having faced just 90 overs – nine runs short for a big win.
Not even the heroics of its mighty skipper, Jarrad Burke, could steer the Ghosts to victory this time around.
Burke walked to the crease needing 134 runs to reach the 10,000 first grade runs milestone from a long and illustrious career.
At stumps he was 78 not out, having faced just 81 balls. He hit eight boundaries and one mighty swipe over the Raby picket fence.
Burke still needs 56 runs for his milestone, but the way he’s batting it won’t take very long at all.
Another one who’s coming up to the same milestone is Ghosts first drop, Phillip Wells.
He was out lbw when on 99, having faced 171 balls and smashing 13 boundaries.
Wells still needs 143 runs to reach the 10,000 mark.
What an achievement that will be when both he and Burke get there.
Another Ghosts 2017-18 signing who’s shining is Englishman wicketkeeper batsman Ollie Pope.
After scoring an entertaining century the game before, Pope backed it up with a contribution of 64 runs off 111 balls faced.
He hit the boundary five times.
The Ghosts sit in second position on the ladder, behind Sydney University.
In round six, Campbelltown Camden host Western Suburbs in a two day match.
It must be great to be able to see such first class cricket at Raby