NSW Premier Cricket: Dylan Hunter smashes the lights out, Sydney T20 opening round wrap
A T20 gun for hire has taken the opening round of Sydney grade cricket by storm. NSW Premier Cricket, opening weekend wrap from all T20 venues.
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It might only be September, but Sydney University master blaster Dylan Hunter already has his eye in.
With a commanding 123 runs from just 64 balls, the blazing left hander put North Sydney residents on high alert during the opening weekend of NSW Premier Cricket.
Fresh from playing T20 Max in Brisbane, the gun for hire immediately opened his Sydney campaign on the front foot.
Chasing a competitive Western Suburbs total of 7/177, the students cruised home with two overs to spare. The next best score was 22, but it was Hunter’s show, and the 30-year-old opener with first class experience in New Zealand didn’t disappoint.
In all, he launched 11 sixes and hit eight fours in a performance that is sure to catch the eye of Big Bash franchises across the country.
“It’s always nice when the practice comes off out on the field,” said Hunter, who will remain with Sydney Uni until the end of the Kingsgrove Sports T20 competition in late October.
“My best asset is trying to take the game forward and hit the ball hard.
“T20 is my priority at the moment. I was lucky to be involved with Canterbury in New Zealand for the best part of two seasons, but I was always pushed down the pecking order when the Black Caps players returned at Christmas for the Super Smash.”
Still on the cusp of higher honours, Hunter is among a growing list of grade cricketers focused on landing a deal in franchise cricket.
“I do have an agent, and we’re always talking with different franchises to progress my game. There’s a lot of good cricketers out there at the moment,” said Hunter, who has been juggling a postgraduate degree in physiotherapy at Macquarie University for the best part of 10 years.
“I’ll just try and make myself available to whatever comp is on. I’m currently signed to play with Glenorchy in Tasmania from early December. But I’ll also put my hand up to play in Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide.
“At my age, I think the chance to progress in the longer formats may have passed. So that’s why I’m committing to as many opportunities as possible in the T20 and franchise space.”
Hunter’s impressive start continued in Uni’s second match on Saturday afternoon where he once again looked dangerous with 27 off 13 balls. Although it wasn’t enough, as UTS North Sydney held on to win by 14 runs.
AROUND THE GROUNDS
REIGNING PREMIERS’ DOUBLE BLOW
T20 kingpins Randwick Petersham kicked off their campaign with back-to-back losses at Bankstown.
With the competition divided into four pools each containing five teams, the double blow leaves the reigning premiers needing to win both their remaining games to be any chance of snatching a top three spot in Pool D.
In reply to the home side’s 9/155, former NSW captain Jason Sangha (73 not out off 48 balls) appeared to have the chase in hand. However, it all unravelled in the final over when Ryan Felsch (1-23, four overs) conceded just seven runs to help Bankstown to an unlikely one-run win.
In the afternoon match, a blazing Blake Nikitaras (85* off 62) helped St George mow down Rany Petes’ 5/160 with an over to spare. Earlier, Connor Riordan returned to haunt his former side with a disciplined 2/30 from four overs.
Gordon overpowered Bankstown in their first outing, but proved no match for a rampant Northern District. Chasing the Stags’ 7/144, former Australian under-19s rep Corey Miller (45* off 26) and Nikhil Chaudhary (28* off 11) both cleared the Grahame Thomas Oval fence on four occasions, to coast home with seven overs to spare.
GHOSTS’ RECRUITS GO BANG
Campbelltown Camden’s recruitment drive has immediately hit the jackpot after the Ghosts new names helped light up Raby Oval with consecutive victories in Pool A.
Following a successful stint in Tasmania, Anthony Mosca (64 off 43) teamed with Wagga/Penrith recruit Jake Scott (62 off 35) in a partnership of 127. Both hit four maximums to set Fairfield-Liverpool a challenging 6/194. Nick Caruthers (71 off 38) and Yuvraj Sharma (59 off 39) starred in the chase, but the Lions fell 29 short with Blacktown signing Jeremy Nunan taking 3-39.
Scott continued his charge against Manly. The tall leftie hit 42 off 35 before Brendan Smith arrived late, launching a match changing unbeaten 35 from just 11 balls.
Set 193 to win, Manly fell nine short despite quality knocks from Joel Foster (53 off 31) and Jacob O’Sullivan (54 off 32).
Nathan Hinton (87 off 48) doubled Manly’s pain with the Mosman skipper smashing seven sixes in the Whales’ 16-run win.
After their early loss, Fairfield-Liverpool responded in spectacular style to down Easts in a super over. Sharma (64 off 34) raced to his second half century, while captain Luke Ohrynowsky (57* off 40) saw his side to 5/177. Harry Manenti (53* off 31) helped the Dolphins level the scores, before the Lions finished three clear after each side played an additional over at the crease.
PARRA POWER
Parramatta were untroubled at Old Kings, overpowering both Hawkesbury and Sydney in Pool C.
Tim Ward (50 off 25) took the long handle to the Hawks bowlers before top scoring with 30 not out in an eight-wicket win over Sydney. Owen Simonsen was best with the ball for Parra, taking 2-10 off four overs followed by 2-15 in the later game.
ACT rep Dave Dubey struck seven sixes in Penrith’s 43-run win over Sydney. In all, the slugger slammed 93 off just 46 balls in a total of 7/193.
BEARS RUN HOT
UTS North Sydney not only contained a rampant Dylan Hunter in Pool B, the Bears made it a perfect two-from-two by downing UNSW.
James Moore (74* off 56) cleared the fence on three occasions in Norths’ 4/159, before captain Mac Jenkins took 3-29 to help restrict the Bees to 7/144.
Unfazed by Hunter’s stinging assault, Wests regrouped in the afternoon to chase down Blacktown’s 6/152. Finn Gray closed out the reply, hitting a brisk unbeaten 40 off 18 balls.
The action continues next weekend when the remaining preliminary rounds will be played out on both Saturday and Sunday.
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