Opening bowler racks up first five wickets as Lions suffer back-to-back losses

FAIRFIELD Liverpool Lions were handed back-to-back losses after being defeated by Manly in their Sydney Premier Cricket first-grade one- day match at Manly Oval on Saturday.

Harmon Sandhu bowls. Picture: David Swift

FAIRFIELD Liverpool Lions were handed back-to-back losses after being defeated by Manly in their Sydney Premier Cricket first-grade one- day match at Manly Oval on Saturday.

After some midweek rain made conditions favourable for the bowlers, the Lions were on the back foot when they lost the toss and were sent in to bat. The innings got off to a cautious start but Manly were quick to make the most of the good bowling conditions.

Two wickets in the fifth over to opening bowler Michael Visser set the tone for the match. Visser continued to roll through the Lions middle-order, picking up the first five wickets of the match.

Harmon Sandhu bowls. Picture: David Swift

Opening batsman Matthew Harivel held firm through the fall of wickets but was eventually dismissed for 34 as the Lions slumped to 6-72. Some lower order contributions from Callan McKiernan (23), Harmon Sandhu (27) and Raveesh Srivastava (21) helped the Lions to a total of 137.

Manly started their innings aggressively with Doug Bollinger (1-33) picking up the first wicket with the score on 39 off just nine overs.

Harmon Sandhu (2-24) found two quick wickets before spinner Param Uppal (2-30) and Anthony Clark (1-8) pitched in.

Grade Cricket at Manly Oval between Manly and Fairfield. Play was called off due to rain. Picture: Jenny Evans

Manly finished on 7-118 when rain and lightning stopped play late in the day, nine runs ahead on the Duckworth-Lewis method to claim the win.

Fairfield’s next match is a two-day fixture at Sydney University on Saturday from 10.30am.

Despite the poor round of results, Fairfield’s under-21 Poidevin-Gray team recorded a victory in their qualifying final against second- placed Penrith to progress through to the semi-finals on March 5.

Grade Cricket at Manly Oval between Manly and Fairfield. Play was called off due to rain. Picture: Jenny Evans