Kingsgrove T20 Cup replay: BBL star Ben Manenti partners brother with ball to lead Sydney to victory over Randwick-Petersham

Sydney Sixer Ben Manenti and brother Harry dominated in Sydney’s easy win over Randwick-Petersham. WATCH THE REPLAY

Anything you can do, I can do better.

The Manenti brothers combined for eight wickets to lead Sydney to a commanding victory over Randwick-Petersham in the latest round of the Kingsrove T20 Cup tournament.

After Sydney posted a formidable 4-206 at Coogee Oval, Sydney Sixers squad member Ben Manenti (4-32) and his brother Harry (4-11) skittled Randwick Petersham for 137 in 17.5 overs.

WATCH THE FULL REPLAY IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

Ben Manenti and brother Harry were unstoppable with the ball in grade cricket. Picture: AAP

Ben Manenti produced a statement of intent to the Sixers selectors as he battles with Stephen O’Keefe and Lloyd Pope for a starting berth in BBL08.

The off-spinner took the scalps of Shaun Eaton (32), Ravin De Silva (14), Daya Singh (8) and Scott Coyte (5) in his four-wicket haul.

Anthony Mosca cleared the boundary for times on his way to 59 from 40 balls in Sydney’s innings, while Ryan Felsch contributed 48 from 24 balls.

SCORES:

SYDNEY 4/206 (A Mosca 59, R Felsch 48, S Coyte 2/46)

def

RANDWICK-PETERSHAM 137 (R Ayre 37*, H Manenti 4/11 B Manenti 4/32)

MANENTI’S NEW HEALTHY HOBBY

—Amanda Lulham

Ben Manenti has a bet with his brother and some time on his hands during COVID to thank for his new-look this cricket season.

Manenti, playing for Sydney against Randwick Petersham in the Kingsgrove T20 Cup, made the most of the isolation to pick up a new hobby which stripped 10 kilos off this frame.

“I started running each day and then I got a message from my brother saying lets see who can do the most kilometres in April. That kickstarted it,’’ he said.

“I didn't want him to ever get too far ahead and then it came down to the also day. He was ahead by four kilometres and I knew he never ran more than 12 so I did 16.

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“I fell in love with it. I have felt the benefits of it (the weight loss) in cricket. Not so much in bowling but definitely moving around the field.’’

The Sydney Sixers player said while his father is steering Australia’s top sevens rugby players to a defence of their Olympic gold at the Tokyo Olympics next year, he still has plenty to say about his cricket career.

Ben Manenti at 17 in his backyard.

John Manenti is head coach of the Australian women’s sevens team and the director of rugby at Eastwood Rugby Club.

“He loves his cricket as well,” said Manenti, whose father build him nets at home to practice in when he was a teenager.

“He still tells me and my bother (Harry) what we do right and wrong each Saturday.”

Heading down the rugby pathway, it was an invitation to make his first grade debut for the Sydney Cricket Club a week before his HSC at St Pat’s Strathfield that enticed Manenti to focus on cricket over football.

“Once I got picked in first grade I thought that was the way the cards were played and I would give it a real crack,” he said.

Manenti, who lives in Drummoyne and grew up in Concord, said he failed to make an impression on selections when younger, only finding form to turn selectors heads as he matured.

“I didn’t make teams until I was in the under 19s. I never got picked in any of them,’’ he said.

“Then in my last year of 19s I got picked after getting a few wickets that season. I’m a big believer if you chip away for long enough you will get rewarded.

Sixers player Ben Manenti celebrates after taking the wicket of Chris Lynn during the Big Bash League match against Brisbane Heat.

“Premier Cricket, the Kingsgrove T20, it really is a forum for young players to impress. Not just young players, but others who have been around in first grade for a long time as well.

“That’s what has been so good about the Big Bash … they look at how people are doing in grade cricket. If your do well you do get rewarded.’’