Belvidere Cup: Stars as Sydney beat Manly, NSW Premier Cricket first grade decider
The stars and standouts of the NSW Premier Cricket first grade decider between Sydney and Manly for the Belvidere Cup.
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The NSW Premier Cricket decider for the Belvidere Cup has been done and won by Sydney.
Beau McClintock produced a stunning 137 to help Sydney defeat Manly at Drummoyne Oval over Easter.
Sydney’s wicketkeeper scored his sixth century in the match - and his fourth of the season — taking him past 4000 runs to 4015 at 38.98.
NSW PREMIER CRICKET GRAND FINAL RESULT: FIRST GRADE
Sydney 352 (B McClintock 137 A Mosca 94 M Rodgers 34 R Felsch 29 R Hadley 6-102 A Hicks 2-71) bt Manly-Warringah 123 (J Foster 34 R Farrell 22 S O’Keefe 21 H Manenti 3-8 J Nisbet 3-23 B Manenti 3-35) at Drummoyne Oval. The Benaud Medal for Player of the Final: Beau McClintock (Sydney).
STARS OF THE SYDNEY CRICKET FIRST GRADE GRAND FINAL
#McClintock was named Player of the Final to collect the Benaud Medal. The last Benaud Medal (2018-19) also went to a wicketkeeper, Penrith’s Tyran Liddiard
#His teammate Anthony Mosca (94) took his season total to 1323 runs. It is the ninth highest total in the history of the competition.
Mosca fell six runs short of registering a century in both the semi-final and the final, having scored a rousing 124 just a week ago. That feat has been accomplished only twice, by Moises Henriques (141*, 113) for St. George in 2007-08 and Harry Dalton (116*, 174) for Sydney in 2015-16.
#Manly young gun Ryan Hadley’s 6-102 took him to 51 wickets for the season at 20.50.
#Teenager Jack Nisbet made his first-grade debut with Sydney in a T20 match in November. On Sunday he bowled the second over of Manly’s innings and bowled Elliott Herd with his first ball. In his second over, he dismissed Jay Lenton and Ollie Davies with successive balls and after two overs he had 3-0 and Manly-Warringah was 3-19.
#Ben Manenti’s 12 runs and 3-35 took him to 502 runs at 35.35 and 40 wickets at 18.77 for the season.
Manenti is the first to complete the all-rounder’s double (500 runs + 40 wickets) since both he and Nick Stapleton did it in 2017-18.
NSW PREMIER CRICKET GRAND FINAL: MANLY WARRINGAH’S PLAYERS TO WATCH, RISING STARS
MANLY’S RUN GUN: JAY LENTON
Manly’s top run scorer is the inform Jay Lenton. Lenton has had a standout year with the club and across all formats has 873 runs.
In first grade he has 705 runs at an impressive average of 54.
This wicketkeeper bats between three and five and was a member of the side which won back in 2014/2015.
MANLY’S RISING STAR: RYAN HADLEY
Ryan Hadley turned plenty of heads when he. took five wickets in Manly’s semi-final against Sydney Uni.
In first grade this season he has taken 33 wickets and at average of 21.9.
This opening bowler is only 21 but is already in the NSW squad and has a rookie contract.
MANLY’S SUPERSTAR: STEVE O’KEEFE
This cricket veteran brings huge experience to the game and will be invaluable to Manly in the final.
The left arm spin bowler will play a huge role in the finals and enters the decider with 26 wickets at an average of 11 despite missing a big chunk of the season to his BBL commitments.
The 36-year-old O’Keefe has the best bowling average in the competition of 11.65.
MANLY’S UNSUNG HERO: ELLIOT HEARD
A highly valued played at Manly and their unsung hero.
Flying under the radar he has collected 29 wickets at an average of 21 in first grade this season.
A right arm off spinner, he could be crucial for Manly in the decider.
Opened the batting in the semi-final and scored 46.
MANLY’S VETERAN: CAMERON MERCHANT
Well known around the traps for his appearance on Married At First Sight.
The oldest player in the Manly side and this could be his last game if Manly triumph over Sydney at Drummoyne.
Bats in the middle order and a real stalwart of the team and has made more than 800 runs for Manly since starting with the club in 1999.
NSW PREMIER CRICKET GRAND FINAL: SYDNEY CRICKET CLUB’S PLAYERS TO WATCH, RISING STARS
The Sydney Cricket Club first graders have proved themselves the ones to beat all season ahead of the three-day match to determine the 2020/2021 Belvidere Cup champion.
With input and insight from coach Michael Haire, we take a look at the best players, up-and -comers and cricketers who can change the course of a game.
SYDNEY CRICKET CLUB CAPTAIN: MATT RODGERS
Sydney Cricket club captain and a leader on and off the field. With Anthony Mosca, Rodgers broke a 124 year batting record in Sydney’s defeat of Fairfield Liverpool in the semi-finals of Premier Cricket last weekend.
Rodgers scored 166 and Mosca 124 to put on 265 for the second wicket. The partnership was the biggest for any wicket in the clubs history.
A man known to score runs under pressure and also tactically astute.
A schoolteacher by professional and very self motivated
What the coach says: His cricket ability and knowledge is excellent.
SYDNEY CRICKET CLUB’S TOP RUN SCORER: ANTHONY MOSCA
Mosca was in the headlines for his stunning performance against Fairfield Liverpool in the semi-finals of NSW Premier Cricket. He scored 124, his third century of the season and the 11th of his career. This took him 21229 runs for the season.
Leading run scorer who has worked hard on his fitness to great effect.
What the coach says: Our best player and leading scorer. He deserves everything he has got this year.
SYDNEY CRICKET CLUB’S RISING STAR: JACK NISBET
Identified in NSW Cricket circles as a star of the future who has stepped up and excelled in first grade this season.
Tall and with pace, Haire said the 18-year-old hasn’t surprised anyone at Sydney with his ability as he has been on the rise for some time.
Haire said Nisbet is level headed and determined, controlled and centred on what he wants to do.
What the coach says: He is a good player. He will go a long way. He is also a good listener and has worked closely with Nick Bills.
SYDNEY CRICKET CLUB’S QUIET ACHIEVER: BEAU MCCLINTOCK
Beau McClintock wicketkeeper has scored two centuries this season and is rated one of the best keepers in Sydney Cricket.
An integral part of Sydney’s campaign to win the Belvidere Cup this season.
What the coach says: He is a special talent and in my option the best keep in Sydney cricket which seems to go unnoticed.
SYDNEY CRICKET CLUB’S BOWLING GUN: RYAN FELSCH
A vital part of the Sydney first grade team and its great success this season.
Haire rates Felsch as an “outstanding white ball cricketer” and crucial to Sydney’s success over Easter
An aggressive bowling option for Sydney he is excellent at unsettling batsmen.
Felsch also matched an extraordinary Victor Trumper record this season.
What the coach says: He is a very good player and can be dangerous.
SYDNEY CRICKET CLUB’S VETERAN: DAN SMITH
The coach of Sydney’s Green Shield side with great cricket knowledge and is good communicator.
A former NSW keeper whose experience will be invaluable in the decider.
Bats in the middle order and a former captain of Sydney before Rodgers.
Has never won a red ball title in 23 years of playing.
What the coach says: He has played in a few (deciders) but never won one.
SYDNEY CRICKET CLUB’S BBL STAR: BEN MANENTI
Has been a standout for the club on his return from his BBL duties.
The Fiver Dock cricketer, whose brother also plays in the team, bought memorable form back into NSW Premier Cricket in his 200th game for Sydney last month.
Manenti took 7/41 in a head-turning display in his 200th game his eighth five wicket performance. He followed it up with 75, the third highest of his 13 half-centuries.
What the coach says: We haven't seen a lot from Ben due to the BBL but his experience is invaluable.
SYDNEY CRICKET CLUB’S BOWLING ACE: NICK BILLS.
Consistently Nick Bills has been great for Sydney this season. The 29-year-old from Sydney’s north shore is a team leader who is patient, bowls with a good line and according to Haire, has a “a fair streak of aggression in him as well.’’
A seasoned bowler who can go the distance with his “last ball as good as his first’’ according to the Sydney coach.
What the coach says: Very strong competitor who brings energy and enthusiasm to our team.
BELVIDERE CUP HISTORY
The Belvidere cup is a silver cup donated to New South Wales cricket by former Australian player, Dr Percy Charlton.
It was originally called the NSW cricket Association championships cup and was first won by the Belvidere club in 1882
BELVIDERE CUP WINNERS
2019/20 Randwick Petersham
2018/19 Penrith
2017/18 Parramatta
2016/17 Sydney University
2015/16 Bankstown
2014/15 Manly Warringah
2013/14 Sydney University
2012/13 St George
2011/12 Sydney University
2010/11 Sydney University
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