Winning knock makes prodigy Jason Sangha youngest high scorer in NSW Premier Grade Cricket history
JASON Sangha has again made NSW Premier Cricket history, with no player younger than the Randwick Petersham prodigy to ever hit a higher first grade score in 124 years of competition.
Southern Courier
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JASON Sangha has again made NSW Premier Cricket history, with no player younger than the Randwick Petersham prodigy to ever hit a higher 1st Grade score in 124 years of competition.
Cricket NSW honourary librarian Dr Colin Clowes dived into the archives of the game after Sangha hit a brilliant 162 not out on Saturday to help the Randy Petes chase down Mosman’s 343 at Petersham Oval.
At 18 years and 29 days, Sangha is the youngest to smash the total since the competition began in 1893 — something he said he did not imagine he would achieve as he took to the crease.
“I obviously has no idea at the time about the record, I just wanted to go out and win the game,” Sangha said.
“343 is a pretty good total and the most important thing to me was to win for the Randy Petes in what was a close game, so I’m glad I helped get us over the line.
“To be fair it was on my mind to try and get a 1st grade 100, I didn’t get it last year which was disappointing.
“Our club historian Lyall Gardner sent me a little message to say that I had broken the Randy Petes’ record, and then I found out (Monday) about the NSW record.
“Obviously it’s a big achievement, but I am focused on keeping grounded and worried about the next game.”
Sangha is carving out a solid reputation as a star of the game, having last year become the youngest ever to be signed on a NSW rookie contract with the Blues, and the youngest in Randwick Petersham history to play first grade.
But the young star is keeping level-headed.
“I still have a contract with the Blues but I am studying for my HSC exams at the moment, so I will go back to full-time training with them after that,” Sangha said.
Randwick Petersham continued their strong start to the season on the weekend, winning three out of five grades.
In first grade, Sangha was backed up by opener Anthony Sams, who scored 50 runs and Shaun Eaton with 64.
Second grade picked up their first win of the season after they bowled Mosman out for 282 — only 10 runs short of Randy Petes’ first innings total. Jamie Hemphrey and Jack Standing took three wickets each and the bowlers backed up a strong batting display that saw Jack James score 128.
Third grade lost to Mosman, who scored 6-402 in the first innings. A solid 65 from lower-order batsman Corey Graham was the only real highlight in the first innings, while an 80 from Chris King in the second dig showed signs of potential for the side.
Randwick’s fourth grade side chased down Mosman’s total of 190 with four wickets in hand, and were steered to victory by Ben Montedoro (55) and veteran Rod Stafford (43 n.o.).
Fifth grade suffered another tough defeat after being bowled out for 199, but there was a silver lining as debutant Peter Andonopoulos, 16, scored 129 runs. His innings included 19 fours and a six, making him the youngest player in the club’s history to score a fifth grade century.
Next round will see the Randy Petes take on Fairfield-Liverpool.