AW Green Shield: Round four wrap from NSW’s premier U16 cricket tournament, 50+ photo gallery
The state’s top U16 cricketers returned after the break for round four of the Green Shield. There were in-match form reversals, a final over thriller and massive partnerships. Wrap, 50+ GALLERY.
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AW Green Shield action returned after the holiday break on Sunday when the state’s top under-16 cricketers took the field for round four.
Once again wet weather had an impact at most venues, although results were reached in all 10 matches.
With three rounds remaining until next week’s finals, the race for the top eight remains wide open as teams begin to settle on their best combinations.
Here’s how round four played out.
SLOW STARTS BIG FINISH
Gordon continued its resurgence at Chatswood after the Stags overpowered Penrith to record a second straight victory.
Although they were forced to dig deep after slumping to 3-42 in the face of a blistering opening spell by Penrith quick Alex Kerkham (2-50).
Vivaan Gandhi led a mid-order recovery with 82, while Campbell Smith (45 off 49 balls) and Atharv Dwivedi (40 off 51) offered solid support to help set Penrith a difficult chase of 272.
Smith (2-18) then capped off a fine all-round performance with two early wickets before Tyler McInnes (4-11) chimed in late to wrap up an impressive 168-run win.
“It’s certainly a valuable win, really important given poor weather is expected for the rest of the week,” said co-coach Nick Miller.
“After a big loss in round one the team is starting to come together. We have a young squad with five under-age players, and even things like getting used to playing on Chatswood Oval takes a bit of time.”
In a fine team performance, Miller praised the side’s spinners.
“Campbell is a left-arm offie, he’s very accurate and is comfortable opening the bowling,” he said.
“Tyler is from Nelson Bay, he just returned after representing Newcastle at last week’s under-16 Country Championships.
“He has made a habit of cleaning up late with his leggies. Tailenders can’t help themselves when he tosses it up, it’s why his teammates affectionately call him the burglar.”
It was a similar story at Mosman, where Sydney put the home side under pressure before the Whales stormed home to reach a rain reduced target.
With half centuries to opener Aditya Thakare (85 off 98), Daniel Craig (51 of 87) and Lucas Medford (53 off 54), Sydney posted a challenging 8-236.
“Max Circosta (3-43) swung the ball early for Mosman and picked up a nice wicket,” said Sydney coach Nathan Doyle, while still recovering from a first grade century made in Saturday’s heat.
“But the boys rallied and it was good to see them perform under pressure, it allowed Lucas to pick up the pace at the end.
“Although the Mosman bowlers closed out well after it looked like we might score closer to 270.”
In the end, the missing runs would prove costly. Opener Angus Tesoriero ignited Mosman’s reply with an elegant 35 off 27 before Noah Quayle (50 off 77) and Noah Feenstra (71*off 83) put on 89 for the fourth wicket in the side’s five-wicket win.
CARDIAC BEARS
For the second straight outing UTS North Sydney found themselves in a final over shootout. After a heartbreaking two-run loss in round three, the Bears needed six off the final over to pass St George’s 220 at Bon Andrews Oval.
Once again Lachlan Barber (8* off 11) was there with the bat, but it was Toby Hannan (36* off 38) who proved the hero, finding the fence from Austin McDean’s third delivery to secure a two-wicket victory.
Earlier in the day, Blake Cattle top scored for Saints with 53 in a card where six of the top seven batters posted 19 or better. Left-arm quick Amodh Sriram (2-22) starred with the ball for Norths, picking up the prized wicket of captain Keanu Botha for just four.
In a cracking contest, North Sydney’s innings followed a similar path. Most of the top order made starts with Darcy Feilen (51 off 44) leading the way as St George took wickets at regular intervals.
When Norths stumbled to 7-141, Saints were well on top, but the Bears rebounded through Hannan and Feilen who joined forces for a match saving partnership of 64.
UNBEATEN RUN
Northern District and Parramatta joined Mosman as the only unbeaten sides after four rounds.
The Rangers made short work of Sydney University with a resounding nine-wicket win at a picturesque Barker College Oval.
Jack Garland (35 off 57) was best for Uni in a disappointing total of 115. Finn Bailey (3-18) destroyed the middle order before Lachlan Bartlett (3-17) chimed in late with his leg-spin to take his second big haul of the tournament.
Under threatening skies, Northern District wasted no time in reply as openers Henry Abood (49* off 54) and Harry Price (33 off 55) did the bulk of the work in just 18.5 overs.
At Coogee Oval, reigning premiers Parramatta proved too classy for Randwick Petersham. Electric opener Arjun Nadadur blasted 89 off just 67 balls as Parra raced to 4-296 off their 50 overs. Skipper Blake Noorbergen (50 off 59) posted his third score of fifty or more and now leads the way for runs scored with 252 at 126.
Randy Petes were rolled for 124 in reply. Junaid Mansoor (42 off 87) top scored while Prapta Das claimed 3-17.
HAWKS TURN CORNER
Last year’s grand finalists Hawkesbury have turned the corner, easing past Campbelltown Camden by 10 wickets to record their first win of the season.
The visitors were knocked over for 92 in an innings dominated by leg-spinner Aarush Soni (4-12) and Nygel Shah (3-18) before openers Josh Bawcombe (36* off 42) and Samuel Voigt (47* off 44) reeled in the target inside 15 overs.
COUNTRY SPEARHEAD
With many players on representative duties during the Green Shield break, none returned better for the experience than Sutherland’s Kasey Barton.
The big quick from Albion Park returned on a high after helping NSW Country claim a maiden title at the under-17s national championships in Ballarat.
With runs hard to come by at Glenn McGrath Oval, Wests spinners Rehaan Shyamsundar (3-30) and William Zakostelsky (2-27) put the breaks on to restrict the home side to 8-181.
From there Barton (3-19) put the foot down on Wests’ reply, snaring three wickets inside the first eight overs. Even with the target subsequently reduced by rain, there was to be no comeback as Sutherland wrapped up its second win.
PARTNERSHIP KINGS
Fairfield-Liverpool were another side to break the duck, powering to a rain reduced seven-wicket win over Blacktown at Rosedale Oval.
With Blacktown on the ropes at 5-35, an early finish seemed likely until Jett Attard (73 off 110) and Rajveer Masrani (43 off 53) rescued the innings with an 87-run partnership.
Set 204 for victory, the Lions were no certainties at 3-52. From there it was one-way traffic as Yash Deshmukh (50* off 51) and Ahan Vinod (58* off 60) set about resurrecting the chase, eventually reaching the reduced target of 169 in the 30th over.
On the northern beaches, Manly paceman Julian Osbourne (3-36) kept Bankstown in check from the get-go with two early wickets and a run out. Set 184 for victory, despite the early departure of Kai Dalli, Manly romped to a revised target of 151 with no further loss in the 35th over.
Opener Fraser Pandit (59* off 95) played a controlled knock, while Myles Kapoor played all the shots in an unbeaten 75 off 101 deliveries.
After Edward Shand (68 off 104) top scored for Easts in a total of 216, the Dolphins looked like going on with the job when UNSW crashed to 9-105 in the chase.
But in a tremendous sign of spirit, the final pairing of Angus Weightman (70 off 70) and Zachary Nicholls (17* off 47) put on 74 to almost pull off the impossible.
ROUND 5: TUESDAY, 16 JANUARY
Blacktown v Hawkesbury at Joe McAleer Oval
Campbelltown Camden v UTS North Sydney at Raby Oval No.1
Eastern Suburbs v Bankstown at Waverley Oval
Fairfield-Liverpool v Randwick Petersham at Rosedale Oval
Mosman v Gordon at Allan Border Oval
Parramatta v Sutherland at Merrylands Oval
Penrith v Sydney at Howell Oval
St George v Manly Warringah at Hurstville Oval
UNSW v Northern District at David Phillips South
Western Suburbs v Sydney University at Pratten Park
PHOTO GALLERY
Gordon v Penrith at Chatswood Oval
Mosman v Sydney at Allan Border Oval
UTS North Sydney v St George at Bon Andrews Oval
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