AW Green Shield: Round three wrap from NSW’s premier U16 cricket tournament, 50+ photo gallery
Records tumbled in round three of the U16s Green Shield as one dynamic duo celebrated Christmas early with an extraordinary partnership. All the stars, full wrap, 50+ photo gallery.
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The runs flowed again in round three of the U16s AW Green Shield as one opening pair broke a string of club records in a remarkable partnership.
In a round where another three centuries were scored, it was at Weldon Oval where one side caused a major boilover and announced themselves as a genuine title contender.
Round three wrap.
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BEES’ RECORD BUSTERS
In an astonishing day for UNSW at Panania, openers Neel Patel and Nirav Sharma both plundered centuries and smashed a swag of club records as the Bees exploded on route to formidable 2/309.
Rattled by the onslaught, Bankstown could only muster 103 in reply as UNSW made a huge statement with an emphatic third straight victory.
In a club record Green Shield stand, the pair added 279 for the first wicket before Sharma (103 off 145) was stumped off Sai Charan Ramtenki (2/50) in the 48th over.
Having already notched a Greenies century last year and another recently in third grade, Patel (167 off 142 balls) played the aggressor and guided the year-young Sharma along the way.
With 10 fours each, the duo almost doubled the club’s opening stand record of 148, and then the 152 set for any wicket.
With another century in his kit, Patel then exploded into colour. Freeing his arms with seven sixes in a little more than a handful of overs as his score rattled beyond 150.
With the damage done, the towering Jack Edwards only needed nine deliveries to blast an unbeaten 25, enough to take the total well beyond UNSW’s previous best of 5/283.
“Before the start, Nirav and I agreed to try and bat out the 50 overs and both get hundreds,” said Patel, still grinning like he’d received his Christmas presents a week early.
“And that’s what we did. The deck was pretty nice for batting, and after the opening spell the opposition was pretty flat. It allowed us to work the singles to the sweepers and put the bad balls away for boundaries.
“It was a good experience, I think we cashed in at the right time.”
One of a number in the Bees squad hardened by last year’s Green Shield campaign, and with additional experience in the senior grades, Patel made it his responsibility to guide Sharma to his own milestone.
“I think at times Nirav felt pressured, and my job was to help him to keep going and continue to work through his processes,” said Patel.
“Just to get him down the other end and relieve the pressure. It worked out well, and we’ve got a pretty good team, so hopefully we can keep building towards the finals.”
LIONS’ BIG STATEMENT
It’s one thing to tackle the reigning premiers on their home turf, but in a major boilover, Fairfield-Liverpool has put the rest of the competition on notice with a thumping 81-run victory.
A blazing 116 by skipper Ahan Vinod opened the door for an imposing 285, before the Lions then slammed it shut when they rolled Manly for 204 in the 42nd over.
After a string of relatively low scores for King’s and in the state pathways, Vinod dictated terms. At 2/54, the keeper arrived at the crease and dominated from the outset, hammering 16 fours and a six in an innings that lasted just 77 balls.
Manly captain Lachlan Coy (63 off 80) and Darcy Horstead (43 0ff 59) added 93 for the third wicket, but a constant stream of wickets through the middle overs stifled the momentum.
Avyukth Sudharsan (3/47) and Paarth Sharma (2/16) were the pick of the Lions bowlers.
FIVE UNBEATEN
Four other sides sit alongside UNSW as the only unbeaten sides after three rounds.
After restricting Blacktown to 8/131, ladder leaders Northern District overcame the loss of two early wickets as Penrith recruit Xander Carstens (67 off 55) and captain Finn Bailey (49* off 37) saw the Rangers reach the target in the 17th over.
Sydney University headed to Bensons Lane and once again hit top gear with the willow. Edward Shand (49 off 72) and Archie O’Hara (55 off 68) put Hawkesbury on the back foot with a first wicket stand of 105 before Arnav Yadav (57 off 66) and Oliver Lista (54* off 34) lifted the total to 4/290.
In reply, the home side were bowled out for 174 with opening bowler Max Hildebrandt (2/21) one of three Uni bowlers to finish with multiple wickets.
At Tunks Park, Jacob Hanlon (75 off 123) spearheaded North Sydney’s innings of 9/199, but it wasn't enough against a rising Parramatta side who crossed the line in 41 overs for the loss of four wickets.
Fresh from his round two century, Hamilton Seoung top scored for Parra with 73 off 88 balls.
After a no-result in round one, Penrith maintained their unbeaten streak when they outlasted Sutherland by 14 runs in a tight tussle at St Marys.
Batting first, Jacob Thompson (82 off 120) and Fletcher Byrne (76 off 86) guided Penrith to 5/259. On paper it seemed enough, but Sutherland kept fighting and gave it a real nudge following useful contributions from Sam Jaques (53 off 60) and Tom Faulkner (46 off 63).
DING DONG BATTLE
St George snuck across the line to record their second win following a ding dong battle with Wests at Pratten Park.
In a low scoring contest, Martis Johri (28 off 59) was one of three Wests players to reach 20 in a total of 155. It should never have been enough, but when Saints captain Blake Cattle fell for a patient 39, the visitors quickly went from 3/117 to 8/152.
An unbeaten 47 from Thomas Wells proved the difference in the two-wicket win. Once again Joseph Mendis (3/25) impressed with the ball - in three outings the left-arm offie has taken eight wickets for Wests at 6.25.
ON THE BOARD
A brilliant stand-alone knock from Satva Shah has seen Gordon open their account with a 53-run victory over Randwick Petersham.
Batting first at Petersham Oval, Gordon were bowled out for 211. With 94 off 122 balls, Shah was the star and looked headed for a ton until he was bowled by Harrison Salmon with the score on 180.
It was a big scalp for the Randy Petes skipper, who closed out the innings with an impressive haul of 5/18 from 5.5 overs.
Searching for a third straight win, the home side couldn’t find anyone to replicate the deeds of Shah and were all out for 158. Archie Hetherington (4/31) opened the bowling and was the best of the Gordon attack.
Following a tough opening couple of rounds, the Easts batting line-up got going against Mosman. In a total of 7/196, Juhith Rajesidhiraju (50* odd 61) posted one of five scores above 20.
Although with both side’s eyeing their first win, it was Mosman who came up trumps after Hugh Taylor (47 off 65) top scored as the Whales reached 4/197 in the 47th over.
WIN-LOSS-WIN
Sydney rebounded from their round two loss with a 43-run win over Campbelltown Camden.
Skipper Hamish Malone top scored with 77 off 97 in Sydney’s 10/201. Loaded with spin options, Joshua Garner (3/42) led the Ghosts for wickets, while new ball bowler Nicholas Augustine wasn’t far off the pace with his 2/32.
The Ghosts were bowled out for 158. Opener Abhinav Nayani struck 43, while Vansh Anand took 4/40 for Sydney.
ROUND 4: THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2025
Bankstown v Western Suburbs at Kelso Park North
Campbelltown Camden v Penrith at Raby No.1
Fairfield-Liverpool v Mosman at Rosedale Oval
Gordon v St George at Chatswood Oval
UTS North Sydney v Hawkesbury at Tunks Park
Northern District v Randwick Petersham at Mark Taylor Oval
Parramatta v Blacktown at Merrylands Oval No.1
Sutherland v Manly Warringah at Sutherland Oval No.1
Sydney v Eastern Suburbs at Drummoyne Oval
Sydney University v UNSW at Sydney University No.1
PHOTO GALLERY
Randwick Petersham v Gordon
Western Suburbs v St George
Penrith v Sutherland
Blacktown v Northern District
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