Sydney University captain Nick Larkin will be relying on his bowling attack to rein in Western Suburbs when their two-day clash resumes at Pratten Park on Saturday.
Larkin declared the Sydney University innings closed at 8-257 on day one but the Students couldn’t make a breakthrough in the seven overs remaining and the westerners went to stumps at 0-18.
The Students were looking at a bigger total when the skipper and his opening partner Ben Trevor-Jones put on a 100-run partnership before Larkin departed for 53.
In his first game back after breaking a finger in a NSW trial match a month ago, Larkin passed the 5000-run mark in his First Grade career with the University. He now has 5019 runs at 34.14.
Trevor-Jones departed soon after for 48 and despite solid contributions from Tim Cummins (43), Ryan McElduff (34) and Joe Kershaw (25 not out) the Students eked out 257 off 88 overs before the skipper called it a day.
Jonathan Cook bowled 32 of those overs, including 12 maidens, to finish with 4-49.
Sydney University Second Grade will be chasing outright points when they resume batting at University Oval on Saturday.
After dismissing Western Suburbs for 152, the Students cruised to 1-135 at stumps on day one, with Steven Hobson on 66 and Jack Holloway on 55.
Lawrence Neil-Smith (3-23) and Lewis McMahon (3-42) took the bowling honours for the Students, while Thomas Burt played a lone hand for the visitors with a defiant 71.
The Third Grade fixture at Blick Oval is evenly posed with Western Suburbs going to stumps at 0-64 in reply to Sydney University’s 244. Matthew Powys (91), Jim Ryan (45) and Kevin Jacob (39) led the way with the willow for the Students.
Sydney University Fourths are in a strong position at Kensington Oval. After declaring at 7-304 on the back of Alisdair Grant’s unbeaten 101, the Students had Western Suburbs 1-6 at stumps.
And Sydney University Fifths will be relying on a wagging tail when they resume at Punchbowl Oval on Saturday. After dismissing Western Suburbs for 152, Sydney University went to stumps at a precarious 5-87 with Alexander Bell unbeaten on 50 and a pressure pack on each shoulder.
Meanwhile, in the Sydney women’s premier competition Universities First Grade collected the points in an amazing Round 2 limited overs clash with Penrith at David Phillips North on Sunday.
Carly Leeson (73) and Maisy Gibson (46) led the way in Universities’ 225 before they dismissed the understaffed Penrith for seven in nine overs, with Nell Gibson taking 4-0 and Melissa Norup an expensive 4-7.
And in another amazing game, Universities Seconds cracked 266 off 49 overs on the back of Tessa Graves’ unbeaten 106 before dismissing Gordon for 160 at Killara Oval. Extras topscored for the hosts with 65.
Scoreboard
Sydney Premier Men’s Grade competition – Round 3 (Two-day fixtures)
First Grade: Sydney University 8(dec)-257 (Nick Larkin 53, Ben Trevor-Jones 48, Tim Cummins 43, Ryan McElduff 34, Joe Kershaw 25 not out; Jonathan Cook 4-49) versus Wester Suburbs 0-18 off seven overs, stumps, day one at Pratten Park. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University.
Second Grade: Sydney University 1-135 off 41 overs (Steven Hobson 66 not out, Jack Holloway 55 not out) versus Western Suburbs 152 off 55 overs (Thomas Burt 71; Lawrence Neil-Smith 3-23, Lewis McMahon 3-42) stumps, day one at Sydney University Oval. Toss: Western Suburbs. Batted first: Western Suburbs.
Third Grade: Sydney University 244 off 66.3 overs (Matthew Powys 91, Jim Ryan 45, Kevin Jacob 39; Emmanuel Parmakellis 4-63, Mandeep Oberoi 3-48) versus Western Suburbs 0-64 off 12 overs (Lee Maggs 32 not out) stumps, day one at Blick Oval. Toss: Western Suburbs. Batted first: Sydney University.
Fourth Grade: Sydney University 7(dec)-304 off 74 overs (Alasdair Grant 101 not out, Brayden Dilley 76; Mitchell Fleming 2-67) versus Western Suburbs 1-5 off four overs, stumps, day one at Kensington Oval. Toss: Western Suburbs. Batted first: Sydney University.
Fifth Grade: Western Suburbs 152 off 44.5 overs (Kane Truman 76; Murray Miles 3-39, Thomas Draca 2-12, Zohirul Islam 2-28) versus Sydney University 5-87 off 33 overs (Alexander Bell 50 not out; Dominic Marsh 4-10) stumps, day one at Punchbowl Oval. Toss: Western Suburbs. Batted first: Western Suburbs.
Metropolitan Cup – Round 4 (Two-day fixture)
Sydney University 263 off 71.4 overs (Ashwin Kirubanandan 59, Jazz Rinka 49, Michael Harris 38, Tom Derrick 35; Sanjit Selverajoo 3-36, Anthony Ward 3-50) versus UNSW Gold 1-6 off six overs, stumps day one at St Paul’s College Oval. Toss: UNSW Gold. Batted first: Sydney University.
Sydney Premier Women’s Grade competition – Round 2 (Limited overs fixtures)
First Grade: Universities 225 off 48.3 overs (Carly Leeson 73, Maisy Gibson 46, Shebani Bhaskar 25, Dharshia Srinivas 23 not out; Chantelle Downey 3-37, Lisa Griffith 2-29) defeated Penrith 7 off 9 overs (Nell Gibson 4-0, Melissa Norup 4-7) by 218 runs at David Phillips North on Sunday. Toss: Universities. Batted first: Universities. Points: Universities 6, Penrith 0.
Second Grade: Universities 266 off 49 overs (Teresa Graves 106 not out, Stella Campbell 30, Zoe Benjamin 27; Claire Jones 2-19, Olivia Cook 2-41, Natalie Jonkers 2-46) defeated Gordon 160 off 49.1 overs (Extras 65, Elizabeth Mair 41, Erica Cox 20; Teresa Graves 3-12, Zoe Benjamin 3-26, Taylor Ling 2-13) by 106 runs at Killara Oval on Sunday. Toss: Gordon. Batted first: Universities. Points: Universities 6, Gordon 0.
