Graham Croker
Sydney University openers Ed Cowan and Greg Mail are hoping for a long day at the office when they resume their innings against Gordon at University No.1 Oval on Saturday.
The Students will resume on 0-1 in reply to Gordon’s first innings of 334, which was highlighted by centuries to James Packman (117) and 18-year-old Scone recruit Cameron Eccles (110), who put on a third-wicket stand of 188 on a low, slow wicket..
Opener Eccles started the season with a century in Third Grade, made the most of his elevation with a century in Second Grade, and repeated the effort with a maiden First Grade century after being promoted to fill in for NSW player Beau Casson.
Gordon occupied the crease for all but one over on the opening day of the two-day Round 4 clash.
In a tough day for trundlers, opening bowler Marty Paskal took the honours. After bowling opener Will Smith for 23 in his first spell, Paskal was brought back late in the innings and literally cleaned up the tale to finish with 4-39 off 16.2 overs. Tim Ley (2-45) and Mail (2-55) also bowled well in long spells.
Mail and Cowan will be hoping for similar conditions on Saturday to push for first innings points and a rung at the top end of the ladder.
In other grades, Sydney University Seconds are well poised to collect first innings points with Gordon tottering at 8-99 in reply to the University’s 163; Thirds will be pushing for outright points; Fourths have already relinquished first innings points; Fifths are in a strong position to collect first innings points; and Sixths are on the verge of collecting first innings points.
First Grade: Gordon 334 (James Packman 117, Cameron Eccles 110, William Smith 23; Marty Paskal 4-39, Tim Ley 2-45, Greg Mail 2-55) v Sydney University 0-1 at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Toss won by: Gordon.
Second Grade: Sydney University 163 (Nick Larkin 76; Nick Medcalf 4-55, James Campbell 3-42) v Gordon 8-99 (Michael Culkoff 4-5, Chris Withers 2-24, Josh Toyer 2-31) at Chatswood Oval.
Third Grade: Gordon 121 (Ed Howitt 44, Peter Drysdale 22; Sanjiv Khalko 5-16, Nigel Cowell 3-34) v Sydney University 4-171 (James Walsh 79, Richard Berrington 54 not out; Damien Way 3-24) at Sydney University No.2 Oval.
Fourth Grade: Sydney University 122 (Jim Kazaglis 39) v Gordon 206 Anthony Sherman 100; Jim Kazaglis 3-39, Chris Can 3-35, Nolan Matthews 2-25) at Beauchamp Park.
Fifth Grade: Sydney University 5(dec)-264 (Ben Fethers 64, Nick Burke 59, Dan Bragg 57; Patrick Effeny 3-66, Justin Avendano 2-54) v Gordon 0-8 at St Paul’s College Oval.
Sixth Grade: Sydney University 3-75 in reply to Randwick’s 94. Scoring details unavailable, but Sydney University’s Ben Joy finished with five wickets including a hat-trick.
