Graham Croker
Any hopes Sydney University had of taking points out of the two-day match against Western Suburbs at Pratten Park were buried when Nick Compton took strike at the start of the second day.
The Wests opener batted for 5hr 45min in compiling 113 and departed when he was caught and bowled by Ian Moran with the scores level at 240.
Manjot Singh provided the extra run as Wests finished on 2-241 to win on the first innings and collect six competition points.
Having won the toss and batted, Sydney University declared at their day one stumps score of 9-240.
Wicketkeeper Matthew Morgan (65), Will Hay (60) and Mark Faraday (40) provided the backbone of the innings, while fast bowler Matthew Day took the trundling honours for the hosts with 4-63 off 20 overs.
When Compton booked in for day two, the University bowlers were in for a long, hard haul. He hit 10 boundaries and faced 247 deliveries while sharing partnerships of 78 with Shariful Islam (28) and Singh (83 not out).
The Students turned their fortunes around on Sunday in the fourth round of the limited over competition, thanks to a remarkable three-over spell from Dave Miller, who collected 4-3.
After compiling 7-225 off their 50 overs, Sydney University dismissed Sydney for 188 at St Joseph’s College oval.
The consistent Ian Moran top-scored for University with 94 off 91 balls. Batting at number three, Moran cracked nine boundaries and a six in his 133 minutes at the crease.
Morgan (26 not out), Mark Faraday (23) and Ed Cowan (20) were the other main contributors.
Sydney began the chase well, with openers Justin Moore (35) and Nathan Ball (32) putting on 73 before Moore departed and Ball went one run later.
Number three Tim Sparke top-scored with 46 before becoming the first of Miller’s victims.
The Students collected the points and now lie fourth behind Hawkesbury, Penrith and Gordon on the limited over competition ladder.
The First XI also lie fourth on the Belvidere Cup ladder behind Gordon, Penrith and Hawkesbury.
The Club Championship is headed by Gordon on 395 points, with Penrith (377) and Sydney University (375) breathing down their necks.
Sydney Grade Cricket – Round 4
First Grade: Western Suburbs 2-241 (Nick Compton 113, Manjot Singh 83, Shariful Islam 28; Ian Moran 1-17) d Sydney University 9(dec)-240 (Matthew Morgan 65, Will Hay 62, Mark Faraday 40, Nick Dunford 25; Matthew Day 4-63, Manjot Singh 2-47) on the first innings at Pratten Park. Toss won by: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University.
Second Grade: Sydney University 9(dec)-259 (Dave Miller 62, Nick Larkin 46, Dave Butchart 34, Sanjiv Khalko 28, Josh Toyer 25no; Vaibhav Rastogi 5-54, Ash Squire 3-77) d Western Suburbs 204 (Ash Squire 52, Vaibhav Rastogi 43; Michael Culkoff 3-42, Chris Withers 2-23, Sanjiv Khalko 2-30, Mitch Cook 2-40) on first innings at University No.1. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University.
Third Grade: Sydney University 7-296 (Ben Larkin, 99 Dave Jessep 66, Stu McLean 38no, Troy Stanley 25; Rizwan Khan 3-29) d Western Suburbs 292 (Keegan Luiters 90, Toby Hynes 46, Vinayak Sasitharan 35, Matthew Baden 26; Dave Jessup 3-43, Brendon Smith 2-31, Nolan Matthews 2-59) on first innings at Blick Oval. Toss: Western Suburbs. Batted first: Western Suburbs.
Fourth Grade: Western Suburbs 8-313 (Aaron Morris 134, Will Sackville 52no, John DiBartolo 25; Charles Cull 5-67 Nigel Cowell 2-59) d Sydney University 312 (James Walsh 82, Nigel Cowell 44, Pete Jordon 37, Matt Skinner 31, Jim Kazaglis 30, Ben Peacock 29, Alisdair Grant 26; Gavin Dennett 4-79) on first innings at Sydney University No.2 Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University.
Fifth Grade: Western Suburbs 205 (Nirmalan Thanabalasingam 40, Lachlan O’Connor 35; Andrew Rhodes 3-40, James Rodgers 2-39, Greg Metcalfe 2-46) d Sydney University 150 (Michael Barwick 66, Josh Lawrence 28; Lachlan O’Connor 5-60, Mitchell Finlay 2-36) on first innings at Punchbowl Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University.
Limited overs – Round 4 (Sunday)
First Grade: Sydney University 7-225 off 50 overs (Ian Moran 94, Matthew Morgan 26, Mark Faraday 24, Ed Cowan 20; Daren Ettridge 1-33, Luke Donovan 2-52) d Sydney 188 off 45 overs (Tim Sparke 46, Justin Moore 35, Nathan Ball 32; David Miller 4-3, Nick Dunford 2-41, Tim Ley 2-40) at St Joseph’s College. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University.
