It has long been argued by cricket followers ands supporters that the best cricket is in Sydney Grade Cricket, now known as NSW Premier Cricket. When you look at the 1st Grade match between Randwick Petersham and Penrith at Coogee Oval over the past two Saturdays, its hard to argue against that assertion.
Both days were played in conditions ideal to produce an even contest, although Randwick Petersham skipper Daya Singh thought there was “a bit” in the wicket by inviting the Panthers to bat first after winning the toss. He looked to have pulled the right rein with that decision, as Penrith lost skipper and NSW hard-hitting batter, Ryan Gibson for 3 with only 8 runs on the board. He was adjudged LBW to 19-year-old debutant and newly capped player no 149, Angus McTaggart, who went on to finish with 2-26 from 8 overs.
Penrith’s third wicket fell at 110 to give the Randy Petes a real hope of achieving further breakthroughs. However, a 168 runs partnership cruelled those thoughts as opening bat, Nick Adams, belted 146 from 202 balls with 15 fours and 6 sixes. Four of those sixes came off successive balls in Shivansh Pathak’s 8th over which cost 26. And while the next 5 wickets fell for just 75, the final tally of 8-359 declared, after being 2-97 at lunch and 3-203 at tea, was the highest for the day across the 1st Grade competition. It was also Penrith’s highest score against Randwick Petersham at Coogee. Their previous best at the ground was 5-313 in 2018-19. Spin bowler Riley Ayre stuck skilfully to his task ending with 4-107 off 25 overs with 7 maidens.
During the following week, both clubs lost a player to the NSW/ACT XI in their match against the recently arrived West Indies touring party in Canberra. All-rounder Riley Ayre from the Randy Petes and Penrith fast bowler Hunar Verma got the nod in what was an exciting opportunity for them.
Having held on grimly at the end of day 1, Randwick Petersham resumed its innings on the second day of play at 0-20. Camden Hawkins (44 off 75 balls with 6 fours and a six) got things going early but at 2-66, Jason Sangha, who replaced Riley Ayre in the side, was joined by Anthony Sams. The pair then put on 137 for the 3rd wicket. Sams was out at 3-207 for 48 off 100 balls. When he got to 37 in that innings, it triggered a special moment in his career and the club’s history, as that gave him the honour of being the greatest run-scorer for Randwick Petersham across all grades, passing the record of 6,629 runs established last year by the retiring Adam Semple.
But it was Sangha at his best. The champion batter and NSW vice-captain ended with a massive 150 off 242 balls hitting 21 fours and a six. When he was dismissed, the score had slumped to 7-302 with 58 runs needed. That brought together no. 8 in the batting order, new boy Angus McTaggart for his first innings and no. 9 Ashley Burton, who was playing his 10th Belvidere Cup match and was in only his 8th innings. But the pair displayed few nerves as they belted 13 fours and a six over the following eight overs to clinch the match by 3 wickets with a final score of 7-360.
McTaggart, after his impressive bowling spell the previous day, finished with 41* off 51 balls with 6 fours and a six. At 7-344 when an inexperienced pair might tighten up, he hit a six to bring up the 350. With 10 to get, he then kept supporters on the edge of their seats as he played out a maiden. Ash Burton took a different approach next over. He smashed the required 10 runs off the first four balls of the 96th over to bring up a remarkable win. Burton finished unconquered with 32* off only 24 balls with 7 fours. Henry Railz with 2-86 off 25 overs and Luke Hodges with 2-79 off 22, were the best of the 8 bowlers used by the Panthers.
What a game and what a win! It was NSW Premier Cricket at its best.
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