HAWKESBURY’S first grade side is on the verge of first innings points after a dramatic Blacktown collapse in the opening game of the Sydney Grade Cricket competition on Saturday at Joe McAleer Oval.
The home side was sent in by Hawkesbury captain Jay Dyball, and he would have been a nervous skipper after Blacktown openers Simon Keen (54) and Grant Crompton (34) were batting relatively comfortably, albeit at a slow rate.
Once Crompton was removed by Pat Lawrence the wheels fell off as Blacktown lost 9-72 to be all out for 155 in the 67th over.
Lawrence was the best of the bowlers with three scalps while Dyball, Scott Heaney and Arjun Nair each took two wickets.
Hawkesbury opening bowler Shane Mott said the team stayed focused while the Blacktown openers got off to a strong start.
“Their openers were fairly patient early but we were still bowling well,” Mott said.
“There were a few decisions that went against us but we knew if we kept on persisting that we’d get the results.
“We probably didn’t expect it to go as well as it did though.
“The wicket was hard to score on and the outfield was slow but in saying that there was nothing spooky about the wicket. It gave us just enough.”
Blacktown coach Dermott Reeve said the inexperience of his side’s batting line-up, which boasts only two first grade century makers, showed.
“It was disappointing after such a promising start,” Reeve said.
“There’s good potential there but constructing an innings is something they have to master.”
In reply, Hawkesbury is sitting pretty at 2-85 with Dyball (16) and Dale McKay (36) both at the crease.
Mott said his team must win the match and get off to a much-needed positive start to the season
“We’d be disappointed if we didn’t go on to win from here,” he said. “If we can start well this season we won’t be under as much pressure to force results later in the season.”
Reeve wasn’t giving up on his men though. “We collapsed and Hawkesbury might do the same if we come out firing,” he said.
The match resumes on Saturday at 9.30am.