HAWKESBURY Cricket Club’s first grade side escaped with a thrilling one run victory against Mosman in the club’s two-day match played over Saturday and Sunday.
Mosman was bowled out for 277 in the NSW Premier Cricket Competition match, falling just shy of Hawkesbury’s total of 278.
A couple of half-centuries from the Hawkesbury top order batsmen, coupled with tight bowling from the attack saw Hawkesbury just get over the line against their opponents while playing at Alan Border Oval in the round 12 match.
Mosman sent the visitors in on Saturday morning, and Hawkesbury’s top order made a good show.
Jas Cheema and Josh Clarke dug in and made 107 runs, before Clarke fell for 66. Cheema followed not long after for 44.
With the openers gone, Jordan Gauci and Dale McKay formed a healthy partnership of their own, taking the score to 198 before McKay was dismissed.
Gauci finished the innings not out on 69, but played a much more reserved innings than McKay, who made 53 off 81 including a six and six boundaries.
Arjun Nair unfortunately went for a duck in his first inning back with Hawkesbury in a number of weeks, while Corey Lowe, one, and Toby Flynn-Duncombe, 0, also had quick stints in the middle.
With the ball in hand, opening bowlers Liam Courtney and Usman Qadir took three and four wickets respectively, while Flynn-Duncombe also took three.
Unfortunately, the second grade team, which is having a superb season, lost its third game, while playing in a one-day match.
The second grade attack failed to fire, taking only five wickets, while the batsmen also struggled, being bowled out for 139, well short of Mosman’s 255.
Third and fifth also posted low scores and lost. Third grade made 112 and lost by five wickets, while fifth grade made 101 chasing 119.
Fourth grade, however, did win, making 8-152 and bowling out Mosman for 138.
Hawkesbury is eighth on the club championship ladder with 882 points after the round’s play.
Hawkesbury’s Poidevin-Gray Shield team will play Gordon on Sunday in the qualifying-finals of the under-21 competition.
Should they win, they will play in the semi-finals on February 25.
Meanwhile, Venkat Viswanathan was selected into the 2017-18 Green Shield Merit XII, after his play in the under-16 competition.
Viswanathan had the third most wickets with 15 at 12.20 during the season.
In round 13 of the NSW Premier Cricket Competition, Hawkesbury will play Sutherland, with first grade at Owen Earle Oval from 10am in the two-day match.
