HAWKESBURY Cricket Club had a great first session against Sutherland in all grades, with the fourth grade team already taking a first innings victory over their opponents in the NSW Premier Cricket Competition.
The round 13 matches of the competition are two-days, and all five grades played themselves into a solid position on Saturday.
The first grade team played well in the field, restricting Sutherland to 8-286 after 92 overs of play, and assuming Sutherland declares, it is a score Hawkesbury is capable of chasing down on their home turf at Owen Earle Oval this Saturday.
Opening bowlers Pat Lawrence and Luke Courtney were seen off by the Sutherland openers, but they held the scoring in check, with Lawrence going for 34 runs, while Courtney went for 27.
The Sutherland batsmen targeted spinner Usman Qadir, who conceded 110 runs, but crucially took three wickets, including Sutherland number three Jamie Brown, who had made 79 runs.
Josh Clarke took two wickets with his own spin bowling, including opening batsman Jarryd Biviano, who top scored for the visitors with 95. Jas Cheema also took two wickets.
In second grade, Hawkesbury bowled Sutherland out for 270 and was 1-49 in reply after 14 overs. Chaitnya Sharma and Eknoor Singh will resume on Saturday.
Captain Tim Wilson was unfortunately run out for 23 runs before stumps on the day.
Harry Ridgewell was the leading wicket taker for Hawkesbury, claiming four scalps from 13 overs.
Aidan Van Den Nieuwboer was the workhorse, bowling 22 overs and being rewarded with three wickets of his own.
Antum Naqvi bowled 19 of his own and claimed one wicket as well as bowling five maidens, while Kain Flynn-Duncombe took two wickets, including the final one of the innings.
The third grade bowlers shared the wickets around as they bowled Sutherland out for 207 at Bensons Lane.
Tyson Beatty had the best figures by one run, taking three wickets and conceding 37, while Tom Wood also took three and conceded 38.
Matt Frame chipped in with two and Adam Renfrey claimed one to round out the scorecard.
Ethan Franke had the tremendous figures of 5-6 off 14 overs, as the fourth grade side destroyed Sutherland at Sutherland Oval.
Hawkesbury won the toss and sent the home side in, and 29.5 overs later, the team was back in the sheds for just 34 runs.
Hawkesbury’s Rowen Myers did his best to keep pace with Franke, taking four wickets, while Marcus Farquharson took the final one of the innings.
Captain Pat Muller scored 74 with the bat for Hawkesbury to help the side reach 8-156 after 50 overs. Youngster Cameron Kwok assisted with 40 runs.
Muller and the fourth grade side will have a chance to push for an outright victory if they bowl well on Saturday.
Meanwhile, back at Bensons Lane, fifth grade bowled out Sutherland for 201 from 65 overs and was 0-9 in reply.