Round 1’s glorious weather left us last weekend, with cold and wet conditions for much of Saturday’s play. It was a round of reversed results, with our 1st and 2nd Division sides getting their first wins in their new grades – congratulations to both teams, and our 6th Blue, who have won their first 2 matches – a great start to your season – and congratulations to 6 Blue’s Hamza Malik, scoring our Clubs first century of the season! Nice one Hamza!
If Saturday arvo cricket is not enough for you, have a think about playing in the morning as well. A great offer available for afternoon players, as we are so close to getting a morning team going.
And lastly, a very warm welcome to the following players, who all played their first game for Summer Hill on the weekend : William Collins (1st), Arun Raphael (1st), David Ritchil (7th) and Braedan Smith-Connor (5th). Great to have you as part of our Club.
Saturday Morning Cricket
There are a few more players who would like to join Summer Hill, and we’re looking at entering a team in the Sydney Morning Cricket Association (SMCA). Play is on Saturday mornings starting at 9am, concluding at 12:30pm. All matches are 2 day games, so you would need to commit to playing 2 consecutive weekends.
For our afternoon players, there are no additional fees to play in the morning team. You would not need to play every week – but you are very welcome to do so if you would like.
So, if you would like an extra match on a Saturday every now and then, or every week, please contact me as soon as you can. Competition starts October 19th.
Umpiring Course
International umpire Claire Polosak will again be providing training for Summer Hill CC. She will be just back from the ICC Womens T20 World Cup, and I’m sure will have some stories to tell.
Many of our matches require self-umpiring, and there is so much to learn about our great game. It would be great to see players from each Senior Team there on the night.
When: Monday, November 4th
Where: Magpies Sports – 40 Hampton St, Croydon Park
When: 6pm for a 6:30 start. Finishing at 9pm
Register: Online here
Cost: Free. Non compulsory $40 Exam fee will be reimbursed for SHCC players
Wide Brim Hats
Interested in a Summer Hill CC Wide Brim Hat?
Available for pre-order online here. Orders close 13 October. Delivery just before Christmas. Check your size with the sizing guide online.
Batting and Bowling highlights
Batting:
102* Hamza Malik Div 6 Blue
79* Madushan Bandara Div 2
72 Micah Edwards Div 7
Bowling
4/22 Muniraj Mahajan Div 6 Blue
Fantasy Cricket
And our Fantasy Cricket Competition is in full swing – how great is it selecting your team from Summer Hill players! Such a great initiative of Div 2 Captain, Jay Karim. It is not too late to join – sign up for free online here:
Check out our Fantasy Cricket Blog Post here – This is something you want to be a part of!
Thanks to 2nds Captain Jay Karim for organising.
TOP Fantasy Teams
OGCC Owen Gibson
S' Hills Finest Jay Karim
Aruption XI Arup Saha
Block to the Top Lachie Schreuder
Phil’s Phoxes Phil Tarbox
The Ginyu Force Umer Ajaz
Pick & Hope Eliseus & Simon Davies
Canberra Comets Shaun Hardy
Mike’s Masters Mike Davies
Dilir Daredevils Dilir Ali
Training
When: Thursday’s, starting October 10th.
Where: Lees Park - Harmony St, Ashbury (Park in Crieff St and walk down the alley)
When: From 5:30pm until dusk – and there may be a few there earlier too
Enjoy your Cricket!
Phil
Phil – President
m 0417 234 761
1st Division
Round 2: Summer Hill 8/92 def Bankstown Strikers 91
Best Batting:
28 Arun Raphael
Best Bowling
3/9 William Collins
2/7 Alex Tzoumas
2/7 Daniel Lopes
2/33 Mitchell Selwood
2nd Division Match Report: Dilir Ali
Round 7: Summer Hill 7/169 def Marrickville Cricket Club 7/167
What a win to warm us up!
Spiked shoes dragged along the ground as we made our way to Tempe oval. Fresh off a defeat at the same ground, where Summer Hill announced itself in 2nds with a whimper, there was a feeling that we were still undercooked coming into summer. Madushan looked to inspire the troops with his love for the contest by running drills and stretches to properly warm up but it largely just highlighted how unfit we had become. We’d really need to dig in to win this one.
The game started off with a bang! Clouds swirling ahead, Salman caught the edge of the opening bat as a jetlagged Fahim behind the stumps dived forward to complete the catch. The umpires protested at first, but, as the opener walked, the whole team were buoyed by luck falling our way as their best bat departed. Tail up, Salman (3/23) struck again and again, sending the cherry full and straight to remove Marrickville’s top order with surgical precision. Despite these heroics, Marrickville Shields looked to counter-attack with Viraj Desai and Finbar Shields knocking the ball around to build up a partnership and regain momentum.
As his other options couldn’t bring the breakthrough, Jay (2/35) took the pill himself and probed at the set batsmen – beating the edge on more than one occasion. It was this probing which bested Shields for 25 as he lobbed one up to the waiting arms of Niloy, only for Jay to rip the following ball straight into the incoming batsman’s pads for a clear-cut LBW. Having taken two on the trot, with only a handful of overs remaining, Jay jinxed his hattrick ball by calling it early as Marrickville punched back. Desai and O'Shea-Nobin dispatched our bowlers around the field until finally being removed for 81 and 25 respectively but the damage was done. Marrickville Shields completed their innings 7/167 as the heavens opened up once again.
Torrential rain bore down heavy on our opening bats as the scorers scrambled to protect their paper. Marrickville provided no respite. A cold chill went down our spines as Umer departed on the third ball after smacking two scintillating boundaries, only to be followed by Hossain and Arup and in successive overs. It was Madushan, as always, who steadied the ship. Looking imperious as ever, Madushan fought through a hamstring injury to build successive partnerships with the middle order with solid support from Jay (12) and Abdul (22). It was at this time that the sun come back with full force, as a rainbow painted the sky with hope. We believed once again.
Inching towards Marrickville’s total, Dilir (5) and Fahim (0) couldn’t provide the support Madushan needed but it only set the stage for a swashbuckling cameo from a fired up Wassi. Tired of sitting on the sidelines, Wassi walked out and smashed Marrickville’s bowlers around the park with a chanceless 26* off 11 including five 4s and a steely determination. He was seeing it through to the end. With five overs to go, Madushan (79* from 70) hit the winning runs and brought Summer Hill to their feet.
While the final score of 7/169 (26) belies how close of a game it truly was, this game certainly proved that Summer Hill 2nds deserved to be there and, what’s more, we’re only getting started!
Best Batting
79* Madushan Bandara
36* Wassi Hossain
Best Bowling
3/23 Salman Kalam
2/35 Jay Karim
5th Division Match Report – Phil Tarbox
Round 2: Summer Hill 7/78 def by Revesby Workers Club 1/82
After a rousing win in Round 1, 5th Div were up for a challenge. We weren’t going to let a late move away from our home ground of Beaman 1 to Henley 3 stop us.
We won the toss and decided to bat as Revesby Workers Club were a few short at the start of play. That was all we won.
Their opening bowlers were sharp, with good pace, line and length – something we saw last Saturday, and we got a double dose of this on Saturday. Div 6 Gold’s Roland filled in for us, and opened the batting with Grant, who both found it hard going. Roland departed first, with Grant not long after. Phil and Sam were at the crease, and a change of bowling might have changed our fortunes, but faster bowling followed. By drinks we were 5/24 and a chance to get home for the first bounce in the AFL Grand Final.
Simon (45*) and Asher (7) had other ideas, slowing down the procession of wickets – Asher very stoic, supporting Simon in a 49 run stand, putting some respectability into our score. 7/78 was a good comeback, but unlikely to be enough runs.
And so it was.
Missing Rohan to open the bowling, Asher and Lachie stepped up and toiled away – Asher with the only wicket – a very sharp caught at 2nd slip by a surprised Owen Gibson, taking his best catch in the slips to date. Revesby made light work of our bowling, which was not helped by drizzle making the ball slippery and hard to grip.
We’ll need to improve next time we play, but we are getting an idea of what is required in 5th’s. We are up for the challenge.
Best Batting
45* Simon Davies
6th Division Blue Match Report: Dharmin Thakkar
Round 2: Summer Hill Blue 3/192 def Summer Hill Seniors CC 9/116
Anticipating overcast conditions, we chose to bat first after winning the toss. We made a strategic change, sending Shaik to open alongside Hamza, aiming for an aggressive start. This decision paid off as the pair delivered a rapid 80-run partnership, filled with a flurry of boundaries. Shaik was dismissed after a swift 38, but the momentum remained with us.
Dharmin then joined Hamza, contributing to another 50-run stand before departing. However, the pace of the innings never faltered. Prabhu's quick-fire boundaries, combined with Hamza's composed play, helped us reach a formidable total. Hamza's outstanding innings saw him notch up his first century, guiding us to an above-par score of 193.
Our bowling attack then took control. Ben's long-awaited successful bouncer caught everyone by surprise, earning us the first breakthrough as Gourav took a sharp catch at short mid-wicket. Muniraj led the charge, narrowly missing a five-wicket haul, finishing with impressive figures of 4/22. Meanwhile, our emerging talent, Jeet Solanki, set a new team record by taking a wicket with his very first delivery, ending with exceptional figures of 2/2.
It was a complete team effort, marked by sharp catching, disciplined fielding, and precise bowling, which restricted the opposition to just 116, sealing a commanding 76-run victory.
Best Batting
102* Hamza Malik
38 Abdullah Shaik
Best Bowling
4/22 Muniraj Mahajan
2/2 Jeet Solanki
6th Division Gold
Round 2: Summer Hill Gold Won by Forfeit vs St Christophers CC Maroon
Forfeit – No Match Report
7th Division
Round 2: Summer Hill 6/148 def by Redfern All Blacks CC 4/161
Best Batting
72 Micah Edwards
26 Rob Sanderson