Western Suburbs v Hawkesbury 3rd Grade - Round One 2023-24 NSW Premier Cricket
Western Suburbs District Cricket Club Sydney | October 01, 2023
By Paul Ryan - Wests 3rd Grade Captain
Western Suburbs and Hawkesbury 3rd grade team kicked off their 2023-24 season with a nail biting 50 over game at Blick Oval.
Hawkesbury batted first after being sent into bat on a wicket that would have any seamer and spinner licking their lips.
Bilal Khan struck early with two wickets however with the seamers bowling a tad short and leg side both Western Suburbs off spinners were quickly on show.
Will Chesterfield and Hameed Kherkhah proved difficult to get away and Hawkesbury’s `Jake Roeder did the right thing by taking the attack to the bowlers before sending one to deep mid wicket and out for 18.
Hawkesbury Cricket Club are proudly sponsored by RG McGees
At 8 for 86 Western Suburbs were hopeful of closing the innings out but excellent batting from Manan Patel 23 and Reegan Wilson 18 not out batting 9 and 10 carried Hawkesbury total to 130 and bowled out off 45 overs.
Hameed Kherkhah was the pick of the Western Suburbs bowlers with 2 for 7 off his 10 overs. Bilal Khan took 4 for 41 off 9 and Will Chesterfield 2 for 36 off 10.
In reply Western Suburbs were in immediate trouble at 4 for 38 with the Hawkesbury bowlers pitching the ball up and challenging the batter. The first four wickets all feel to catches between wicket keeper and 2nd slip.
Opener Rohan Patel batted very well for 25 and along with Will O’Donnell then put on 36 for the 5th wicket. Wests then lost 3 quick wickets to be 7 for 83.
Will O'Donnell scored 24.
Excellent bowling by Janbaz Singh had Hawkesbury in the box seat with Wersts still needing 48 runs to win.
An excellent partnership between Ben Brooks and Hameed Kherkhah took the score along to 119 before Hameed lost his wicket and then with 4 runs needed Balial Kham was judged LBW on the last ball of Janbaz Singh over and Wests were 9 for 127.
It became Lachlan Boyd v Ben Brooks for either team to win the game.
Western Suburbs District Cricket Club is proudly sponsored by Wests Ashfield - Holman Barnes Group
Brooks took his chance on the first ball with a lofted drive over mid-wicket for 2. Brooks defenced the 2nd ball before whipping the 3rd ball over mid-wicket for 2 and Western Suburbs won the game by one wicket.
Ben Brooks finished with 39 not out to be the highest scorer of the day and played a match winning innings for his team.
Manan Patel, 10 overs 2 for 26, Lachlan Boyd, 7.3 overs 3 for 37 and Janbaz Singh 3 for 15 off 8 overs all bowled well for Hawkesbury.
Both teams showed a lot of character to keep their teams in the game. A lot to improve on but the seasons only young.
We thank both umpires Rohan Kesavaram and Michael Schokman for a game well managed and wish them well for the season
