Anthony Sams creates history after taking his 500th First Grade wicketkeeping dismissal

Randwick Petersham Cricket Club | January 22, 2024

Saturday was an historic one for Sydney 1st Grade cricket. When Anthony Sams held a sharp leg-side catch for Randwick Petersham in the clash against Manly-Warringah at Manly Oval, he wrote his name into the history books of Sydney Grade Cricket/NSW Premier Cricket. That snare gave him a career total of 500 1st Grade wicketkeeping dismissals–only the second player to achieve the feat since the competition began in 1893 and the first in 68 years. The only wicketkeeper to reach such a remarkable milestone prior to Saturday, was Ernie Laidler who played with St George between 1928 and 1958 and brought up the number towards the end of the 1955-56 season. Anthony’s 500 dismissals comprise 448 catches and 52 dismissals and include 5 catches to took with Bankstown before joining Randwick Petersham in 2010-11. He currently has 495 dismissals with the club.

And to make the day a more memorable one for the brilliant wicketkeeper-batsman, just hours before achieving his historic milestone, he scored his 13th century for Randwick Petersham. Coming in to bat with the score a precarious 3-5, he was the sixth batter out at 188 having scored 103 from 150 balls with 12 fours and a six. It was a simply outstanding performance by any measure.

Sending Randwick Petersham in to bat, the Manly pace attack was right on target, blasting out Blake Weymouth (0), Camden Hawkins (1) and Jason Sangha (2) within the first 5 overs. Skipper Riley Ayre and Sams consolidated to get the total to 60 off 18 overs before Ayre was caught behind for 19. That brought Jake Egan to the crease and he played an outstanding innings of restraint and concentration to face 92 balls in making 18 while the pair put on a valuable 71. Angus McTaggart got stuck in with 25 off 31 while Daya Singh was able to add another valuable 15 in quick time. When the 10th wicket fell, the score was 197–much better than looked likely after the early overs but well below par.

In the run chase, the Waratahs began with a bang, attacking the quicks in rattling up 44 from just 7 overs. An injury to opening bat Matt Brewster when felled by a Connor O’Riordan thunderbolt, brought skipper Jay Lenton to the crease. And just after McTaggart had Beadle caught, he snared a superb return catch off Lenton to have the home side 3-76. At stumps they had managed to get to 3-90 leaving the interesting scenario of 7 wickets remaining and 108 runs required, which should create a bit of a nervous week for both sides leading into next Saturday.

Lyall Gardner

The catch Anthony Sams 500th first grade dismissal brilliantly photographed by Peter Bannigan - thank you Peter