Randwick Petersham International T20 match v China at St Andrews College 23 January 2025
Randwick Petersham Cricket Club | January 28, 2025
Author - John Stewart
With a population of 1.6 billion there is certainly the possibility of China gaining success on the international stage. Even though cricket in China might be seen as an anomaly, the Chinese Cricket Association (CCA) has held ICC Associate Member status since 2004. Internationally, China performed credibly at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, in a purpose-built stadium, with the men playing respectably against Malaysia and Pakistan while the women claimed victories over Thailand and Malaysia before losing to Japan in the bronze medal match.
In Beijing, cricket is maintained by an expat population while Shanghai and Hangzhou is home to the CCA. With the International Olympic Committee approving cricket for the next Olympics in LA, the CCA have set a course to grow cricket and enter the international stage. Therefore, in late December a touring squad of 50 male and female cricketers and coaches arrived in Sydney for a training camp. As a result, a Randwick Petersham XI was selected for a T20 match against the men’s side at their training base, St Andrew’s College, Sydney University.
China was invited to bat by our skipper Josh Segal and their openers were off to a flyer with 45 for the 1st wicket. They played the pace bowlers confidently including a lofted 6 over square leg knocking a brick out of the dormitory wall. At first change, Angus Beaumont knocked over the skipper for 14 before E-Young Khoo entered the attack and quelled the momentum with a wicket first ball and a run out the next putting China on the back foot at 3-51. By the 10 over mark China was 4-63. At the close of their innings, they finished with 6-124cc with Khoo (2-11 off 3) the pick of the bowlers, Beaumont and Moylan finished with a wicket each & 2 run outs to Khoo and Aitchison.
The chase got off to a typical Damian Sidney flyer with a 4 and 6 off the first two balls before he played on. The Segal brothers combined with 95 for the 2nd wicket, Jordie retiring on 57 including 3 consecutive sixers, with each longer than the previous, and Josh fell for an equally powerful 38. Jack Barclay continued the momentum with 14 before Yash Singh and Rory Steinberg passed the target in the 12th over. To conclude the day a mixed 8 over match was played which provided valuable match learning for the Chinese and cemented good relations between Randwick Petersham and China Cricket. Following the match a presentation was made to cap off an enjoyable afternoon, consolidating cricketing relations with a group of talented Chinese cricketers with no more than 8 months experience each. We look forward to watching China’s development over the coming years as they aim for Brisbane 2032 and wish them all the best!
RPCC XI: Josh Segal (c), Gregor Aitchison, Jack Barclay, Angus Beaumont, Ryan Di Blasio, Jeremy Jastrzab, E-Young Khoo, Toby Mackenzie, Ali Martin, Connor Moylan, Jordan Segal Damian Sidney, Yash Singh, Rory Steinberg, Michael Whitney AM (President), John Stewart (CEO).
Photographer: Peter Bannigan
