Highest 10th Wicket Partnership in Sydney Grade Cricket History

Sutherland District Cricket Club | August 15, 2024

Sutherland’s third grade team played their first home match of the 2003-04 season at Sutherland Oval against Western Suburbs on 4 October 2003. Western Suburbs won the toss and sent Sutherland in to bat. Their skipper must have known something, because the score at tea was 8/97 off 37 overs. First ball after the break, the score was 9/97 and number 11 Daniel Marandola was heading to the crease to join number 7 bat Aaron Phillips, who was 26 not out. In 69 previous matches for the club, Daniel’s highest score was 18.

Aaron soon set about turning the innings around, bringing up his 50 off 67 balls, with 8 fours & 1 six. The 50 partnership was brought up off 54 balls as Aaron and Daniel settled in. The next milestone was the 100 partnership off 123 balls. One run later, they had broken the club’s 10th wicket partnership of 100 (set by Alan Merritt & Peter Turner in 1966-67, also against Western Suburbs). Aaron’s century came up soon after, scored off 114 balls with 14 fours & 2 sixes.

When the score reached 9/222, the club’s previous 10th wicket partnership record for all grades had gone, previously set by Chris McCarron and Stephen Hair versus Penrith in 4th Grade in 2002-03. Amazingly, Daniel reached 50 off 92 balls, with 4 fours. Then the partnership reached 150 off 174 balls. Aaron was eventually caught with his score on 154, scored in 189 minutes off 149 balls, with 17 fours & 5 sixes. Daniel remained not out on 61, scored in 130 minutes off 107 balls.

The final score was 292 off 71.4 overs, meaning that the 10th wicket partnership ended on 195. It took 130 minutes and came off 201 balls. It is the highest 10th wicket partnership in Sydney grade cricket history, surpassing the previous record set by a pair from North Sydney versus Redfern in 1900-01. Unfortunately, day two was washed out, so the match was drawn.

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