Most dominant victory in Sutherland Club history
Sutherland District Cricket Club | March 26, 2025
Greg Horner in the 1980s
In the 1983-84 season, Sutherland’s 5th Grade team scored the most dominant victory in the Club’s history at Tonkin Oval on 19 & 26 October 1983. After being sent in to bat on day one by Uni of NSW B, Sutherland were in early trouble at 4/61 after 73 minutes. Number 3 batsman Greg Horner was joined by AW Green Shield player Ben Connell and they steadied things with a partnership of 96 in 83 minutes, before Ben was dismissed for 37. This brought wicketkeeper Anthony Quinn to the crease. What ensued was a 90-minute blitzkrieg as Greg and Anthony put the Uni attack to the sword! Greg was 66 not out when Anthony came in but the Quinny onslaught saw him beat Greg to the century mark. Their partnership was unbroken at 207 when the declaration came at 5/364 off 70 overs. Anthony scored 134 not out in 90 minutes, with 5 sixes and 15 fours, while Greg made a more patient 133 not out in 215 minutes, with 15 fours. The partnership was the highest partnership for any wicket for the Club in all grades at the time and it is still the record 6th wicket partnership for 5th Grade.
Curt Harvey and Kevin Kennedy then ripped through the Uni batting line-up without requiring the assistance of any fielders! The first nine batsmen were bowled and Curt dismissed the last batsman leg before wicket to leave Uni all out for 21 off 16.4 overs. Curt finished with the amazing figures of 8-3 off 8.4 overs with 7 maidens. When Uni followed on, Curt told skipper Dave Givney he didn’t want to open the bowling, even though he was on a hat-trick after taking the last two wickets in the first innings off successive balls. He did come on first change, but missed his hat-trick chance. He only bowled two overs before he threw the ball back to Dave to give some others a bowl. The wickets were shared around as Uni were dismissed for 54 the second time around, with Ben Connell having the best figures with 3-9 off 5 overs.
The winning margin of an innings and 289 runs is the greatest winning margin in the Club’s history. In the Uni second innings, seven of the nine wickets to fall were bowled (Uni were one man short on day two). That meant 15 of the 19 wickets that were taken in the match were bowled!
