Dry spell early Christmas gift for cricketers

ILLAWARRA CRICKET
JOEL RITCHIE

AFTER weeks of frustrating washouts – including the recent abandonment of the Ford Ranger Cup match at North Dalton Park – Illawarra cricketers finally returned to the paddock on Saturday.

The enforced layoff did defending premiers University no favours on day one of their clash with Helensburgh at Helensburgh Oval.

University sustained a surprise 18-run, first-innings loss although both sides are well in the hunt for outright points heading into day two on Saturday.

Batting first, the hosts could only muster 93, more than half coming from the bat of skipper Andrew Northridge (57).

Graeme Stinson (4/16) did most of the damage for the University attack.

His spell was bettered by Helensbugh’s Sam Northridge, who bagged 5/16 as the Students were dismissed for 75 in reply.

Helensburgh reached 0/9 at stumps on day one for a 27-run lead.

An outright result is all but assured at Judy Masters Oval after 13 wickets fell for 76 runs in the Balgownie-Wests match.

Wests surrendered for 30 (Steve Jones 7/12) before Bally reached 3/43 in reply and sent the visitors back in. They will resume at 0/3 on Saturday.

At North Dalton Park, Wollongong will resume at 2/30 171 runs adrift of first innings points against Corrimal.

At Keira Oval, Dapto will need 206 runs for first innings points against Keira. The hosts batted for all of day one and scored 205, led by 53 from John Cheadle.

Port Kembla are in with a chance of victory heading into day two of their clash with Northern Districts at King George Oval.

Port will resume at 1/33, 141 short of North’s first innings total of 174.