MATTHEW Hughston's batting has been described by his teammates as Sutherland's version of India's Rahul Dravid, with a brutal back-cut.
The Caringbah Sports junior, 31, who has played his entire grade career with Sutherland, is the team's "batting wall".
"Thou Shall Not Pass" is the right-hander's motto.
"I bat anywhere in the order and I let the other guys pick where they want to bat," Hughston said.
It doesn't matter where he bats; No. 1, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5 or No. 6, he gets the job done.
Known to his allies as "Mr Takahashi", the Gymea bachelor with a penchant for Japanese cuisine, is often compared looks-wise with former Brisbane Broncos rugby league winger Scott Minto.
Hughston said he debuted in first-grade after coming through the junior representative ranks and Green Shield, and played lower grades at 15.
"For the best part of the last decade I have played in firsts," Hughston said. "You could see I am an accumulator as a batsman."
Third-placed Sutherland lost their qualifying final against fourth-placed Easts in the two-day game at Glenn McGrath Oval on the weekend, and had to rely on a St George loss for another chance.
Sutherland scored 237 and Easts made 7-238 to advance to a semi-final against Bankstown.
Sutherland was the highest-ranked loser in the finals and survived the cull, with Manly beating sixth-placed Sydney Uni.
"Saints did us a favour," Hughston said.
Sutherland now meet minor premiers Manly in the first-grade semi-final this Saturday and Sunday at Manly Oval.
Sutherland first-grade skipper Nathan Fitzgerald said the task was simple: "We have to beat Manly to make the final."
Fitzgerald said Hughston was a reliable player who always gave his best.
"He's the one the other guys look to in the order; the player to bat around," Fitzgerald said.
Sutherland first-grade is the lone team left in the finals. Third-grade bowed out, losing to Penrith last weekend.
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