Sutherland have stormed into the NSW Premier Cricket first grade finals after snatching an exciting six-run win over Sydney.
Sutherland traveled to Drummoyne Oval for their final round match on Saturday needing to win to secure their semi-final place having sat inside the top six for almost the entire season.
Captain Chris Williams won the toss and elected to bat but the visitors could only manage 217, with Peter Saroukos top scoring with 44. Jarryd Biviano (35) and Daniel Fallins (30) also made starts.
In reply, Sydney looked on track to secure their own finals place, cruising at 5-168 before Austin Waugh ran out Suffan Hussan for 46.
It turned the game, with Tom Pinson cleaning up the Sydney tail to finish with 5-46, with the hosts bundled out for 211 with two balls remaining.
The win saw Sutherland finish fourth, though a loss would have seen them miss out. They will now meet Sydney University in a two-day semi-final at Sydney University Oval this weekend.
Despite the loss, Sydney held on to sixth place, edging out Bankstown with a superior quotient.
Meanwhile, St George ended their season with a Nick Stapleton century leading them to a four-wicket win over Western Suburbs.
St George restricted Wests to 7-217 at Pratten Park, with Stapleton taking 2-31.
He then led Saints home with the bat, making an unbeaten 112 from 129 balls as St George passed Wests’ total in the 43rd over for the loss of six wickets.
The win saw St George finish in 10th place, three points outside the top six.
Campbelltown-Camden earned their first minor premiership in the club’s history despite going down to Sydney University.
