A brilliant century from St George batsman Jonathan Rose has helped his club register a nail-biting victory, marking their first win of the season in the Belvidere Cup.
St George defeated Fairfield-Liverpool by a single wicket on Saturday, during their two-day match at Rosedale Oval.
The round six match was St George’s first victory in the Belvidere Cup this season – the main competition in NSW premier cricket.
Fairfield-Liverpool posted 9/342 on the first day of the match, before St George began their run chase during the second day on Saturday. The match could have gone either way when Matthew Lacey was removed for a duck and St George sat at 9/326, with 17 runs needed for victory.
St George batsmen Jonathan Rose (104no) and Eric Denhartog (10no) held their nerves to reach the target and win the match. Stewart McCabe (77) and Nathan Ellis (71) also batted well to help St George get the victory.
The win moves St George off the bottom of the ladder.
Meanwhile, Sutherland have notched up another win this season after toppling Western Suburbs in their latest two-day clash.
Sutherland are in a good position after six rounds (of 15) in the hunt for The Belvidere Cup.
Sutherland posted 379/9 during the first day of play then went to work to defend that total on Saturday during the second day at Pratten Park. They had to fight hard for the result, winning by just 45 runs after a good fight from Western.
Western Suburbs’ top order were in great form on Saturday going past 200 runs for the loss of just two wickets. Nicholas Cutler (97) batted well near the top.
But the Sutherland bowlers managed to pick up wickets later in the day and bowl Suburbs out for 334.
Sutherland bowler Kyle Brockley returned figures of 3/78, while Daniel Fallins picked up 2/88. That victory has kept Sutherland in the all-important top six on the ladder, in fourth spot. Sutherland will host Bankstown in round seven starting this coming Saturday.
Sutherland couldn’t back up that result though during the Kingsgrove Sports T20 Cup yesterday. The match, their third of the T20 competition, was one to forget after being dismissed for 85 by Eastern Suburbs. Eastern had little trouble chasing down the low total.
Despite the result, Sutherland are still a chance to make the T20 playoffs, with one match to play.
St George had a much better day yesterday, defeating Eastern Suburbs in the T20 competition. Nicholas Watkins scored 93no off 67 balls. St George posted 2/190 before Eastern replied with 7/147.
St George will host local rivals Sutherland this coming Sunday in the T20 competition, and both sides can still make the T20 playoffs. That match starts at 10am at Hurstville Oval.