An incredible six-wicket haul to Tom Pinson has led Sutherland to the top of the NSW Premier Cricket table with four rounds remaining.
Sutherland downed perennial heavyweights Bankstown by 134 runs at Bankstown Oval on Saturday to leapfrog Campbelltown-Camden into first place.
Bankstown resumed day two at 1-15 chasing 282 for victory but when Pinson removed the prolific Daniel Solway (15) the hosts were left struggling at 3-58. A further three quick wickets put Sutherland in the box seat with Bankstown 6-66.
When Pinson had Nathan McAndrew (30) caught by Daniel Rixon it left him with 6-41 from his 17 overs. Daniel Fallins also picked up 3-27 on his return from Big Bash League duty with the Melbourne Stars as Bankstown crumbled to be all out for 147.
While almost no one would have expected it at the start of the season, Sutherland are now just four matches away from the minor premiership.
They host finals-chasing Western Suburbs at Glenn McGrath Oval in a two-day, Saturday-Sunday match this weekend. They then face two more mid-table teams in Hawkesbury and Gordon before a final round trip to Drummoyne Oval to face Sydney.
Meanwhile, Pinson and Sutherland teammate Jamie Brown have been rewarded for their fine form with selection in a Sydney Cricket Association XI for one-day matches against the Future Stars High Purpose Cricket Academy squad this week.
Comprising current and aspiring English county and state cricketers who represent Premier Cricket clubs in Melbourne and Sydney, the FSHPCA side will take on the SCA XI at Pratten Park on Thursday and Harold Fraser Oval at Carss Park on Friday.
Fallins was also chosen in a NSW XI to play the FSHPCA squad in a three-day match at Blacktown which started on Monday.
