Two exceptional performances by Axel Cahlin in first grade and Ashwin Premkumar in seconds we’re not enough to get the stags home in the important first round of matches against the Bankstown bulldogs. A century to Axel helped us to score 270 at Bankstown Oval which wasn’t able to be defended by our bowlers and fielders, while a five wicket haul for only 23 runs by Ashwin helped us bowl out Bankstown for 196 which our bats were not able to get close to on a good Chatswood Oval wicket.
Wins in thirds, fifths and colts got us some club championship points, however, overall a disappointing start to the season. Our colts were in fine form with a five-wicket performance by Rohan Watson (5 for 51) as well as runs to Riley Behlevanas with 68 to Arvin Niranjan with 61.
Ashwin Premkumar in action at Chatswood
Other good performances (50 or over and 4 wickets and over) were a fine score of 66 not out to Scott O’Brien in firsts, 51 to Jay Naganayagam in 3rds, 4 for 52 to Dan Stickland in seconds and 4 for 31 to Lachlan Burrows in Fifths.
First Grade
Steve Colley won the toss at Bankstown Oval and elected to bat on a good early season wicket looking to get a strong total and keep the dogs at bay with some tight bowling on a slower afternoon wicket. The concept was fine and with the score on none for 40, the bats were playing their part. Unfortunately the regular loss of wickets, including two run outs, meant we were 4 for 115 and in need of a partnership. This came in the form of opener Axel Cahlin and No. 6 Scott O’Brien who put on 112 runs in quick time against a strong Bankstown attack. Axel was in fine early season form batting as if last season hadn’t finished, hitting the ball to all parts of the ground and picking up the pace just at the right time. What a treat it is to watch Axel bat.
Axel at Bankstown
After his 90 in the trial match last week, Scott was keen to prove his second grade form with the bat last season could be converted to first grade runs and he quickly got into his stride hitting anything in his zone.
With the score on 227, Axel was out to a late one day innings slog after a fine knock of 116. A couple of cameos from debutant Glenn Winsor and Max Newman combined with some excellent hitting including three sixes in an over by Scott O’Brien saw us finish on 270 and we achieved the goal set by the skipper.
Scott O'Brien hits a six on Saturday
The bowling started well enough with wickets to Charlie Stobo and Alex Patterson and with the score on 2 for 38 after 8 overs we were on track. A conversation on the boundary, however, with Alex Patterson after about 10 overs proved to be turning point in the match when he said. “We will win today as Junkie will get Solway out and as they depend upon his batting that will get us home”
Unfortunately, neither Junkie nor any of the other bowlers were unable to remove Dan Solway who like Axel in our innings became the rock and his 118 not out off 159 balls and 209 minutes was the difference to allow Bankstown to plan their innings to get the runs in the penultimate over with 5 wickets down.
The bowlers tried hard, but the pressure was unable to be put on when it was needed and the dogs took advantage.
First Grade Scores
Gordon 7 for 270 (Axel Cahlin 116, Scott O’Brien 66 not out, Tym Crawford 26) were defeated by Bankstown 5 for 271 (Charlie Stobo 2 for 53)
Glenn Winsor (the Duke) bowls his first ball in First Grade
Second Grade
Seconds won the toss and elected to bowl on a sticky wicket at Chatswood. A superb opening spell from Ashwin Premkumar and Dan Stickland and some fantastic catching from the Stags rocked the Bankstown top order to leave them 5 down after 14 overs. A solid partnership ensued and a couple of tough chances hitting the floor allowed the Bulldogs to climb back into the game. They reached 196 before being dismissed in the final over of the innings. All bowlers bowled very well, however, special mention to Dan Stickland for his 4 wickets and especially Ashwin Premkumar for a 5 wicket haul on debut.
Dan Stickland against the dogs
The stags got off to a slow start to their chase slumping to 4-32. A short 54-run partnership followed between Miller and Thompson, however, once Miller was dismissed wickets fell at a consistent rate. The match was all but over once Thompson was dismissed for a superb fighting knock of 37 that left us at 7-115. The last 3 wickets fell for 9 runs which topped off a bitterly disappointing day for the seconds.
Second Grade scores
Bankstown 196 (Aswin Premkumar 5 for 23, Dan Stickland 4 for 52) defeated Gordon 124 (Don Thomson 38, Nick Miller 27)
Dom Thomson in action on Saturday
Third Grade
Thirds arrived at a low and dusty Jensen Park with everyone red hot and raring to go. One of the better third grade sides shows just how much depth the club has at the moment, with the team agreeing that finals are a must in 2019.
Bankstown won the toss during a sharp Gordon warm up and elected to bat. Vikrant and Paddy Effeney were trusted with the new ball, but it became immediately obvious this was no normal pitch. It was a good deal lower than a normal deck, with balls struggling to get above stump height. Nevertheless, Vikrant struck early to give the Stags an early blow. While the quicks toiled hard, and Ollie Sutton bowled with good pace, it was Charlie Booth who would do the damage bowling first change. Seven overs of quality off spin yielded two wickets at two runs an over - a great spell.
Raman Phoonie and Chris de Kretser both bowled tightly, with Raman snagging two wickets to have Bankstown teetering. A good returning spell from Vikrant and two late wickets to Paddy, as well as a runout from the new man Ollie Sutton meant the Stags had Bankstown all out for just over 100 in 45 overs - a simple chase.
But on a low wicket and with it being Gordon third grade we had to have a few heart attacks. Ryan Tullia edged a good ball early, and Chris Spratt elected to play the pull on a pitch that didn't really suit it to have us two down with barely a run scored. Max Papworth consolidated for a while before being dismissed bringing Oli Zanino to the crease, but it was at the other end that the real story was unfolding. 15-year-old Jay Naganayagam had begun his grade cricket career.
Showing no signs of the slow wicket, the low bounce, or the good Bankstown attack, he proceeded to bash the bowlers to all parts. At drinks, with Jay approaching 50, the Bankstown skipper Iain Ridley commented: "How is it that we are struggling to hit it, while a 15-year-old is switch hitting blokes over point for four."
Jay in action for Green Shield last season
It was a great knock, that ended on 51 from just 39 balls with 7 boundaries and a 6. Welcome to grade cricket young man - may it be the first of many.
With Oli Zannino still at the crease, and Jay's wicket bringing a couple more in Raman and Oli Sutton, Charlie Booth was left with the job to finish off the bonus-point win, lofting one over cover in true Boothy fashion to seal it.
Oli Zannino finished as a rock on 30*, but the day really belonged to Jay and Gordon. A great first-up effort, with a big test this week with a few troops out of action.
Third Grade Scores
Bankstown 106 (Vikrant Nehru 3 for 24, Charlie Booth 2 for 21, Raman Phoonie 2 for 17) were defeated by Gordon 6 for 108 (Jay Naganayagam 51, li Zannino 30 not out)
Fourth Grade
Stu Bromley in action against Bankstown
After winning the toss and deciding to bat, it was a rapid start for the Stags as openers McElduff and Kleem took 19 off the first two overs. Unfortunately, that was where the dominance ended as McElduff, Hamblin and Andreou fell in quick succession and left the score at 3 for 23. Kleem and Jayasekera put on a handy 64-run partnership and we were looking good before both wickets were lost with the score at 5 for 88. Bromley and Amjad put on 47 but also were not able to capitalise on their starts and the remaining batsmen were kept to single figures. Stags managed a possibly defendable 150. Top scores to the always dangerous Kleem 39 and Jayasekera 31.
Unfortunately, the bowling innings was equally as tough for the Stags as Bankstown's 17 yr old Singh took advantage of a lightning fast outfield and was able to snatch away any chance for Gordon to get into the game. As Killara became a road in the afternoon, the young Bankstown bat took runs off all bowlers and raced to 94 off 20 overs before Seneviratne took away the chance of a century with a well-earned wicket. Unfortunately, it was too late and although the danger man was out, Bankstown cruised to the total in the 24th over. 3/151. Wickets to Chauhan 1/25, Calov 1/33 and Seneviratne 1/35.
A tough day for fours but hopefully a wakeup call particularly for the batsmen who need to capitalise on starts.
Fourth Grade Scores
Gordon 150 (Mitch Kleem 39, Darren Jayasekera 31, Dylan Amjad 25) were defeated by Bankstown 3 for 151
Fifth Grade
All bowlers performed well on a flat and true wicket plus an outfield that provided value for shots. To restrict the young opposition to just 131 off 47 overs is a testament to good line and length bowling.
Fraser Wilson and Michael Fletcher against Bankstown on Saturday
Pick of the bowlers was Lachlan Burrows with 4 wickets and Shiv Rana who only conceded 6 runs in his last 8 overs. Fraser Wilson was faultless behind the stumps with 4 dismissals including a stumping.
With a bonus point being the objective, Fraser and Fletcher got us off to a brisk start with a risk free 60 run partnership at 5 run per over.
A cracking drive from Fletcher saw Naba unlucky run out with the bowler claiming a touch (*more running between wicket training from Trevor ...?)
As we approached 30 overs, a few wickets fell and ultimately left us just one run short of the bonus point.
Regardless a good comprehensive victory to start the season.
Fifth Grade Scores
Bankstown 131 (Lachlan Burrows 4 for 31, Dave Monaghan 3 for 23, Dylan Hood 2 for 25) were defeated by Gordon 5 for 132 (Michael Fletcher 43, Fraser Wilson 34)
Colts
The Colts boys arrived to a very moist and green wicket and were shocked when the Sydney University side won the toss and elected to bat.
Rohan Watson on Saturday at Castle Cove
Prashan Seneviratne and Kartik Khetarpaul were given the new pill, with Kartik striking in the 3rd over to claim the first wicket. Nathan Sequeira followed up with a pacey attack, striking the other Uni opener lbw to leave them struggling at 2-19. Uni then made a slight recovery before young leg-spinning bowler Rohan Watson trapped the Uni number 3 lbw to leave them at 3-59 after the 17th. Some further tight bowling from the Gordon boys built pressure, which led to a run out, leaving the score at 4-61.
The Students skipper then started to find some runs, bringing up his 50 as his side reached 100. However, Kartik then broke through at the other end claiming the 5th wicket. Rohan Watson then came on for his second spell, claiming 2 wickets in the first over of it to leave Uni at 7-128. With wickets quickly falling Uni’s tail-end began hitting out, however Rohan continued to show his composure, claiming a wicket in each of his next two overs, leaving Uni on the ropes at 9-172. At this stage, Rohan unfortunately ran out of overs, finishing the innings with figures of 5-51 of 9.
Gordon then turned to their opening bowlers to claim the final wicket. Kartik bowled another incredibly economical spell, finishing with incredible figures of 2-9 of 9 overs, 6 of them being maidens. However, it was Prashan at the other end who claimed Uni's last wicket to leave them all out for 190 after 44 overs.
Nathan Sequeira takes a wicket and Kartik Khetarpaul in action
Gordon opened the batting with Riley Behlevanas and Arvin Niranjan. The two boys exhausted Uni’s bowling attack, leaving the ball well early and punishing anything too full or short to leave Gordon at 0-123 after 24 overs. Riley was the first of the two to bring up his 50, and continued to attack the Uni bowlers before he was caught out for 68. Jaiden Gray was next to the crease and worked the ball around the park to turn over the strike to Arvin who soon brought up his 50 before he was run out for 61. At 2-153, Jaiden and Josh Rigon quickly chased down the remaining runs, resulting in a convincing 8 wickets victory by the Gordon boys!
Colts Scores
Sydney Uni 190 (Rohan Watson 5 for 51, Kartik Khetarpaul 2 for 9) were defeated by Gordon 2 for 192 (Riley Behlevanas 68, Arvin Niranjan 61, Jaiden Gray 27)
For the second week in a row all cricket this weekend October 13 has been abandoned. It has been one of those weeks where there has just been enough on and off showers to not allow the groundsmen to prepare wickets and in the interests of fairness there will be no play. 
I would like to especially welcome our new players to the club this season. We hope your time at our club is enjoyable and it is the start of a long association with our club. It is also great to have our English imports over playing for us this season. A lot of our players have had wonderful opportunities to go over to England and play for local clubs, so to be able to also provide an opportunity for young English players to come and play in one of the stronger global cricket competitions is, in my opinion, something we should always embrace.
It was great to see 5ths and Colts having such comprehensive wins. These teams, and indeed, some of our higher grade teams are full of good young cricketers that are either part of our Green Shield squad this season or have played over the past few seasons. This augers well, for the club’s future as these players come through the grades and challenge for higher grade honours.
The club is pleased to announce our new sponsor would like to offer club members, volunteers and their families a special deal for working with Century 21 Northside for their real estate needs:There offer is as follows: 
