 Day of high drama and high quality cricket
Gordon fighting hard to consolidate position in semi final
It wasn’t a day for the faint hearted as each team threw themselves into their work at Chatswood Oval in the first grade semi final between Gordon and Randwick Petersham.
(Iain Beverley catches Randwick Petersham's Adam Semple off Matt Nicholson)
With all the talk during the week being the impact of the representative players on this game, it was Dylan Connell who set the scene for a strong showing by Gordon with the early wicket of Usman Khawaja (bowled) and then the massive scalp of Simon Katich caught low down at second slip by Brendan McDonald. This followed a wicket in the first over to Matt Nicholson and suddenly Randwick Petersham were 3 for 20.
Brendan McDonald catches Katich of the bowling of Dylan Connell
In a strategic move by the skipper, Beau Casson was brought on and quickly removed the no 5 bat Jackson with a caught behind off his very first delivery to have Randwick Petersham 4 for 23 and in a deal of trouble.
Iain Beverley catches Jackson off Casson's first ball
Nathan Hauritz then came to the wicket and started a recovery mission with the number 3 bat, John Mc Loughlin. The pair took the score to 4 for 70 at lunch.
 With the departure of McLoughlin soon after lunch, Gordon stared another offensive and with Beau Casson and Matt Nicolson combining, before long the score was 8 for 108.
(Iain Beverley appeals successfully for LBW off Beau Casson)
This signalled the start of a fantastic recovery from Nathan Hauritz and the numbers 10 and 11 for Randwick Petersham. Nathan initially farmed the strike and then attacked with gusto hitting several sixes off the Gordon bowlers.
The score progressed to 220 before Brendan McDonald was able to get Nathan Hauritz to lift a cover drive high enough for Rod Hokin to dive to his left and accept the catch. Nathan finished with 122.
Beau Casson finished with another 4 wickets, while Matt Nicholson bowled 28 overs for his 3 for 70. Dylan Connell finished with 2 for 48, however I think he is still pinchiong himself to think he bcollected the two very important wickets.
The Gordon innings started with a short Craig Simmons blitz, however a well positioned catcher on the fence at square leg gratefully accepted a catch from Craig and Gordon were 1 for 20.
This saw the start of a very determined partnership between Iain Beverley and Reece Bombas to fight off the very fast Burt Cockley who must have been up around Brett Lee pace as he dug the ball in against our young pair.
 The two lasted till about 10 overs to go, before Reece suffered a pinched nerve in his neck and was forced to go off retired hurt. Ed Zelma then joined Iain in a night watchmen role.
(Craig Simmons launches one into the cover fence)
In his newly acquired role as opener and the experience of getting through a session last week against Stuart Clark, Iain Beverley refused to be intimidated and swerved, swayed and stroked his way to 28 before unfortunately being bowled in the last over.
Gordon finished on 2 for 65 against a very determined Randwick Petersham side who will undoubtedly come out with all guns blazing on Sunday.
Scores
Randwick Petersham 220 (Beau Casson 4 for 69, Matt Nicholson 3 for 70, Dylan Connell 2 for 48, Brendan McDonald 1 for 4 vs
Gordon 2 for 65 (Iain Beverley 28, Craig Simmons 12)
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