A record partnership, a maiden hundred and to top it all off a woman playing in a men’s team.
The Campbelltown Camden Ghosts won’t forget the opening day of Round 3 of Premier Cricket in a hurry.
Saturday also saw the debut of the great England spinner Monty Panesar in Ghosts colours.
But the truly remarkable, history making event occurred in the fourth grade men’s clash between the Ghosts and Sutherland.
Sydney Thunder star Claire Koski became the first Ghosts female to ever take the field for a male team.
Koski, who is the captain of the Ghosts women’s first grade side, was selected on merit.
But she was also looking for a solid work out in the lead up to this season’s Women’s National Cricket League.
Fourth grade captain Michael Strong had enough faith in Claire Koski to bowl her first change.
Although finishing wicketless, the Thunder star was not out of place in the Ghosts attack, bowling with good pace.
Koski was extremely grateful for the opportunity to represent in men’s cricket.
“The lads were fantastic,’’ Claire said after stumps.
“They were extremely accepting and welcoming of me.
“I am really appreciative of the opportunity and their camaraderie.”
• It was raining runs across the four grades between the Ghosts and mighty Sutherland, with a total of 1,454 scored on Saturday.
Ghosts first grade travelled to Glenn McGrath Oval where they lost the toss and found themselves bowling on a flat, hard wicket, with lightning fast surrounds.
Sutherland declared their innings closed with 11 overs remaining in the day’s play at 4/407.
In failing light, the Ghosts faced 11 overs before stumps and closed the day at 0/22.
Earlier in the day, Daniel McLauchlan opened the bowling with good pace to finish with 1/31 off 10 overs, while Panesar, in his first bowl since May finished with 1/45 from 14 overs.
Head coach Graeme Smith found positives in the day, and while taking nothing away from the Sutherland batsmen, he said the conditions for bowling were tough.
“The wicket was flat and the outfield like glass,’’ Smith said.
“If the conditions are the same next week, that total is gettable.’’
• Home on Raby for the second grade fixture, the Ghosts won the toss and dominated the whole day, sending local statisticians to the record books.
The unbeaten second grade side compiled 417 before declaring, having lost nine wickets in the process.
Mitchell Carruthers (95) and Jaydyn Simmons (153) provided most of the entertainment on the way to smashing the all time second wicket record in a second grade game for the club.
The previous record partnership of 166 runs set in 2004 by Troy Yabsley and Peter McKell was overtaken with Carruthers and Simmons amassing 190 between them.
Simmons’ 153 was the fifth highest score by a second grade Ghosts batsman ever.
At stumps Sutherland were 0/29 chasing 417.
• A maiden century of 101 not out runs from young Ghosts third grade batsmen Nick Appleton ensured the Ghosts have plenty to defend at Gunnamatta Bay next Saturday.
Appleton steered the Ghosts third grade to 305 before captain Priyan DeZoysa declared at 6/305.
Appleton was well supported by Jarred Lysaught and Nathan Glynn who both posted 52 either side of him in the order.
• The Ghosts 4th Grade bowled extremely well in order to restrict the Sutherland bats to 215 on Raby #3 with Josh Langford taking three early wickets to finish with the figures of 3 for 31 from 12 overs.
But it was the Stewart brothers who demolished the middle and bottom order, Joel taking 4/45 and Josh 2/46.
• The Ghosts women’s third grade team opened their season with a two run win over Gordon.
