After the Camden Campbelltown Ghosts first grade took a first innings lead of 36 runs on day one of their round three match, Mosman took the field with the bat determined to set a target for second innings points on day two.
Mosman declared at 6/269 off 54 overs setting the Ghosts an achievable target of 234 runs from 47 overs. Ghosts were determined to make every effort to gain maximum points from the outset and despite a shaky start losing three wickets for just 26 runs, the batsmen continued to attack.
The ever reliable Scott Coyte answered the challenge at the right time with 49 runs from 28 balls with Ryan Gibson holding the innings together with 70 runs.
At the fall of Gibson’s wicket the batting faltered again with the Ghosts losing two quick wickets to leave them with just three remaining wickets.
This brought Tom Ryan (65 not out) and Luke Webb (18 not out) together for an unbroken eighth wicket partnership of 57 runs as they steered the Ghosdtd to victory with an over to spare.
Second grade started their run chase of 274 by losing early wickets but recovered to be 3/80 at lunch.
Despite a determined innings from skipper Ben Bourke (53) the Ghosts continued to lose wickets to finish well short at 206 runs.
Third grade also faced a big chase of 295 runs at Balmoral and despite a good innings from opener Sharma (52) and stubborn late order resistance from veteran Todd O’Keefe the Ghosts finished the day on 188 runs.
Fourth grade also lost their match in defending their 172 runs with Mosman declaring at 6/293 and the day finishing with Ghosts at 5/87 in their second innings.
Fifth grade continued their strong, undefeated stsart to the season with an outright win over Mosman.
Wallace was the main destroyer with the ball for the Ghosts, taking five wickets that cost him just 10 runs.
The womens third grade played strong while chasing 230 runs on Saturday. They fell only eight runs short.
On the Sunday the Ghosts recorded an exciting win in the T20 comp over Hawkesbury.
With a rain delay restricting the match to 16 overs each Hawkesbury compiled 110 runs, with Josh Dunning taking 3/13. Mortimer batted well at the top of the order with 40 runs, but Ghosts still faced the final over needing 17 runs to win.
Tom Rogers (42 not out) closed down the win with 4,2,6 and 1 off the first four balls and Ben Bourke hitting a 4 from the fifth ball – job done with a ball to spare.
Ghost will now take on Northern Districts in a quarter final.
In other Sunday matches, the womens first grade were away to Bankstown and after scoring 132 runs could not hold the strong Bankstown batting who finished the day at 7/133.
In the women’s seconds the Ghosts finished with a strong win against Bankstown at Raby # 2.
The Ghosts Brewer Shield lost their match against the strong St George side.
