Campbelltown Camden District Cricket Club have jumped to the top of the ladder after demolishing Western Suburbs at Raby on the weekend. JASON ELLSMORE reports that six rounds into the competition the unbeaten Ghosts sit one point clear in the hotly contested Premier competition.
Eastern Suburbs, Sydney University and Randwick Petersham are closely behind the Ghosts, who clash with tenth placed Gordon in round seven this weekend.
On Saturday an opening spell of magnificent left arm fast bowling by Luke Webb was enough to take the match away from the visitors.
Webb, who was well supported from the other end by replacement bowler Faisal Nasim, finished with career best figures of 5-26 as the Western Suburbs order capitulated in somewhat bizarre fashion.
Wickets fell quickly from the second ball of the day when spinner Jordan Browne swallowed an easy catch off Webb at point.
This was the beginning of the end of Western Suburbs, who had resumed their innings at 3/58, lost seven wickets in quick succession for 18 runs to be all out for 76 in reply to the Ghosts 304.
Webb was ruthless as he destroyed the top order with Faisal Nasim chipping in with some fine bowling on debut to take 2/11 from 4 overs.
Both Aaron Yabsley and keeper Ollie Pope contributed with two catches each as the Western Suburbs innings finished before the first drinks break.
Ghosts skipper Jarrad Burke picked up one wicket to edge closer to 600 first grade career wickets.
Burke finished with 2/14 and was more than satisfied with his team’s dominant victory.
Wests Captain Jonathon Cook took nothing away from the Ghosts victory, complimenting the Raby curator and the quality Macarthur’s Premier Cricket facility.
The match umpires echoed his remarks.
The Ghosts did send Westerns Suburbs back to follow on in an attempt for outright victory, but rain resulted in stumps being drawn just prior to afternoon tea.
♦ RESULTS lower grades
Second Campbelltown Camden 101 and 4/108, Wests 229, Patrick O’Neill 4/75; Jarred Lysaught 3/50; Ashley Paddison 39*; Jack Bray 31;
Third Campbelltown Camden 8/287, Wests 2/145, Match abandoned due to rain. Yarrin Fair-Townsend 68*; Matthew Hudson 51; Brent Hardy 47; Ji Mills 30; Brandon Redman 30;
Fourth Campbelltown Camden 168 and 163, Wests 4/171 dec, Ayesh Misra 47; Chris Inger 32*; Roscoe Ray 26; Jamie Warwick 55; Tom Patterson 30;
Fifth Wests 8/305, Campbelltown Camden 4/106, match abandoned due to rain. Kye Stoneham 51*
