The cricket was as dour as the weather at Raby Sports Complex on Saturday when the Ghosts played their first home of the season.
Campbelltown Camden won the toss and elected to bat in the round four clash against University of NSW – despite the overcast skies.
After 47 overs the Ghosts scraped together just 108 runs for the loss of six wickets.
It was a different approach when the women clashed at Raby 2 and 3 in the Breakers Challenge the following day under clear blue skies
Thunder Black beat Sixers Magenta by six wickets with more than 10 overs to spare at Raby 3.
Thunder Black eased to victory on the back of half centuries to Nicola Carey (58) and Rachel Trenaman (74 not out).
The first match between Sixers Black and Thunder Green was won by Thunder Green in a close finish at Raby Oval 2.
But 24 hours earlier the Ghosts men’s first grade squad had to bide its time as a heavy shower at 10.30am delayed the start of play.
Umpires Anthony Hobson and Ryan Nelson started play at 11.30am but the Ghosts innings never really got going.
Opener Ashley Paddison was the first to go when he was caught behind for a duck.
His partner, Ardil Domingo, reached 10 runs before he was also caught and the Ghosts were in a heap of trouble.
The procession continued on a regular basis, despite some resistance from Nick Carruthers, who faced 47 balls for his innings of 31 and which included six boundaries.
Skipper Scott Coyte was bowled for 14, while Grant Crompton got to 22 before he fell leg before wicket.
The Ghosts hopes of reaching a reasonable total now rest on the shoulders of Jack Preddey (10 n.o.) and Jarrod Colliss(17 n.o.) when play resumes this Saturday at Raby.
The Breakers Challenge on Sunday at Raby saw the involvement of some of the best women cricketers in the country.
The round robin tournament contains four rounds being played over the next month.
Thunder Green posted 7-216 from their 50 overs with Australian international Rachael Haynes (51) and Asha Smith (57) the standouts.
The pair put together 84 for the first wicket, which set Thunder Green on their way to a competitive total.
In reply, Sixers Black came close but fell just short. Georgia Redmayne (65) was the star with the bat as Sixers Black reached 209.
At Raby 3, after winning the toss and electing to bat first, Sixers Magenta could muster only 198.
Ashleigh Gardner top-scored with 47.
Charlotte Anneveld was the chief destroyer with 4-24 off 9.5 figures.
In the chase, Thunder Black eased to victory off 39.3 overs.
The Breakers State Challenge will continue this Thursday with Sixers Black taking on Sixers Magenta at Raby Oval 1.
Thunder Green will take on Thunder Black at Raby Oval 2.
Both matches will start at 10am.
