[dropcap]C[/dropcap]ampbelltown Camden cricket club have taken out the minor premiership of the 2017-18 Sydney grade competition.
The Ghosts will now set their sights on winning their first ever premiership, starting with next weekend’s quarter final against Sydney at Raby Sports Complex.
While the home side will be warm favourites to progress after the two day clash, the Ghosts will be wary of the team that clinched the last finals spot.
But after a year in which they have been the stand out team, the Ghosts will also be reasonably confident that this may be their year.
Lady luck came to their rescue after they lost their final home and away match of the season to Sydney University, this year’s one day champions.
Other results went their way and they were able to cling on to top spot on the ladder.
Yesterday at Raby the Ghosts won the toss and decided to bat first.
But they just could not get going against a very well drilled team.
It did not help that the heavy outfield of Raby#1 prevented the ball from reaching the boundary on several occasions.
The figures tell the story better, with just seven boundaries in 50 overs.
The highest score was 30 by Ghosts captain Jarrad Burke, who again stood head and shoulders above everyone else.
The Ghosts also missed the services of young Englishman Ollie Pope, but to be fair Sydney University put on an impressive show, both bowling and fielding.
It was obvious to see why they were one day champions this season.
Late order batsmen Jarred Lysaught (29 not out) and Luke Webb (9 not out) tried to lift the tempo in the last few overs and their partnership of 29 runs helped the Ghosts to 8 for 155.
This was between 50 and 70 runs below par and as it turned out University easily overhauled the target.
An undefeated 75 from former Test batsman Ed Cowen coming in at first drop was the highlight as University cruised to victory in just 19.4 overs.
