Local fans of the Campbelltown Camden Ghosts will get their first chance to see star signing Monty Panesar in action this Saturday at Raby Sports Complex.
It will be the club’s first home match of the 2016-17 Sydney Premier Cricket season when they host University of NSW.
But as well as the England international’s home ground debut, it will be a good chance for the Ghosts to record their first victory this season.
Captain Scott Coyte will be looking to put some points on the board against the “students” who are yet to claim victory this season.
Play will start at 10.30am.
But before that the Ghosts first grade side will travel to Wollongong on Wednesday evening to begin preparations for the upcoming T/20 series.
The Ghosts will play Illawarra under lights at North Dalton Park from 6pm.
Last Saturday, as expected Sutherland’s total of 4 declared for 407 was always going to be a big challenge for the Ghosts to overtake at Glenn McGrath Oval.
But there were signs there that there may be better days ahead for the Ghosts.
A century partnership between Nick Carruthers and Grant Crompton, with some late resistance from Jordan Browne and Luke Webb, proved to be the highlights of an innings that produced 258 runs.
After losing the first wicket of Ashleigh Paddison with the score on 53, the Ghosts quickly found themselves at 3/63 before Carruthers and Compton added 110. Carruthers was bowled for 76 and Compton followed soon after for 41.
Luke Webb (25 runs) and Jordan Browne (36 not out) combined for a ninth wicket partnership of 59 runs.
♦ At Raby, the Ghosts second grade continued their great start to the season, remaining unbeaten in the first three games of the season.
While day one of the match belonged to Jaydyn Simmons, who scored a dominant 153 runs and Mitch Carruthers (95), Nathan Baker took control of day two to bowl the Ghosts to victory.
The Ghosts started well with two early wickets to Faisal Nasim and another dismissal shortly afterward from the bowling of Jaydyn Simmons.
The Sutherland middle order all got away to good starts, but only one of their batsmen went on to dominate the Ghosts bowlers.
Apart from two wickets directly after lunch to Lleyton Wallace, the rest of the Sutherland bats fell to Nathan Baker, who finished with 5-48 from 12 superb overs on the batting friendly Raby surface.
The locals then returned to the crease to completely close Sutherland out of the game and after 12 overs stumps was declared with Campbelltown Camden at 1-98.
Nathan Baker continuing to enjoy his day scoring 45 not out.
♦ At Gunnamatta Bay, the Ghosts third grade had a solid win to leave them one win from the top four on the premiership table.
Defending 6 declared for 305, the opening bowling of Jarryd Lysaught ensured the Ghosts achieved a comfortable victory.
Lysaught took 5/80 from 20 overs as the Sutherland bats departed at regular intervals throughout the day.
Sutherland were dismissed for 216 runs to hand victory to the Ghosts by 89 runs.
♦ On the back of Josh Stewart’s opening innings of 73 runs, the local fourth grade were looking at comfortable victory at 2/120.
However, the dismissal of Stewart turned the game for Sutherland as the rest of the Ghosts bats followed suit.
The Ghosts lost 8/54 in what was a disappointing ending to a game that was there for the taking.
