An undefeated innings of 57 from Will Salzmann was not enough to stop the Camden Campbelltown Ghosts suffering yet another defeat.
Earlier in the week the Tahmoor junior was named in the Australian Under 19 squad of 37 ahead of the World Cup tournament in the West Indies next January.
The 17 year old allrounder celebrated with a wonderful innings on Saturday against Western Suburbs that included two sixes and seven boundaries.
Salzman, pictured below, was at the crease for 68 minutes and faced 45 balls, but unfortunately his exploits were in vain.
The Ghosts were invited to bat first by the home side, who won the toss at Pratten Park, Ashfield in the round four fixture.
The visitors lost their first wicket after scoring just eight runs, when opener Adam Whatley, pictured above, fell.
In a sign of things to come, two more wickets fell while the Ghosts’ score remained at eight, Toby Flynn Duncomb and Jackson Isakka.
It was 4 for 12 when Nathan Appleton departed, which meant the first three batsman scored just four runs each.
However the middle order showed some steel as they tried to put a little pride in the Ghosts’ performance.
Aaron Muir (22), Tate Nunn (16) and Salzmann combined to frustrate the home side’s bowlers.
The trio occupied the crease for more than an hour each to give the Ghosts a slim chance of premiership points.
But once Muir and Nunn departed the resistance fell away and the Ghosts were all out for 129 from 35 overs.
Western Suburbs needed 23.5 overs to reach the target, losing only two wickets in the process.
Owen Cole picked up both of them, although he was expensive, giving away 44 runs in his 5.5 overs.
The Ghosts have now lost all four of their opening matches, their worst start in seven seasons.
So it’s back to the drawing board again for the coaching staff at Raby Sports Complex.
In round five this weekend, weather permitting, the Ghosts will return to the inner city to take on Randwick Petersham.
