A five-wicket haul by Malshan Gunasinghe took Sydenham-Hillside to within two points of the top four in the North West Metro Cricket Association’s George Luscombe Shield with an outright victory over Strathmore Heights on Saturday.
At stumps on day one, Sydenham had already picked up first-innings points after reaching 7-181 in pursuit of Strathmore Heights’ 141.
Gunasinghe got his second five-wicket haul of the season with 5-52 and was well-supported by Alex Hassett’s 4-22.
Sydenham lost its eighth wicket early on Saturday afternoon, with Hassett caught for 27, but Anil Beniwal (44), Greg Wilson (16) and Hayden Mulholland (11) added 44 vital runs for the last two wickets to take the all-out total to 230.
Strathmore Heights, down two batsmen, then all out for 69 from just 19 overs
Mulholland took 4-35 from 6.2 overs, with Gunashinghe (2-13) and Hassett (2-19) backing him up well.
The win leaves Sydenham-Hillside in fifth on 16 points, two behind Gladstone Park, in fourth spot.
Kealba-Green Gully was not as successful against Buckley Park. Bowled out for 190 last week, Kealba got off to a positive start and left Buckley Park 1-13 at stumps on day one.
The wickets of Chris Benson (20), Jason Iles (five) and Daniel Moloney (18) followed early on day two, giving Kealba a chance at 4-62.
But a 115-run stand for the fifth wicket between skipper John Markham (61) and Michael Moloney (61) took the score to 177 before Markham was caught.
Moloney fell with the scores tied at 190 Anthony Haseloff hit the winning run.
Jarrod Catania took 3-46 from 22.1 overs for Kealba and Divesh Kumar got the crucial wickets of Markham and Moloney to finish with 2-5 from seven overs.
Kealba-Green Gully hosts Sydenham-Hillside in a two-day clash starting this Saturday.
Kealba remains four points clear atop the ladder.
