Rangers win Limited-Overs Cup in Cricket Central’s classic

Fans flocked to Cricket NSW’s world-class facilities on a scorching Sunday morning, eager to witness the first ever men’s top-class cricket final at Cricket Central Oval between Northern District Rangers and Sydney University Students.

University skipper Tim Cummins would win the toss and elect to bowl with a beautiful cover, bringing ACT/Country NSW representative Caela Maladay into the attack.

Last season’s NSW Premier Cricket first-class player of the year Scott Rodgie and captain David Lowery walked into the middle to start the Rangers’ innings.

The Northern District pair proved patient in their style of play, pulling away from dangerous balls outside off and plundering anything that strayed from the leg side.

The runs piled up steadily as the experienced duo scored half-centuries within each other’s deliveries.

As the students progressed, field placements became more and more attractive on the batting side. Cummins decided to bowl back-to-back spins, encouraging Lowery and Rodgie to swing towards the mounds.

And so they did, increasing the scoring pace with every faceoff delivered. Rodgie, his eye, keeps finding openings to bring up a magnificent century and the first official single-digit innings in cricket at the Central Oval.

It was only when Rangers crossed the 200-run mark that the first wicket of the match fell. The dangerous Rodgie caught midway before being allowed to do more damage. Lowery would soon follow, heading for a 4-year century.

Soon after, more punches would fall as the university suffered a miserable death in the Northern District.

So the students needed 263 runs from 300 deliveries.

The always reliable Nick Larkin handled the first changes comfortably together with opening partner Jordan Gauc.

But unlike the Rangers’ innings, Sydney University suffered a few setbacks before the 25th over.^th over.

A left-arm over from Louie Shaw and Jack Cincotta tore through the Student line-up, picking up big scores from Gauc, Cummins, Mortimer and McElduff for few runs.

Larkin, tired of watching his comrades fall, added an attacking punchline. Well-timed shots were sent to all areas of the oval, leading Larkin to a tenacious – runner-up finish in the final!

And then in the 40s^th Over, the university’s Talisman would fall to chase faster delivery. Bowled Shaw (Louie), caught Shaw (Lachlan), no relation.

A couple of tight singles from Donald Butchart’s bat kept the students somewhat within reach until Ross Pawson’s slower ball forced a lunge from the Zimbabwean-born talent who was caught at point.

The Rangers crowd gathered around the fence as Caelan Maladay prepared to face the final. He needed 20 runs from 6 deliveries with 1 wicket in hand.

49.1 – Rodgie runs in and puts the ball straight into the slot, Maladay obliges…6!

14 required 5.

49.2 – Rodgie in again…Maladay finds the full face of the stick…4!

Need 10 from 4.

49.3 – Rodgie, under pressure… Maladay hooks but not hard enough. A small miscommunication causes the students to complete one, ending Maladay’s strike.

from 9 to 3.

49.4 – Rodgie wins the last over of the University with pace, the batsmen go in a desperate attempt to get Maladay on strike. Rangers wicketkeeper and up-and-coming state representative Lachlan Shaw curled the ball in response and the leather clawed at center stump.

Rangers win 8 matches which will go down in NSW Premier Cricket and Cricket Central history.

Speaking after the match, Rangers skipper David Lowery admired the batting efforts of the students as well as his young Rangers teammates who stepped up in the big moments.

“Nick Larkin, he’s a fantastic player, what a knock it was. He looked a class above all day as usual,” Lowery said.

“For our group [Northern Districts], great accomplishment. You should be really proud of what you have done. We’ve kept getting up, we’ve kept trying to get better and here we are enjoying it so much”

Sydney University skipper Tim Cummins congratulated the winners and his side on a fantastic display of cricket.

“Well done, congratulations ND. You have been all class, all day, well deserved and I really like the way you play your cricket. Cummins said.

– Losing sucks, winning is better, but us [Sydney University] are playing good cricket and I’m looking forward to the next five weeks”.

Score summary

Final – at 10:00
Northern District v University of Sydney
Northern District 6/262 (S Rodgie 107, D Lowery 96, K Tate 3-36) v Sydney University 254 (N Larkin 106, J Cincotta 3-41, L Shaw 3-42)

Final player: Scott Rodgie (Northern District) 107 (from 132 deliveries)

Judiciary: Roberto Howard and Dan Moran

Complete scorecards are available – CLICK HERE
The replay of the entire match can be found – CLICK HERE

Cricket NSW would like to congratulate both sides on an epic clash and thank umpires Roberto Howard and Dan Moran for settling the proceedings.