The Hurricanes won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket that looked like a batting paradise, rock-hard and with an even cover of grass.
In hot steamy conditions, the Hurricane batters despite some early misses, quickly settled in a groove and started to score freely. The Eagles bowlers continued to toil hard to get wickets but were not helped by some sloppy fielding errors and five dropped catches.
The run flow was eventually slowed by some excellent seam bowling by Sajjad Qaiser with 2/66 off 23 overs and impressive off spin bowler, Gihan Ebert, who put in a marathon performance to take 4/68 off 35 overs.
Due to the sterling efforts of Ebert and Qaiser, the Hurricanes finished the day’s play on 6/250, a much smaller total than they would have envisaged after being on top of the bowling earlier in the day.
With the Hurricanes expected to bat on next week, the Eagles will be looking to take the remaining four wickets for as few runs as possible.
Lower Grades: Second Grade, Auburn 5-73 (H Quinn 25no) v NWS 153 (Z Jadoon 2-18, P Randhawa 3-24, A Hadley 2-23, G Mustafa 2-43); Third Grade, Auburn 209 (N Herath 63, J Goulding 49) v NWS 0-6; Fourth Grade, Auburn 123 (N Tawakal 43no, S Ali 25) v NWS 3-266 (S Ali 2-61); Fifth Grade, Auburn 9-240 (A Khan 57, A Wijedasa 47, R Ebert 61) Lost v Pennant Hills 9-275 (R Ebert 2-48, A Madra 2-40, A Wijedasa 2-59); Metropolitan Cup, Auburn 5-70 v Blacktown 129 (M Minhaj 3-26, F Karkhil 2-31, S Ranaweera 2-25); Chappelow Cup, Auburn 3-258 (Z Shahid 76, A Gena 52no, K Khan 51, R Totade 31, J Sahare 21) d MPSD 93 (Z Shahid 5-19, M Ahmed 2-7, C Roodt 2-32).
Eagles bowlers set up likely win
AFTER a dominate performance in its last round victory over the previously undefeated Epping Bulls, Auburn District Cricket Club’s First Grade team went into its clash with crosstown rivals, North West Sydney Hurricanes, with a new level of confidence.
