NSW V South Australia Day 2

COWAN IN FORM FOR BLUES

I went to the 2nd day of this vital Sheffield Shield fixture along with fellow umpire Neil D whose home is in West Bridgford. The initially sparse crowd was added to after lunch by a party of very enthusiastic and pleasingly well behaved teenage pupils from a local school. The weather was unseasonably cool and cloudy indeed floodlights had to be used late in the afternoon to aid vision.  Nevertheless this was an absorbing day's play of the highest order and this despite the sides, in particular NSW, losing a whole heap of players on international duty in India.

The match saw the debut of Mason Crane. The Shoreham-by-Sea born leggie plies his trade for Hampshire, England U19s and lately Gordon CC in Sydney Grade cricket where he has been having an outstanding season. He has benefitted from the mentoring of Stuart MacGill and is the first overseas cricketer to play for NSW in over 30 years , the last  one being Imran Khan. In the SA innings he bowled decently taking a couple of wickets as the visitors subsided to an under par 229 all out. Paceman Pat Cummins enjoyed himself with 4/57. Callum Ferguson was the pick of the batsmen with 75.

NSW's reply got off to an explosive start with openers Nic  Maddinson and Daniel Hughes dispatching the SA bowling to all parts. Maddinson  was dropped recently by the national selectors but roared back to form with a hard-hitting 70 from 60 balls. Hughes was out for 28 . There followed an excellent knock from ex-Notts man Ed Cowan. Ed is having a great season for the Blues and notched a chanceless 125 not out. He used his feet well when facing Head and Zampa in particular and looked in total control. Patterson and skipper Henriques contributed good half centuries as NSW closed on 333-4, 104 runs ahead with two days remaining.

Andy M