Parramatta bowler Daniel Jackson in the 1st Grade Cricke game between Penrith and Parramatta t at Old Kings Oval in Parramatta. Photo by Helen Nezdropa
Parramatta celebrate as another Penrith player is out during the 1st Grade Cricke game between Penrith and Parramatta t at Old Kings Oval in Parramatta. Photo by Helen Nezdropa
RUNS were hard to come by on Saturday when Parramatta District faced Penrith in the round 11 first grade cricket clash at Old Kings Oval.
Parramatta won the toss and elected to field in favourable bowling conditions with Daniel Jackson striking early by removing Luke Morrissey for a duck.
Penrith lost two more wickets to be 3/24 before a middle-order fightback by Ryan Gibson and Patrick Cummins steadied the innings.
Three quick-fire wickets by James Parkinson and Luke Dempsey restricted Penrith's scoring and opened up the tailend.
Penrith could add only another 65 runs before they were dismissed for 140.
With time and wickets on their side Parramatta were expected to notch a big first-innings score but stumbled early when Benjamin Schutz was trapped leg before wicket for one.
Opener Luke Wells then combined with Nicholas Bertus for a solid second wicket partnership before Bertus was bowled for 20.
Momentum changed as result to the visitors who claimed another four wickets dismissing Michael Wood (0), Matthew Windred (8), captain Michael Stretton (4) and Darren Smith (10) to have the home team in trouble at 6/92.
Play will resume on Saturday with Parramatta needing another 48 runs to avoid a first-innings defeat.