Josh Baker made a big impression with the bat and ball to help Northern District CC to a weekend double in two different New South Wales Premier Cricket 50 over competitions.
The Worcestershire spinner made a game-changing contribution with the bat on Saturday in a 70-run success over Mosman CC in a first grade encounter.
He came to the wicket at number ten with his side struggling at 105-8 and went onto top score with 41 from 70 balls.
Baker added 46 for the ninth wicket with Ross Pawson (27) and a further 27 for the 10th with Jack Cincotta (five not out).
He was eventually last out with the total 178 off 48.1 overs.
His efforts proved invaluable as Mosman were dismissed for 108 in 32.2 overs with Baker taking one catch and bowling five overs for 19 runs after coming into the attack as the fifth bowler.
Cincotta (6.2-2-19-5) ensured Baker’s excellent effort in leading a recovery was capitalised upon.
Baker then returned the excellent figures of 5-27 from 10 overs on Sunday as Northern District defeated Paramatta under the Duckworth-Lewis Method in a Poidevin-Gray Shield fixture.
He broke an opening stand of 75 in his first three over spell and followed that up with two wickets in each of his other four and three over bursts as Paramatta were dismissed for 192 in 49 overs.
Baker was not required to bat as Northern District reached 86-3 from 17.1 overs to secure victory.
Ed Pollock continued his impressive pre-Christmas form with a half century for St. George CC in a 139 run win over UNSW in another New South Wales Premier Cricket first grade fixture.
Pollock struck a rapid 53 in his first knock of 2024 from just 34 balls with five sixes.
He dominated an opening stand of 76 with Matt Rodgers (23) to follow on from scores of 82 not out, 38 and 116.
Blake Macdonald dominated the remainder of the innings with 182 off 128 balls in a formidable total of 365-5 from 50 overs.
UNSW were then bowled out for 226 in 40.3 overs.
Ethan Brookes made 37 from 57 balls and was also on the winning side for Prahran CC over Camberwell Magpies in a Victorian Premier Cricket first grade meeting.
Brookes batted at number four and added 60 for the third wicket with Cameron Hemp.
He was fifth out with the total on 126 and contributions down the order enabled Prahran to total 265-7 from 50 overs.
Brookes then bowled six overs for 25 runs as the Magpies were dismissed for 162 in 30 overs.
Pace bowler Adam Finch continued his comeback from a back injury by sending down nine overs for 21 runs for Sturt CC on day one of the South Australia Cricket Association Premier Cricket match against Southern District.
Southern District closed on 253-8 and the match will be concluded next weekend.
Finch was also in action on Sunday as Sturt went down by 149 runs to Port Adelaide in the West End One Day Cup.
He had figures of 10-0-51-1 in a Port Adelaide total of 258-5 in 50 overs and was dismissed for nought as Sturt were bowled out for 109 in 29.1 overs.
Gareth Roderick made 31 off 51 balls with five fours as he skippered Green Point to a 24 run win in a Western Province Premier Division fixture against Milnerton CC in South Africa.
The keeper-batter came in at number three and added 64 for the second wicket with Daniel Briggs (38) before being third out at 79.
Green Point totalled 245-7 from 50 overs and then Roderick held onto two catches, including last man Keegan Fortune, as Milnerton were dismissed for 221 in 46 overs.
In the KFC Big Bash League, Adam Hose was part of an Adelaide Strikers victory as they sealed a place in the playoff rounds but the batter will now head to UAE to link up with his Desert Vipers team ahead of the Emirati International League T20 which begins this week.
2024 overseas signing, Nathan Smith picked up a wicket, scored 26 and took a brilliant catch but his side, Wellington were defeated by Northern Districts in the New Zealand Super Smash T20 competition.
Worcestershire 2024 Vitality Blast signing, Usama Mir, dismissed New Zealand’s top scorer, Finn Allen, in Pakistan’s second T20I in Hamilton on Sunday.
The leg spinner bowled opener Allen for 74 and finished with 1-39 but Pakistan (173) went down by 21 runs.
