Week 2 The opening spell

A number of big names with some big scores in the Kingsgrove Sports T20 Cup over the weekend, with the first round of finalists now in focus. Also some solid repeat efforts in Round 2 of the Poidevin-Gray Shield.

_{Scott Rodgie moved into the top 10 first-year point scorers on Sunday // Ian Bird}

First up: Kingsgrove Sports T20 Cup

Rodgie's first ball rolls through

Northern District captain Scott Rodgie started the season with a career total of 11288 first-class runs. He was 12th on the list of all-time top scorers. He had only one match on the first day (21/09) and scored 21 in round 1. Northern District had a bye in round 2 (the afternoon of 21/09). In Round 3 (morning of 28/09) he scored 25 against St. George, taking his career total to 11334, passing Gordon legend Sid Carroll (11322) and into 11th place on the scoring list. In the afternoon match (round 4) he made 42, and the next day (Sunday 29/09) he made 39 in round 5, which took him to 11415, past Grant Lambert (11413) and into the top 10 all-time scorers .

Second ball Final tied

UTS North Sydney and Northern District were the two undefeated teams after the five regular season rounds with a perfect four from four. Paramatta and Campbelltown Camden also topped their groups to progress to the second round of finals on the afternoon of October 13. Earlier in the day, Fairfield-Liverpool take on Western Suburbs, Sydney University against Eastern Suburbs, Penrith against Gordon and Bankstown. will face Sutherland in the first round of finals.

Third ball Blues brothers

On Saturday, NSW Blues keeper/batsman Matthew Gilkes got 66 (35 balls, 4 sixes, 7 fours) for UNSW, but with no one else scoring above 11, 9-149 proved no problem for Western Suburbs, with fellow NSW star Josh Filip on fire. The Sydney Sixers opener added 110 not out (49 balls, 10 sixes, 4 fours) to the century (139) he scored for New South Wales against Western Australia in the One Day Cup match a week earlier. Wests needed just 12.5 overs to reach 151.

Fourth ball Gilkes does it again

Later that Saturday, Gilkes was even better in the Unis clash. UNSW got an opening stand of 127 from Gilkes (88 off 38 balls, 5 sixes, 8 fours) and Suffan Hassan 44 (28 balls 3 sixes, 3 fours) to total 5-227 against Sydney University. The latter got 59 (29 balls, 4 sixes, 5 fours) from Damien Mortimer, three others got into the 30s but fell 22 short at 9-205.

Fifth ball Meppem the weapon

For UNSW, Ryan Meppem produced what was perhaps the defensive performance of the weekend. He caught both openers, and when deployed as the seventh bowler used, he took 5-20.

Sixth ball punishing Patterson

Former Test batsman Kurtis Patterson, in at 1-0 after three balls, made 95 not out (49 balls, 6 sixes, 9 fours), added 128 for the third wicket with Matt Rodgers 57 (38 balls, 4 sixes, 4 fours) , and St. George totaled 2-194 against Northern District. It wasn't enough. Corey Miller scored 77 not out (36 balls, 5 sixes, 9 fours) and added 123 for the unfinished 6th wicket stand with Aidan Cahill 44 (23 balls, 4 sixes, 2 fours). Northern District reached 5-200 with a six from Cahill on the first ball of the 16th over. Rodgers' 57 took him past 5000 runs, to 5034 at 31.26.

Second left: Poidevin-Gray Shield

First ball Two from two

UNSW, Fairfield-Liverpool, Mosman, Randwick Petersham and Bankstown are the only teams with a perfect record after the first two rounds of the season. At the other end of the spectrum, eight clubs are yet to record a win.

Second ball Bag attack

Zak Keogh went for Randwick Petersham against Northern District at Coogee Oval and posted an unbeaten 83 off 52 rocks with half a dozen fours and as many sixes to send his side home inside 17 overs.

Third ball White wash for Spencer

Northern District's Spencer White scored an unbeaten 105 last week, batting at five. This time White advanced to bat on three and still could not be dismissed, scoring 76* against Randwick Petersham before Keogh's heroics.

Fourth ball Burke blitz

Blayde Burke was the highest wicket-taker over the entire round, taking 5/20 from his four overs for UNSW as they toppled Blacktown Mounties at David Phillips Memorial Fields.

Fifth ball Captain Charlie

Sydney's skipper Charlie Howard may not have taken as many wickets as Burke, but he was certainly good in his side's 11-run win over Hawkesbury at Bensons Lane. Howard took 4/12 from his 3.5 overs and was ably assisted by Thomas Blowes, who contributed 2/11 from his four overs.

Sixth ball allen key for Mosman

Last week Mosman's William Allen smashed an unbeaten 148 against Western Suburbs and this week his victim was Eastern Suburbs, with the informant scoring a match-high 65 before being dismissed by Hayden Tipping in the 19th over.