Scud sends speedy message

The Sydney Grade competition's Round 4 concludes this Saturday. With all matches interrupted by rain last week, teams will be pushing hard to secure early wickets or plunder quick runs. Manly-Warringah's Mark `Scud' Cameron and North Sydney's Waqar Younis will be two such bowlers hoping to finish off opposition tails before their sides take to the batting crease.

At Owen Earle Oval, Hawkesbury resumes at 8/215 against a potent Manly-Warringah attack. The Seasiders' line-up includes young NSW speedstar Mark Cameron, and former Blues paceman Jamie Heath. Cameron is nicknamed `Scud' by team-mates for his resemblance in looks to Australian tennis star Mark Philipoussis. However, opposition batsman would be mistaken for thinking his nickname derives from the deadly speed of his destructive missiles. Touted as a future Australian representative by former Tasmanian and current Manly-Warringah captain Mark Atkinson, the Seasiders will be hoping that Cameron can account for the Hawks' resilient tail. Cameron has already claimed three of the Seasiders' eight wickets, and will be pushing his claim for a permanent spot in the NSW Speedblitz Blues side.

North Sydney was well served last week by Pakistani speedster Waqar Younis (3-49), against Sutherland at Caringbah Oval. Younis ripped through the Sharks' first three batsmen, who included in-form Blues batsman Phil Jaques. The Bears will return to the field with the Sharks resuming at 8/250.

At University No 1 Oval, Ed Cowan (114) halted Bankstown's early-season success, helping his side to 5/247. Sydney University will be hoping Cowan can continue to amass quick runs, in the knowledge that Mark Waugh will turn out for the Bulldogs. Bankstown will look to last-round centurions Waugh and Corey Richards to overcome a challenging Students' total.

In other matches; Penrith 4/120 v Gordon at Howell; University of NSW 4/167 v Northern District at Waitara; Mosman 5/155 v Eastern Suburbs at Waverley; Fairfield-Liverpool 7/210 v Parramatta at Old Kings; Campbelltown-Camden 157 v UTS-Balmain at Raby 1; Western Suburbs 8/240 v Blacktown at Pratten; and Randwick Petersham 8/216 v St George at Petersham.