Highlands posted a very competitive 170 from their 40 overs with the loss of just five wickets, but were overhauled in the 38th over.

Highlands lost the toss but made a strong start to their innings. Newcomer Pete Noble looked very solid and Rob Billington demonstrated how much his stroke play has improved during the season with some flourishing drives.

Billington’s dismissal for 12 when caught on the drive brought skipper Peter Jensen to the crease and the ensuing partnership featured some excellent running between the wickets.

With Noble happy to play the sheet anchor role, Jensen gradually built an innings that took full advantage of the loose ball, consistently crashing boundaries through the leg side. By the time drinks had arrived after twenty overs, Jensen had retired for 41 and the score looked impressive at 1 for 65.

Port Jackson started their twenty over session with some aggressive running between wickets but it all came undone when skipper Simon Lyon took on the arm of Jensen with disastrous results.

George Hodgson was in very good touch, his slog sweep keeping mid-wicket very busy and although Steve Jones was bowled by Chris Ford for 4, the visitors made steady progress. They were contained somewhat through excellent bowling by leg-spinner Mark Preddey, who conceded just 5 runs from 4 overs, and the ever reliable Ray Sharman whose orthodox left armers resulted in 1 for 19 from 7 overs.

At lunch Port Jackson were 2 for 62, a deficit of 13.

Noble resumed with Rod van Beek before being caught for 21. Preddey looked in good touch but holed out to a good catch at cover by Paul Adams for 7. Van Beek found a solid ally in Chris Ford and these two put on 38 for the fourth wicket with a mixture of hair-raising running and judicious shot-making.

The score was pushed along most effectively by Ford (21) and Grant Lewis (31 not out) to give Highlands a sizeable total of 170.

The visitors weren’t helped by their number five taking 25 balls to register a duck but Jim Robson, former Sydney University first grader, was playing a patient, well-constructed innings.

He was joined by Chas Viner and the match was turning Port Jackson’s way.

After the miserly bowling of Preddy and Sharman in tandem, Highland’s attack failed to find the right length and Viner took full toll and retired on 42 from just 33 balls. Paul Adams (22 not out) and Joe Scarcella (12 not out) completed a stand of 33 to see Port Jackson pass the Highlands total with 2.3 overs still up their sleeve.