Hope was part of the Uni third grade side which took on Manly Warringah at Graham Reserve, and he steered them to a big win thanks to a half-century followed by a decent spell of left-arm orthodox spin.

Prior to Saturday’s one-dayer, the hard-hitting all-rounder had made plenty of starts without posting anything significant, and his biggest score up until that point had been an even 50 in round two against Blacktown.

Batting at three, he powered his way to 93 and got good support from Cowra product Joe Kershaw, who produced the second half-century of his own Sydney career via a 57.

That helped Uni to 7-264 at the end of their 50 overs.

The northern beaches side had their moments during the run-chase and, a couple of times, threatened to make a game of it, but in the end they fell well short, dismissed for 199 in the 45th over.

Hope claimed 2-36 from his eight overs, while Kershaw bagged 2-29 from eight himself to complete a good day for the Western lads.

So far in his first full season, Hope has smacked 279 runs at 31 in third grade, as well as 108 at 27 in the Poidevin Gray Shield for under 21s.

Having made it to at least 23 in eight of his 14 innings, he has shown plenty of consistency and, if performances like his one on Saturday are any indication, a rise into a higher grade can’t be too far away.

None of the other Bathurst players in the Sydney competition featured particularly prominently during Saturday’s one-dayers, though ex-City Colts middle-order star Nick Shurmer is having a strong season with St George.

Entrenched in third grade and one of his side’s most reliable batsmen, Shurmer has managed 224 runs at a brilliant average of 74 in thirds, including a 79 two weeks ago against Bankstown, though ultimately the Saints were defeated in that game.

They suffered another loss to Northern Districts on Saturday.

Shurmer showed he could cut it at the next level too during a brief stint in seconds that yielded 95 at 23, and he has managed three half-centuries across his season.

Ben Trevor-Jones’ Hawkesbury second grade side managed an easy six-wicket win over University of NSW on the weekend, though no details were available from the match.

The former Bathurst City first- grader has been solid enough in seconds as his side’s wicketkeeper-batsman, making 213 for the season at 26.6.

ORC premiership batsman Mike Waldren wasn’t required in his St George team’s eight-wicket win over Northern Districts as he tries to fight his way back into thirds.

In something of a rought trot at the moment, he had a better start to the season and can take some confidence from his surprise exploits with the ball, having taken nine wickets in addition to his 142 runs at 14.2.

The other recent addition to the Sydney competition, another former Colt in Callum Hotham, has been battling for form over the last few weeks following a solid start to his career with Penrith.

Since returning from over a month-and-a-half off the field he has been less prolific than his initial matches with the club, though he was hardly alone on Saturday.

Penrith were skittled for 125 in pursuit of Western Suburbs’ 166 in fourth grade.

To date, Hotham has hit 98 at 12.3 across thirds, fourths and Poidevin Gray.