From UTS North Sydney vault - Matt Alexander takes seven!
UTS North Sydney District Cricket Club | April 20, 2026
Matt Alexander took the North Sydney Bears’ best ever limited-overs bowling figures of 7/38 in Round 1 of the 2019-20 season against Bankstown. It was the start of a phenomenal season for Matt, who took 48 wickets at a touch over 22 apiece from a gruelling 263 overs. Matt was easily the leading wicket-taker in NSW Premier Cricket and became the third Bear to claim a First Grade merit team selection since the accolade was established in 2012-13. He joined Adam Crosthwaite and Tom Jagot in the select group, with Tom being selected again subsequently in 2020-21 and Justin Avendano in 2021-22.
Alexander in action later in the 2019-20 season
Here we reproduce David James’ report of a thrilling match which the Bears lost by a single run.
First Grade UTS North Sydney vs Bankstown at Bankstown Oval, 28 September 2019
UTS North Sydney 226 (J Avendano 60, T Jagot 42, B Bryant 30, J Campbell 27* T Reynolds 26) def by Bankstown 227 (M Alexander 7/38, W Graham 2/51)
Matt Alexander achieved the club’s best bowling figures for North Sydney vs Bankstown, beating current Second Grade captain Glenn Aitken (7/66 in 2005-06). His 7/38 is the best limited overs bowling figures in the history of the North Sydney club (beating Darren Wotherspoon 6/30 in 2001-02) and the joint tenth best limited-overs figures in NSW Premier Cricket history.
Unfortunately, Matt’s brilliant bowling performance was not enough to secure victory in the first game of the season as the Bears fell agonisingly short by 1 run. He did secure the 3 points in the Access RnD Bradman Medal race as well as the Mario Brothers Pizza player of the round for round 1.
On a cool but sunny morning, Bankstown won the toss and elected to bat on a dry Bankstown Oval pitch. After a tight start from James Campbell and Will Graham, Alexander was injected into the game snaring the firstt wicket in his 4th over to have Bankstown 1/57 off 14. Graham (2/51) bowled Solway in the 18th over and Bankstown were 2/63. Justin Avendano took a great catch in the covers off James Aitken to get rid of Fawcett – Bankstown 3/99 off 26. Three of the next four wickets were taken caught behind the stumps by Max Papworth, who made his club debut in first grade with cap no:667. Brown (79) and Dignam (36) combined for a 74-run partnership before Graham grabbed his second wicket, leaving Bankstown 5/190, with eight overs to go.
Enter, Matt Alexander, who first dismissed Brown and then destroyed the tail, taking 4 wickets in 10 balls in the 48th and 50th overs. Bankstown all out 227.
The Bears' bowling analysis
The run chase started well for the Bears with Ben Bryant (30) and Tom Jagot (42) putting on 66 runs in the first 20 overs for the first wicket. Avendano entered the crease, hitting plenty of singles and keeping the run chase on track. However, as the pitch got slower runs dried up. At 4/113 the Bears needed 115 from the final 15 overs. Avendano combined with youngster Tim Reynolds (26), who achieved his highest first grade score to date. When Avendano fell for 60, the Bears required 54 runs off 38 balls.
A quickfire 41 run partnership of 28 balls between Campbell and Papworth, gave the boys a sniff. With 9 wickets down Graham strode to the crease starting with a four, leaving 9 to win off the final over. With 2 balls left it was 5 to win, but Campbell could only get a single leaving Graham on strike. The final ball was struck into the deep on the off side, two runs were completed and Graham was run out attempting a third that was never there but would have tied the game. It was a cracking game, but the Bears lost by an agonizing 1 run.
