Smith eyes first trophy as coach

Sydney Premier Cricket club Sutherland's progress to the finals of the inaugural national T20 championships today came as no surprise to anyone who noted the calibre of advice at their fingertips.

As the 10 teams to qualify for the Fox Cricket National Premier T20 Championships in Adelaide chased the four available finals berths on offer tomorrow, Sutherland boasted a brains trust that featured a pair of former Australia Test captains.

Steve Smith has taken on the role of coach for the club where he continues to play, while Steve Waugh (and his wife, Lynette) were on hand to watch their son Austin who is also a member of Sutherland's first-grade team.

Austin Waugh's batting was only required for two deliveries of his team's preliminary matches today, in which they swept past Canberra's Tuggeranong Valley and then Northern Territory Strike League champions City Cyclones to reach tomorrow's semi-finals.

Their opponents at Park 25's Oval 2 in the morning will be Victoria club Carlton, while the other semi-final on Karen Rolton Oval will feature Perth's Melville club against University of Queensland.

The winners of those fixtures will contest the trophy (and bragging rights as the first national Premier Cricket T20 champs) at Rolton Oval tomorrow afternoon.

Smith played for Sutherland earlier this summer while serving his 12-month suspension from state and international cricket, but is currently sidelined having undergone surgery seven weeks ago to repair a damaged ligament in his right elbow.

The 29-year-old's ban expires on March 28, and he has only recently returned to batting in the nets following the operation and remains unable to play cross-bat shots or engage in bowling or throwing.

However, he is on track to return in Indian Premier League that begins later this month, and for Australia's heavy winter schedule that features the ICC World Cup in the UK followed immediately by a five-Test Ashes campaign.

Smith was a low-key off-field presence as Sutherland cruised into the play-offs, keeping track of every ball bowled in a notebook and sharing insights with batters as they waited their turn at the crease.

Not that he needed to impart many tips to his opener Jarryd Biviano, who clubbed an unbeaten 103 from 51 balls (with 12 boundaries and four sixes) in Sutherland's win over Tuggeranong that came with more than four overs to spare.

The day's other century-maker, Michael Cranmer from Adelaide's East Torrens, was not so blessed as his team slumped to an eight-wicket defeat against Sydney University despite his 101 not out from 72 balls.

The day's stand-out individual bowling effort came from Sutherland's Daniel Rixon, son of former Australia Test wicketkeeper Steve Rixon, who snared 4-13 against the Cyclones in a game where teammate Daniel Fallins claimed 3-8.

Carlton's Cameron Stevenson also starred with 4-30 in their win over Melbourne Premier Cricket rivals Dandenong, a result that narrowly squeezed Dandenong out of fourth place and a berth in the semi-finals.

But the most potent threat undoubtedly looms as Melville (and Perth Scorchers) leg spinner Usman Qadir who proved near unplayable in taking 3-6 against the Cyclones in the morning round, and then 3-17 in the WA team's win over Tuggeranong Valley.

Should Sutherland square off against the Perth team in tomorrow's final, Smith's insights into how the rival leg spinner can be quelled might well prove decisive.