Top 10 batters and bowlers from Messenger Bowl T20 school cricket competition
Ahead of the Messenger Bowl T20 grand final, set to be live streamed on Wednesday, we’ve pulled together the competition’s top performing batsmen and bowlers. Find out who starred here.
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The Messenger Bowl Twenty20 school cricket competition grand final will get underway on Wednesday.
The title decider between Prince Alfred and Scotch was set to be played earlier last month.
But it was postponed as authorities put a ‘two-week pause’ on all inter-schol and commnity sport to help containt the Parfield COVID-19 cluster.
In a first for the competition, which is in its 13th year, the match will be live streamed by The Messenger and The Advertiser on advertiser.com.au from 1.30pm.
Now, with the minor rounds finished, we take a look at the top performers with the bat and ball across the 2020 Messenger Bowl season:
TOP 10 BATTERS
ISAAC HIGGINS
(IMMANUEL)
The Glenelg star was included in our best youngsters to keep an eye out for this SA Premier Cricket season.
Higgins was also touted as one to watch this Messenger Bowl season and he has risen to every challenge.
The 18-year-old played all five matches this T20 school campaign for Immanuel and finished with 209 runs at 52.25, including 12 sixes and 11 fours.
His highest score was a 130 not out.
WILL FOLEY
(ST MICHAEL’S)
The St Michael’s captain led the way at the stumps this season, smashing a total of 170 runs at 56.67 across five games.
That included a whopping 15 fours and two sixes.
Foley’s highest score was an 89 not out.
The batsman/wicketkeeper, who plays for Woodville’s A grade side in SA’s Premier Cricket competition, proved to be composed in key moments for the Henley Beach-based school.
WILL PATTON
(SACRED HEART)
The right-handed, top order batsman finished third in the top run-scorers after smashing 133 at 33.25 from four matches.
Patton plays Premier Cricket with Adelaide, despite being just a Year 10.
Sacred Heart cricket director Nicholas Taylor said Patton proved to be an outstanding player this year.
“Will has really started to show what he can do at senior grades of cricket this season,” Taylor said.
“He has always been touted as a highly talented player, and is starting to execute in his performances.”
JED OBST
(SCOTCH)
He’s the son of an Olympic Gold Medallist and an Australian Rules footballer but this rising star is showing signs of being a promising cricketer.
Obst’s mother is Juliet Obst (nee Haslam) who won gold medals with Australia’s women’s hockey team at the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympics.
His father, meanwhile, is Port Adelaide SANFL dual premiership player and Melbourne Demons midfielder Andrew Obst.
The rising cricketer, who is also part of West Adelaide’s under-16 SANFL side, played five Messenger Bowl games this season.
He smashed a total of 106 runs at 26.50, including four fours.
LUCAS WELLS
(IMMANUEL)
The Year 10 student made his Messenger Bowl debut this season and starred with 105 runs at 52.50, including five fours and six sixes.
Wells, who is also a Glenelg District Cricket Club member, made his highest score in a match against Prince Alfred, where he finished the innings on 36 not out.
Bode said the right-hand batsman “immediately set about stamping the door down” to make the team and then did well to hold his place in it.
“He also has very safe hands in the field, taken a few good catches, is a very good throw and has taken a few run-outs,” Bode said.
“He’s a very stable, hard-hitting batsman.”
THOMAS VAN JAARSVELDT
(SACRED HEART)
Jaarsveldt is a Year 11 and he finished the Messenger Bowl season with 100 runs at an average of 25 from four games.
The youngster is a member of Adelaide Cricket Club and is a power hitter who, according to Taylor, has added more “patience and finesse into his game this year”.
“(That) has helped him to score more consistently.”
JAMES REUTHER
(IMMANUEL)
The rising star won last season’s Sports Association for Adelaide Schools’ association medal after a brilliant cricket campaign and he’s backed up his form in this year’s Messenger Bowl competition.
Reuther is an all-rounder and made a total of 96 runs at 24 from four matches this season.
That included three fours and one six.
Immanuel head of sport Olaf Bode said the Year 11’s leading role was as an opening, right-arm bowler but was also an “outstanding batter”.
“He’s obviously a very good all-rounder,” Bode said.
TEJAS GILL
(ADELAIDE HIGH)
Gill captained Adelaide High’s side this year and it’s hard to believe he’s only in Year 10.
He has starred for his school over the past few seasons and continued his strong form in 2020.
The left-handed opening batter, who made the state under-15 and under-17 sides the past two seasons, played four T20 school matches this year.
He finished the season with 94 runs at 31.33, with a highest score of 52 not out.
Gill also hit 10 fours this Messenger Bowl campaign.
CORMACK O’REILLY
(SCOTCH)
O’Reilly starred with the bat for Scotch, finishing the five-match season with 93 runs.
His highest score was a 43 not-out and Maduwantha said he went close to hitting a run a ball during all his matches.
The Woodville District Cricket Club member was part of the 2019 South Australian under-15 squad after a strong year at both club and school level.
MATTHEW BARNES
(SACRED HEART)
Barnes enjoyed a top season for Sacred Heart, finishing with 83 runs at 41.50 from four Messenger Bowl matches.
His highest score was a 37 not out and, according to Taylor, was the best performer for the team in the one-day competition which was played on Saturdays.
The Adelaide Cricket Club, right-hand batsman is described as “extremely consistent and a highly technical player”.
“He has the know-how and skill to build really strong innings each time he steps out,” Taylor said.
TOP 10 BOWLERS
MATTHEW DIXON
(SCOTCH)
Dixon skippered Scotch’s side this season and, although he tops the bowlers’ list, he’s more a batting all-rounder, according to coach Madu Maduwantha.
The youngster played five Messenger Bowl Twenty20 matches this year and snared 10 wickets off 17 overs.
Maduwantha said he used Dixon as a “part-time bowler” but praised his ability to step up and help steer the team to its unbeaten record and the upcoming grand final against Prince Alfred.
“He’s take lots of wickets and I think he’s bowled at the right times as well, at the end of the innings,” Maduwantha said.
“He’s bowled great and he’s been rewarded for that.”
CAMPBELL THOMPSON
(SCOTCH)
It’s no wonder Scotch enjoyed an unblemished record this season and an upcoming grand final appearance with so many bowlers topping the list for wickets taken.
Thompson, a left-arm fast bowler, enjoyed a top season, taking eight wickets at 7.63 from five matches.
He showed plenty of composure to bowl during the super-over of Scotch’s thrilling win over Westminster in round two.
“He’s been a great performer on Saturday’s in the one-day matches and in the Twenty20s,” Maduwantha said.
CORMACK O’REILLY
(SCOTCH)
O’Reilly also featured in the top 10 run scorers for this Messenger Bowl season but the Scotch star proved he could be a great all-rounder.
After five matches, the right-arm leg spinner claimed eight wickets at 9.25.
HARRY CHAPLAIN
(SCOTCH)
Chaplin is a left-arm spinner and took eight wickets at 12.75 after five matches.
The Year 10 student has gone from strength to strength this season and will be a handy asset for Scotch when it plays PAC in the grand final.
“He’s bowled really well and takes some big wickets, including Isaac Higgins, who was making all the big runs,” Maduwantha said.
JACK MATCHETT
(ADELAIDE HIGH)
Matchett was included in the players to watch ahead of the season starting and the Year 10 did not disappoint.
He snared eight wickets at 14.20 from four Messenger Bowl games.
Matchett, a Kensington District Cricket Club member, lived up to his reputation of bowling hard and fast.
The rising star was also part of the state under-15 squad last year.
ISAAC HIGGINS
(IMMANUEL)
Higgins topped the run scorer’s list but proved just how versatile he can be after also being recognised as one of this campaign’s best bowlers.
He snared six wickets at 12.75 from his five matches.
Bode said the rising star only lined up in the Messenger Bowl campaign and sat out of the school’s one-day season due to A grade commitments with the Seahorses.
“He was outstanding (in the Twenty20 competition) with bat and ball and with his leadership,” Bode said.
ARCHIE NIELSEN
(ST MICHAEL’S)
The right-hand, medium pace bowler played five matches and took six wickets at 17.33.
Nielsen showed his ability to bowl consistently, line and length, according to St Michael’s co-curricular co-ordinator Jordan Young.
Nielsen played all five matches and claimed six wickets at 17.33.
NICHOLAS TAYLOR
(IMMANUEL)
Taylor captained Immanuel and has been lauded for his on-field and off-field leadership,
The Glenelg District Cricket Club member played five Messenger Bowl games and took six wickets at 22.83.
Taylor, a Year 11, is an all-rounder but is predominantly an opening bowler.
“He leads by example,” Bode said.
TIM STEWART
(SACRED HEART)
Stewart played four matches this season and took five wickets at an average of 16.20
The fast bowler is part of Southern District’s Premier cricket side and, according to Sacred Heart cricket director Nicholas Taylor, Stewart is “very astute as a bowler”.
“What makes Tim a great bowler is his pace, and his consistency in hitting his areas,” Taylor said.
“Tim has a great awareness of his own strengths and limitations, and bowls to these really well.”
JAMES REUTHER
(IMMANUEL)
The all-rounder, who also featured in the top run scorers list, took five wickets at 18.40 across four Messenger Bowl matches.
Reuther was described by Bode as side’s leading opening bowler.
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