Scorching Bat

GYMPIE teenage cricket sensations, Lewis Waugh and Josh Brady, sizzled for the Sunshine Coast Scorchers on Saturday.

GYMPIE teenage cricket sensations, Lewis Waugh and Josh Brady, sizzled for the Sunshine Coast Scorchers on Saturday, both scoring maiden centuries in the tough Brisbane competition.

The pair’s club record fifth wicket partnership of 160 guided the Sunshine Coast Scorchers to their first win of the season over University.

Waugh, 19, opened the batting and watched the Scorchers limp to three for 68 and then four for 83 before Brady joined him in the middle.

His well-constructed knock of 112 off 191 balls was the backbone of the Coast’s innings, while 18-year-old Brady’s 100 of 124 balls saw the Scorchers cruise past Uni’s total of 270 and helped build the Coast’s highest score of the season, 381.

Waugh said he felt really good about his part in the team’s win and it was great to have a lot of time in the middle with Brady.

“It was pretty tough going early ... Uni were fiery and bowled some tight lines in the first 30 overs,” Waugh said.

“They didn’t give us much,” he said.

The Gympie product put his good form down to patience, saying waiting for the right ball to attack was the key to his innings.

“I brought up my century with a four; at that stage I thought I was only in the mid ’80s,” Waugh said.

“There was a bit of sledging going on out there, about the way Josh and I were hitting the ball, but we kept quiet and kept concentrating.”

Brady’s 100 followed the 93 he scored in his second game for the Scorchers and a 30 in his first game of first grade. “It’s all coming good for me at the moment,” he said.

“I just can’t do anything wrong.”

He said the pitch was pretty flat and the ball wasn’t moving around much, but it was hard concentrating in the extreme heat.

“It was pretty tough to my mind on the job in the heat,” he said.

Most of Brady’s scoring shots came from behind point, he said he loved to cut the ball and the cover drive was one of his favourite shots.

“I felt comfortable out there batting with Lewis.

“Because we know each other we can talk to each other in the middle and let each other know how we are going,” he said.

Brady is hoping his form holds and he can push for further representative honours.

“I am pretty happy with my three innings ... I’m planning to see how far I can get and have a lot of fun,” he said.

Other Gympie cricket product, Peter Dein, didn’t perform as well with the bat as Waugh’s opening partner.

Dein was out Leg before wicket to Burman for 14. Gympie West State School Physical education teacher and Scorchers captain, Gerard Flegler, was out for one.

Originally published as Scorching Bat