AIC First XI cricket premiers decided
Villanova College clinched the AIC First XI premiership today after Marist College’s Cooper Mackie crashed St Patrick’s premiership party.
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Villanova College clinched the AIC First XI premiership today after Marist College’s Cooper Mackie crashed St Patrick’s premiership party
Entering the final round Villanova and St Patrick’s shared the lead, but Mackie blazed a century to lead Ashgrove to victory against Paddies, leaving Villanova the task of defeating Padua College.
Villa produced the goods, with Baiden Parker and Cameron Bukowski guiding their team home to the college’s fourth title in 10 years.
“I am super proud of the group who overcame adversity in the season. They responded every time they were put under pressure,’’ said director of cricket Nathan Dufty.
“You can look at the stats and Ben Jeffs was a standout, but it was a real team effort. I am so happy for them.’’
At Ashgrove, Mackie scored an even century from 103 balls as Marist reeled in Paddies’ score of 195, winning by five wickets.
In just over two hours of batting Mackie sent 11 fours skidding across the surface while plundering three sixes.
Earlier in the Ashgrove innings, St Patrick’s bowler Hayden Vickers had raised his team’s morale with an early wicket and St Patrick’s had a real spring in their step in the field.
The reliable Bailey Reed then claimed a second wicket before Darcy Lewis (39) and Mackie set out positively.
But with the aggressive Mackie leading the way, Ashgrove moved past 100 in the 23rd over and then zoomed to 2-144 30 overs innings the innings as he and Lewis closed in on the victory target.
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Regardless of the loss, St Patrick’s director of sport Dan Nethery said increased coaching resources around head coach Vic Williams was a key to the college again being in a position to win the title after premierships in 2020 and 2018.
“Our program has given kids a game, but also developed kids pushing for the honour of playing Firsts’ cricket,’’ he said.
Nethery said the addition of Williams as head coach had been “massive’’.
“He is great to have around. His temperament, we are lucky to have him and appreciate everything he has been able to give us.’’
After winning the toss and batting first, St Patrick’s opener Charles Moore saved his best until last to give his side every chance of premiership victory.
After being pivotal to Paddies’ premiership success last season, Moore had a subdued start to the season but has finished with a wet sail after scores of 53 (round 6) and 90 today.
It was a classic Moore innings where he punished the loose ball while finding ones and twos.
He hit 10 fours and a six during a run-a-ball innings which was the mainstay of the St Patrick’s score of 195.
Like a loyal trooper, Harry Clench stood by his side for 67 minutes in scoring a dozen, while Chris Marshall (20) and Benjamin Buechler (21) moved play along swiftly in the middle order.
The tail then scrambled St Patrick’s toward 200 after Baxter White (3-22), Cooper Mackie (0-25, seven overs) and Darcy Lewis (2-16, six overs), in particular, had done well at the bowling crease for Marist.
At Banyo, play was delayed because of damp bowling run-ups and the match reduced to 37 overs apiece, but no disruption could remove Villa’s focus on the job at hand.
Padua overcame the loss of two early wickets to get a wriggle on, with dangermen Ryan Pembroke (50) and George Kelsall (41) pushing the score from 2-19 to 99 before round 6 century maker Kelsall was dismissed.
But as the innings progressed the Villanova bowling group of Jeffs, Godwin, Fingland, Moloney, Bukowski and Parker held firm, restricting Padua to 134.
Gus Godwin captured two of the first three wickets to fall after Ben Jeffs broke through earlier.
Jeffs then returned for his second spell to claim the vital wicket of Pembroke for a nicely paced half century, and then scored a third scalp as Padua look to attack after having wickets in hand.
Jeffs entered the match with an outstanding 18 wickets under his belt and another six today (6-18) garnished a great season for him.
Villanova then set off cautiously in chase of the victory target, with Fee and Henderson working the ball around the field as Villa crept to 1-45 after 16 overs.
Cotgreave’s dismissal of Fee for 15 added to the tension, but Henderson continued on, nudging Villa past 50 until Cotgreave snared a second scalp.
Parker and then Bukowski got together to ensure there was no collapse.
In the match between Iona College and St Peters Lutheran College, Mitchell Yarrow’s dream summer continued as Iona enjoyed a winning finish to the season.
Coming off a century in his last match, Yarrow starred again – this time at the bowling crease when he took 6-10 as St Peters collapsed for 25.
It was a great finish to an outstanding season by Yarrow who had scores of 25, 28, 44, 45 and 108 while also taking 10 wickets.
The Lining boys and Bodie Richardson also claimed a wicket each for Iona.
St Peters were in trouble early with a run out and the side lost its grip on the innings in favourable bowling conditions. Sam Batiste top scored.
At Ipswich, there was another delayed start between home side St Edmund’s College and St Laurence’s College, with the game reduced to 30 overs each.
The Eddies’ bowlers, spearheaded by Harry Sammut, did well as Skull, Schmidt, Jordan, Naish and Bremner bowled well as a group around Sammut.
As he has done each innings this summer, Ollie Lunt (31) propelled St Laurence’s forward while Lochie Josefski (30) was aggressive coming in at No. 7 and taking his side to 7-113.
When Eddies’ batted, Josefski then broke through with an early wicket while Lunt and Reidy combined for a run out and Ipswich were 2-27.
Peter Schmidt then became the key to Eddies run chase as St Edmund’s drifted slightly behind runs required.
But the Laurie’s bowlers hunted as a pack and in the hand secured a comfortable to finish the season on a high.
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