AIC First XI cricket premiership race thrown open after Ash win

The AIC First XI cricket premiership race has been thrown wide open after Saints marched in and Marist won during an exciting round 5 of action.

Villanova players walk onto the field against Ash.

The AIC First XI cricket competition is a race in five after Marist College Ashgrove snared a gritty four wicket win over pacesetters St Patrick’s College and St Peters shocked Iona College today.

Paddies, Ashgrove, Iona College, Villanova and St Peters Lutheran College were in the battle for the premiership, with Ashgrove and St Patricks leading the way with four wins each - one win clear of premiers Iona, Villa and St Peters.

This was after St Peters dramatic, five run win, the Saints third win of the season and a major upset.

And Villanova’s Tom Reick had a mightly allrounder match to drive his side to an eight wicket win over Padua, while St Laurence’s fought back hard against St Edmund’s College.

Meanwhile, the batting of Ashgrove’s Will Nickelson once again proved crucial.

St Peters had an upset win over Iona College. Saturday March 4, 2023. Picture, John Gass

At Curlew Park, Ashgrove escaped by the skin of their teeth with a gripping four wicket win.

In an exciting match up between heavyweight contenders, the AIC First XI cricket premiership was on the line. Paddies came into it unbeaten, and Ashgrove with a 3-1 win-loss record following its defeat to Iona.

In order to stay in the fight, Ashgrove needed to be leaving Shorncliffe in the winners column and so they did - thanks to the steady hands of Year 11 captain Will Nickelson.

Marist College Ashgrove were winners today. They can thank the hero in the sunglasses (Will Nickelson).

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With 109 required in the chase, Ashgrove went hunting against stoic St Patrick’s bowlers Steve Hogan (off-spin) Tom Smith’s (swing).

With James Brandon’s crucial cameo of 27 and Will Nickelson’s 42, the visitors made it home.

Villanova players walk onto the field against Ash.

Wickets fell one by one and Nickelson was the man standing at the other end. He was patient and poised, selecting his shots carefully as he knew he had to get Ashgrove as close to the total as possible.

With Year 12 batting ace Ben Ferguson out of the lineup, there was even more pressure on Nickelson to perform.

And perform he did, adding to his fine stream of form which now reads 62,114 not out, 96 not out and 42.

St Peters bowler Prahbi Bachu AIC First XI cricket between St Peters and Iona College. Saturday March 4, 2023. Picture, John Gass

After Noah James picked up the crucial wicket of Nickelson, Ashgrove were 6-90 with 19 required.

Ashgrove pair Joey Laner and Louis Morris then came in and scored 11 apiece, seeing their side to victory in the 30th over.

Earlier, Paddies batted first and Ashgrove took no time at all to put the new ball to good use. Right arm paceman Tom Davies and right arm off spinner Louis Morris inflicted the damage early, before champion all-rounder Hogan found himself in the middle with endless responsibility.

AIC First XI cricket between St Peters and Iona College. Saturday March 4, 2023. Picture, John Gass

The wickets kept tumbling around the Year 10 St Patrick’s student but he never wavered. Hogan’s 127 ball innings included five boundaries, along with quick one’s and two’s.

Morris picked up three for Ashgrove, with two of his wickets a result of Will Nickelson’s sharp glove work behind the stumps.

St Peters bowler Ashish Neredimulli celebrates a wicket AIC First XI cricket between St Peters and Iona College. Saturday March 4, 2023. Picture, John Gass

Davies was consistently on the money and picked up three scalps, while Sam Lewis (2-25), Joey Laner (1-18) and Finn Cleary (1-15) worked well to remove the tail for Ashgrove.

Paddies batting ace Hogan top scored for his team with an unbeaten 57, making it to the 44th over before his team were bowled out for 108. As per usual, he was almost impossible to dismiss.

Hogan and Nickelson were both magical, but it was Nickelson and Ashgrove who clinched the result.

Iona College batsman Liam Carter AIC First XI cricket between St Peters and Iona College. Saturday March 4, 2023. Picture, John Gass

At St Peters, the home side mustered 187 thanks to a steady team batting effort around Luke Dyer (36), Seb McCormack (28), a quickfire 28 not out from Bastien Walter, and openers James Nelson (23) and Sree Rayirth Prabhas Bachu who took the game on with 22 fro nine balls.

Nelson played a lovely anchor role, denying the Iona attack which was led by Archer Anderson and Harrison Smith.

Then bowlers Bachu, Sinnott, Neredumilli, Dyer and Harvie bowled well, with spinner Matt Harvie a three wicket hero.

Backed by their fielding, it was an inspiring effort as Saints became premiership contenders overnight.

Iona College batsman Harley Malpass AIC First XI cricket between St Peters and Iona College. Saturday March 4, 2023. Picture, John Gass

Harvie dismissed dangermen Zayne Thomas and Harry Malpass to have Iona 3-62 chasing, and then a dogged Lachlan Bragger who batted an hour.

But Iona still had plenty to offer with Toby Collins (45) going for his shots, threatening to take the game away from St Peters in partnership with Hamish McKeon.

But the run out of McKeon - Sinnott and McCormack combined nicely - was crucial in the exciting late run chase.

What a moment it was for St Peters, its third win this season.

Villanova College student Tom Rieck. Thursday February 2, 2023. Picture, John Gass

At the Banyo playing fields, Villanova managed to bowl the home side out in the 39th over courtesy Zak Joyce’s 4-19 and Tom Reick’s 3-16.

But, Villa pair Connor Moloney and Jack Moloney were also monumental at the bowling crease, claiming the prized scalps of Will Tozer and Braithyn Pecic respectively.

Jack’s left arm pace was too hot to handle for opener Pecic, while Connor’s tricky off spin proved too tempting for the big hitting Tozer.

AIC First XI cricket between St Peters and Iona College. Saturday March 4, 2023. Picture, John Gass

Larry Clark also claimed the early wicket of opener J Barker which set the wheels in motion for Villa.

Padua posted a defendable 145 before the Villa boys were sent into bat.

Rieck then led the way with 60 runs in the eight wicket win, whiel Joyce also hit 58.

Rieck scored at a run-a-ball to quickly take the match away from Padua.

At St Edmund’s College Ipswich, St Laurence’s posted their first 200 plus score of the season with a feel good 252 in the first innings to set up its win over Eddies (84).

After falling agonisingly short last week at the hands of Paddies, it was just the way to bounce back.

Indeed the visitors lost three wickets early in the piece, but after the initial turbulence wicket keeper Daniel Gray quickly found his groove.

AIC First XI cricket between St Peters and Iona College. Saturday March 4, 2023. Picture, John Gass

Ben Naish, R McDonald and H Read collected one each to begin, before C Costello (2-30) crashed Grey’s party, clean bowling him one shy of his half century.

Tom Stenhouse (80 not out) and S Parker followed suit and got the innings moving.

Both batsmen struck it at over a run-a-ball and after a 79 run stand with Gray, Stenhouse continued to shine during a 107 run partnership with Parker.

Iona College batsman Harley Malpass Picture, John Gass

Grey tallied two fours and two sixes, Stenhouse seven fours and two sixes and Parker four fours and three sixes to move Laurie’s past 250.

When Eddies batted, Evan Chamberlin and Xavier Santos both snared two wickets each.

Throw in the odd run out or two, and then Ben Stallman snared 2-10 and Laurie’s were enjoying an early victory.

Eddies’ batsman Albion scored 21 to challenge St Laurence’s, but the Laurie’s fieldsmen and bowlers were not to be denied this time after a near miss just seven days earlier.