Ashgrove batting hero; Paddies run machine among Players of the Round

The latest AIC First XI cricket Players of the Round include a bayside run machine, a thrilling western suburbs leg spinner and a match winning Marist batsman. See who made the list.

Some of the AIC''s finest cricketers (Finn Thallon, Connor Moloney, Frank Piper and Matt Harvie.

AIC First XI cricket started with a bang on Saturday and the www.couriermail.com.au was there to cover it all.

There was a last over thriller at Ashgrove, almost 500 runs scored at Banyo, a ripping bowling effort from St Peters College and exciting batting between St Laurence’s College and Iona College.

READ THE AIC ROUND 1 REPORT HERE

So who were the Players of the Round?

Below we present 21 players who we thought contributed most to their team’s performance.

ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE v PADUA COLLEGE

Steve Hogan (St Patrick’s):

St Patrick's College's Steve Hogan has a drink.

The right handed Year 10 student continued on his merry way by making 72 (71 balls) at weekend – and in doing so passing 1600 runs for the season. The young run machine made his debut in the Firsts last season as a Year 9 student where he scored a hundred, and he has not missed a beat since for club or school. He was coming off scoring 103 for the Sandgate Redcliffe third grade side.

Braithyn Pecic (Padua):

The Padua captain was a true all-rounder on the day. Would you believe he took four wickets - while being the team’s first choice gloveman. He opened the bowling, then resumed behind the stumps, and returned to the bowling crease late in the innings on his way to claiming 4-48. With the bat the Serbian international also scored 55 (62) balls as Padua boldly took off in pursuit of Paddies’ 287.

Austin Tsingos (St Patrick’s):

It must be a little daunting when you are sharing a partnership with a player as prominent as Hogan, but Tsingos did not miss a trick during his breezy 59 in 103 minutes. He was never rushed, finding singles regularly and only selectively going hard at the loose ball.

Will Tozer (Padua):

With 44 and 1-36 on a flat deck (and a fast outfield), Tozer was a big hearted allrounder in demanding heat. He pulled off one batting miracle last season batting with young Pembroke, and he was looking to repeat the dose again on Saturday until his innings was cut short by Ryan Jessop.

James Weedon (St Patrick’s):

With his actions Weedon motioned to his teammates to “follow me boys’’ after an authoritative start to the season The opener scored freely, striking six fours and a six during a near run-a-ball knock that set the wheels in motion.

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MARIST COLLEGE ASHGROVE V VILLANOVA COLLEGE

Finn Thallon (Villa):

Thallon was treated to a roar by supporters when exiting the field after getting Villa out of trouble with an entertaining 59.

Indeed he put on a show, thumping three sixes and two fours in his 72-ball blitz.

Ben Thallon (left) and Connor Maloney (right).

Connor Moloney (Villa):

Moloney scored 41 runs and took a wicket in match No.1 of the season. His knock with bat in hand was extra impressive when you take into account the scary start his team got off to when they were under all sorts of pressure at 5-66.

He was nothing short of superb finding the gaps.

Zac Joyce (Villa):

Joyce was everywhere on Saturday. He tallied 28 off 26 at the end of the innings, took a wicket and stood out in the field.

With an impressive direct hit chance and catch, Joyce kept his rivals on their toes at the crease.

Liam Morris (Ashgrove):

Spin king Liam Morris had a merry start to his 2023 campaign with a four wicket haul, while going for just 12 runs off his 10 overs.

He was on a hattrick after dismissing Moloney and Henry Frederiksen with back-to-back jaffas.

Tom Davies (Ashgrove):

Davies dismissed the dangerman Cameron Bukowski for just six to begin the proceedings on Saturday, then the on-fire Thallon before he could inflict more scoreboard pain.

It’s worth noting that he came in as a tail order batsmen with runs to get quickly and he did just that, helping Ashgrove’s cause with a cracking boundary.

Frank Piper (Ashgrove):

Ashgrove hero Frank Piper after hitting the winning runs.

Man of the Match Frank Piper pipped Villa on the final ball of the day with a fairytale swat of the ball through the cover region.

As it raced to the boundary, the vocal Ashgrove faithful cheered for the young star to run three between the wickets— after he had left the field earlier in the game with a niggle.

This thriller, an early contender for game of the season.

Ben Ferguson (Ashgrove):

When Ferguson was at the crease Ashgrove looked unbeatable. Cruise control was switched on for the No.4 batting weapon.

He was classy, composed, and boy was his shot selection on the money. Look no further than his 40 runs, four boundaries and one six, which would have enlarged had there not been a mix up between the wickets.

ST PETERS LUTHERAN COLLEGE v ST EDMUND’S COLLEGE

Matt Harvie (St Peters):

St Peters Lutheran College bowler Matt Harvie is a First XI veteran.

In a rain shortened match it was difficult to get a line through the St Peters batting or the St Edmund’s bowling. But one thing was for sure - looping leggie M Harvie stood tall.

Coming off a bumper season in the Lord Taverners under 16 club competition, Harvie had the Eddies’ batsmen stumped with his impossible leg spin.

He tossed it up, bowled the odd quick one, and spun it a mile.

Jack Webb, Nick Johnson and Luke Dyer (St Peters):

Harvie is just a cog in a stacked Saints bowling line-up, which experimented with eight bowlers in round 1.

Webb’s masterful leg spin collected two wickets while Johnson and Dyer also picked up two each as Eddies’ were given no chance of settling in.

IONA COLLEGE v ST LAURENCE’S COLLEGE

Zayne Thomas and Liam Johns (Iona):

Iona College batsman Zayne Thomas.

Last year’s premiers resumed where they left off and it was a 129 run stand between these two which delivered the win.

Thomas and Johns occupied the crease for two and a half hours together and it was quick singles and great running between the wickets that allowed Iona to post a defendable total of 185.

Ben Stallman (Lauries)

Stallman was his side’s best with ball in hand, taking three poles and keeping it tight with an economical 28 runs conceded in his 10 overs.

He erased Thomas, talented batsmen Liam Carter and Xander Thierry consecutively as he found his stride.

Harley Malpass (Iona):

A great season of Lord’s Taverners cricket under the belt stood out for Harley Malpass, a player set to shine this year.

He took three wickets, two of whom were the openers.

Mackenzie Douglas (Lauries)

Douglas had a real captain’s knock at No.5 but in the end Lauries fell just short of their target.

In the chase, Douglas did a bit of everything for 33 of the best. He hit a six, two fours, ran courageously to pinch runs where he could.

After 28 balls in the middle Iona’s Harrison Smith claimed his scalp, one of three in his five overs.

Footnote: Watch for our continuing coverage each Saturday late afternoon when round 2 is held on Saturday.

ROUND 1 WINNERS:

Ashgrove

St Peters

Iona

St Patrick’s

ROUND 2

St Patrick’s College v Villanova College

Iona College v St Edmund’s College

Marist College Ashgrove v Padua

St Peters Lutheran College v St Laurence’s College.