Bowlers Ben Fingland and Billy Nuss shine on a day for ducks
AIC First XI cricket: Bowlers Ben Fingland (Villanova) and Billy Nuss (Marist) shone on a day for ducks, while St Laurence’s and Paddies had last over thrillers.
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Marist College Ashgrove AIC First XI leg-spinner Billy Nuss and Villanova paceman Ben Fingland shone like beacons, while St Patrick’s and St Laurence’s College both came from the clouds to win on a dramatic day one of competition.
After a sunny morning session, rain played havoc with matches - but not before Ashgrove’s Nuss took a sensational 6-21 (eight overs) and Villanova’s Fingland (5-17) delivered some of his old wicket taking tricks.
Those bowlers helped Ashgrove and Villanova respectively to round one wins, while in the gloom St Patrick’s College beat Padua College with one ball to spare after Charles Moore had scored 39 runs from 39 balls.
And St Laurence’s College, set 153 to win in a revised total agains Padua (184), and won by five wickets in the last over.
“It was a good contest and both teams played well, but the thing that got us over the line was staying calm and being happy to win in the last over,’’ said St Laurence’s College coach Cameron Wigan.
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At Marist College Ashgrove, leggie Nuss dismissed the defiant St Edmund’s opener Angus Chisholm (25) after Chisholm’s 71 minute occupation, triggering a collapse of 6-24 as St Edmund’s were dismissed for 104.
Chisholm and Ben Naish (16) had done their best for Eddies at the top of the order, but then Nuss spun in with a match defining spell around tight bowling from Sam Lewis and Aidan O’Connell, and wicket-taking by Ryan Harten (2-22).
Marist openers Max Hrstich and Max Trotter then saw their side safely to lunch with a positive four over batting burst that yielded a partnership of 33 - and then pushed Ashgrove past 50 from just 10 overs to ensure the home side got the job done comfortably.
Nuss, a Valley junior and Brisbane North representative player, had a rare day out and will no doubt go to bed tonight satisfied with his performance.
Of the Eddies’ bowlers, Harry Sammut did well, bowling two maidens.
At St Peters Lutheran College, Villa’s Fingland was unstoppable - but only after some batting brilliance from Saints’ Curtis Beevers.
Beevers was a class above in making 55, but after a double break through by Liam McConville - including a caught and bowled against Beevers - Fingland went through the batting line-up with a five wicket haul.
St Peters made 106 and when they finally got to the crease after a run delay, Villa openers Ben Thallon and Preston Wells put their side in a winning position with a 45 run partnership.
He had help from Thomas Reick and McConville who had pegged St Peters back with accurate bowling that also yielded wickets after Beevers early damage.
But it was not a day for bowling everywhere.
At Elliott Rd, St Laurence’s College batsmen Xavier Santos (61 not out, 116 minutes) and Mackenzie Douglas (53, 49 balls) added a century parternship to stage a remarkable recovery in a thriller against Padua College.
The pair took St Laurence’s 4-48 to unlikely victory.
Douglas scored a run-a-hall half century while Santos played a support role in two hours of batting.
All this after Padua College pair Tom Tozer (69) and Joe Cotgreave (47) had sent their side surging toward 200 before a St Laurence’s bowling recovery saw Laurie’s dismiss their rivals for 184 - in the 45th over.
Tozer was the star with a run-a-ball performance that included nine fours and a six, but Cotgreave was just as effective in giving his side early momentum along with Ryan Pembroke (26).
In the end St Laurence’s did well to curtail Padua, dismissing the runaway Tozer last to nip their opponents’ innings in the bud.
Marlon Peters (4-25) got the bowling figures for Laurie’s, but he had support from Callum Reidy (1-28) whose experience came to the fore.
In addition, Lachlan Potter (2-25) and Darcy Rowan (2-30) had good days out with the ball and at the break St Laurence’s turned as a chance of running down their opponents - despite Tozer’s blazing knock giving Padua momentum.
When play resumed after rain, Aiden Mohr then took nine runs off Padua’s first over, signalling St Laurence’s intentions, but that man Tozer struck to snare Padua’s first wicket.
A run out - Cotgreave to Pecic - and Reidy’s dismissal to Josn Nevil then rocked St Laurence’s.
But for the second time in the match, St Laurence’s displayed great fortitude as Santos and e Douglas batted bravely and give their side a chance.
At Curlew Park, Paddies came from behind to defeat Iona College.
Iona were dismissed for 170 before heavy rain disrupted the match.
After a long rain delay, Paddies were set a revised target of chasing 100 runs in 20 overs.
Adding to the drama, light rain fell as Paddies positioned themselves into a winning position at 3-78 with five overs remaining. St Patrick’s lost four wickets in the run chase, winning in the last over.
In difficult conditions, and under pressure, Moore came to the party, allowing his batting partners to bat around him.
Earlier in the day Iona’s Thomas had scored 40 and Carter 31 in an even team batting performance.
Paddies’ bowlers Hartshorn, Stewart and Clench took five wickets between them.
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