GPS First XI cricket: What we learned from round 2
GPS First XI cricket: What we learned from round 2 and why old school is still a good school.
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It was a drama filled round 2 of GPS First XI, with sensational catching, gutsy late order resistance and disciplined bowling shining through.
So what did we learn?
Ahead of our coverage of round 3 continuing on Saturday, we take a peek at five things we learned from round 2.
RELATED LINKS
GPS TEAM OF THE WEEK – ROUND 1
CATCHES WIN MATCHES – AND SO DOES FIELDING
We rightly made a song and dance about Toowoomba Grammar School’s Cooper Webster taking a screamer off a full blooded cut shot from Nudgee’s Kane Nielsen at the weekend. But there was another “catch of the decade’’ according to sources at Churchie which happened after I left the ground for my trip around the other venues.
Batting hero Jack Ryan (60) dived from first slip at full stretch to snare a chance that was in the direction of third slip. And earlier Lachlan Cooper produced a direct hit run out. In a match that came down to a last ball win, they were match winning efforts.
HOLDING YOUR NERVE
Talk about thrillers. At Brisbane Grammar School we had Angus Tolhurst (40 not out) bat expertly with the tail to get his side over the line against a spirited BSHS, and at Churchie Jayden Draper and Riley Devereaux and Joshua Welsh held their nerve – somehow – in a last ball classic.
IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO
It takes two to Tango in a thriller and hats off to Ipswich Grammar School. The squad has started the season with a gripping first round win over TGS, and a thrilling loss to Churchie. The squad is displaying great character under pressure and must be enjoying their cricket. A special mention to IGS’s Jack Geldard who has been a wonder with bat and ball, but there is plenty to enjoy about IGS.
RELATED LINKS
FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED – ROUND 1
GPS FIRST XI – PLAYERS TO WATCH
GUN GPS FIRST’S OLD BOYS XI TO HELP THE HEAT, BULLS
CAMPBELL’S CLASS
The performances of St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace all-rounder Tom Campbell has been impossible to ignore so far this season. His 86 to top score against BBC last Saturday was a class act – and so was his bowling – 10-4-22-1 – against BBC. In round one, in difficult batting conditions, he scored 32 when the going was tough during the morning session, and with the ball ended with 3-32 with his off-spin.
OLD SCHOOL IS STILL A GOOD SCHOOL
He has not been a part of an academy – and he does not even play club cricket. But Nudgee’s James Kuzevich was fearless on debut in scoring 49 from 49 balls after Nudgee were an uncertain 5-83 on the weekend against a probing Toowoomba Grammar School. He was cautious to start before moving into his work to add 88 runs with Jack Balkin.
In the modern world, organisations can get carried away with academy players and well done to Nudgee for seeing s good kid who is a good cricketer – pure and simple. And speaking of good cricketers, Toowoomba Grammar School’s Callum Galvin is leading wonderful by example with bat and ball.
OUR COVERAGE CONTINUES ON SATURDAY
ROUND 3
The Southport School v Toowoomba Grammar School
Brisbane Grammar School v Gregory Terrace
Anglican Church Grammar School v Nudgee College
Ipswich Grammar School v Brisbane Boys College
Bye: BSHS
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