GPS First XI premiership race hots up as Terrace surges
A dramatic chase of the GPS First XI cricket premiership is unfolding after a round of individual milestone performances on Saturday.
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Noah East scored a century for Brisbane Boys College, but it was almost swept into the background by Terrace batting ace Tom Campbell and Hugh Weibgen of Brisbane Grammar School.
On a day when Nudgee old boy Mitchell Swepson made his Test debut in Pakistan, Terrace crashed the party to score 6-211 chasing Nudgee’s 208 - surging to the top of the premiership ladder.
And the race for the coveted First XI premiership is now wide open with two rounds remaining, with second placed BGS still well in the frame after Weibgen claimed 5-18 bowling off spin.
Brisbane Boys College were third after East delivered a magnificent, run-a-ball hundred at Oakman Park.
In the Terrace run chase openers Blair Laffan (18) and Ryan Forrester (34) circled the wagons and steadily went after Nudgee’s target, before Campbell (84 not out, 90 balls) and Toby Weston (50) increased the scoring rate.
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Against a Lucius Stockdale-inspired Terrace, Nudgee were restricted to a competitive 208, a score that did not seem likely early.
Nudgee were in early trouble at 3-14 after Stockdale removed dangermen Seaton and Neilsen.
Then Bailey Todd and Jack Balkin (40) batted positively to add 84 before another mini collapse.
Todd pushed on to 74 before being victim to Weston.
Down the order Naite Grauf (25) and Tom Malone (19) fought hard to get Nudgee beyond 200 and it was game on.
Weston took 3-22, but it was Stockdale (4-31) who did the hard yards against Nudgee’s premier batsmen.
When Terrace batted, Morgan Bourke claimed 4-40 for Nudgee but no one could dismiss Campbell.
At Oakman Oval, BBC’s Noah East (111, 111 balls) plunged his team onto the front foot with an authoritative, run-a-ball century that triggered his team’s win over Churchie.
BBC made 248 and in reply, Churchie were restricted to 9-208.
East was magnificent in scoring a rare GPS century.
He teamed in a flighty partnership with the accomplished Sam Bell (51), the BBC allrounder, after East and Graham had given BBC a foundation at 1-97.
East did most damage accelerating from 70 to 100 in the blink of an eye as Bell played a sheet anchor role at the other end.
On his way to 100, East hit seven fours and five sixes to raise BBC’s 200 from just 40 overs.
Churchie left arm paceman Henry Zietsch (5-46) stayed the course while Joshua Welsh contained nicely.
When Churchie batted, Jack Ryan was the mainstay and at 4-100 (28 overs), his performance ensured Churchie were still in the contest.
Ryan scored a tremendous 84, but the BBC attacked teamed up to collar their rivals.
Bell with his leg spin again shone, but so did Angus Down, Hamish Bowles and Angus Down.
At Northgate, the old firm of Hugh Weibgen and Angus Tolhurst rescued the Brisbane Grammar School innings (172) against Toowoomba Grammar School - and then Weibgen took 5-18 to bundle TGS out for 101.
Earlier in the day Weibgen (53) anchored the innings for two hours while Tolhurst also dug in (41) after TGS struck early to have BGS 3-29.
All-rounder Callum Galvin, one of the top 10 players of the season, was outstanding with his spin, claiming 2-28 from 10 overs for TGS, while big Jem Ryan (3-32) burst out of the blocks with two new ball wickets before providing containment.
Ryan deservedly finished with three wickets as Thisaja Samarawickrama, Callum Webster and Galvin bowled spin to collect six wickets between them, while Jude Brocherie chipped in with 1-28 from eight overs.
But nothing could top Weibgen’s spell and BGS were staring down the prospect of a GPS First XI premiership.
Tolhurst was amazing again with the ball, taking 1-11 from eight overs of pressure
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SONS – AND BROTHERS – OF GPS FIRST XI GUNS
On the Village Green, BSHS spinner Miron Nanayakkarawasam claimed 5-28 but it was not enough to prevent The Southport School from a comfortable win.
TSS dismissed BSHS for 125 chasing 186.
BSHS’s John Isoardi let fly with a brisk 30 before being run out by Williams, but nothing could deny the TSS attack of McDermott, Leitch, Alcock, Williams and Madden
The Brisbane SHS bowling unit of Singh, Skipwith, Mclean, Kranen, Nanayakkarawasam and Meegama had done splendidly, only for The Southport School to wriggle out of trouble courtesy of typical lower order defiance.
Blake Raymond (36) and Spencer Alcock (18) rescued their side from 8-139 after TSS opener Jacob Bath had earlier adapted to the conditions and constructed a defiant half century in two and a half hours.
Raymond and Alock played positively, hoisting a 50 run partnership in just 33 minutes to give their side a fighting chance.
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