Iona feast as batsmen post two double tons and two centuries
Howzat for schoolboy batting records. Four Iona College cricketers produced batting masterclasses during a dramatic round 2 of AIC competition. Full wrap of the matches here.
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Iona College batsmen Zayne Thomas (First XI, 252 not out) and Toby Collins (Year 10s, 245 not out) scored unbeaten double centuries during a dramatic round 2 of AIC cricket today.
In the First XI encounter against St Edmund’s College, Thomas amassed 252 not out from169 balls, adding an unbeaten partnership of 317 runs with Harley Malpass (116 not out) as Iona reached a winning score of 1-443.
It is not often a batsman scores 116 not out (89 balls) and has to play second fiddle, but Malpass did as he occupied a front-row seat to Thomas’ amazing innings.
Such was Thomas’ domination after the initial opening partnership with Liam Johns (64, 45 balls), that he scored his last 152 runs from just 67 balls.
In all Thomas, the Iona skipper and third season First XI player, faced 169 balls, hitting 21 fours and 15 sixes to all corners of Davine Oval.
Today’s AIC batting milestones included
+ Zayne Thomas’s 252 not out is an AIC all-time First XI highest score
+ Thomas’ partnership of 317 with Harley Malpass might also be a record in First XI record.
+ The 245 not out from Iona’s Toby Collins in 10As is the highest score in a 35 over game.
+ The partnership of 403 between Collins and Joshua Ritchie (128 not out) in Year 10 is an all-time run partnership in any AIC fixture.
+ And in other milestone news, St Patrick’s College batsman Steve Hogan scored his second successive century (102 against Villanova), after last Sunday making 100 in a third grade one day grand final for his club side Sandgate Redcliffe. He has now scored an extraordinary 1861 runs this season. More on that innings in this story coming late today.
RELATED LINKS
AIC FIRST XI PLAYERS OF THE WEEK FROM ROUND 1
READ THE AIC ROUND 1 REPORT HERE
But the day belonged to Thomas and Malpass in the Iona Firsts, and Collins and Ritchie in the Year 10s.
Iona College deputy director of sport, Sean Devlin, said in his 18 years he had never known a First XI side to surpass 400, while director of sport Craig Stariha said in his memory no AIC First XI team had had a double century maker and a century maker in the one innings.
Devlin described Thomas as an elegant player “who plays genuine cricket shots’’.
Malpass’ hundred came only days after he had been selected in the Queensland under 16 talent identification squad.
A tall right hander who also excels at tennis, Malpass struck 15 fours and one six during his unbeaten innings.
RELATED LINKS
AIC FIRST XI CRICKET PLAYERS TO WATCH
CLUB CRICKET’S A to Z OF HIGH ACHIEVERS
Both Thomas and Malpass, Wynnum Manly cricket club juniors, proudly wore the AIC 25-year emblem on their First XI shirts.
And talk about lightning striking twice, with the Iona College community also toasting a rare batting feat by two Year 10 batsmen, Toby Collins and Joshua Ritchie.
Their performance, and that by Thomas and Collins, sent the bayside community scurrying for the record books.
In the Year 10 match Collins scored 245 from just 100 balls and Ritchie 128 as Iona raced to 403 in its 35 over a side game.
18/02/2023. Mark the date down in your calendars if you want to see an all-time AIC First XI clash unfold.
Next Saturday will see unbeaten Marist College Ashgrove front the reigning premiers and red hot Iona College- who have an extremely talented top order.
But, if Ashgrove’s 139 run victory over Padua showed us anything it’s that if any batters can match Iona’s it is theirs who would be up for the task.
On McMann Oval, Ashgrove started and finished in fine fashion when batting beautifully in the first innings.
They posted a super 6-267 with young guns Will Nickleson and Ben Ferguson putting on a masterclass after Year 12 opener Tom Wex laid the foundations with 49.
It’s no secret this year’s competition is crawling with emerging talent. Whether it’s St Patrick’s Steve Hogan, or Iona’s Zayne Thomas, Ashgrove’s wicket keeper batsmen Nickelson, batting powerhouse Ferguson or off spin king Liam Morris, there are plenty of excitement machines to entertain you on your Saturday.
And so does St Laurence’s courtesy of Mackenzie Douglas and Villanova who has Finn Fallon leading the way.
Padua has some of their own too. Serbian international Braithyn Pecic and all-rounder Will Tozer of course, but also on-the-rise leg spinner Isaac Nixon who is only in Year 9.
The 14-year-old, who tried for the First XI this year after feeling more confident, says he just has a love for the game.
A love for the game inspired by the late great Shane Warne and Adam Zampa, who he resembles quite a bit in his bowling action.
Although today Nixon did not collect a wicket, he bowled consistently well to two batters seeing them like balloons.
Nickelson and Ferguson were pure entertainment, scoring 62 and 61 runs respectively. Nickelson carved away five boundaries and Ferguson seven, with his trademark educated edge earning him a dozen or so runs behind the wicket.
Nickelson just nudged them all around the ground. Boy the pair of them know how to find the white picket fences.
Padua were tireless even when it seemed there was no way through. Right arm pacemen Will Tozer took two wickets, his first an LBW which prevented the deserving Wex from reaching his half century just one run shy.
Pecic also collected a wicket, as did Will Webster and Nathan Black. Despite their efforts, Ashgrove still managed 267.
Padua pushed hard in the chase but fell short 139 runs due to the class of off spinner Liam Morris who earned himself a five wicket haul.
How about these figures: 5/7 off 10. Does it get any better than that? Surely not.
Leg spinner Sam Lewis also joined in on the fun with two wickets late in the piece, after right arm quick Tom Davies and Joey Laner picked up a wicket apiece
Laner got the most important wicket of all and that was the wicket of courageous, and dangerous, Will Tozer.
Tozer, who came in at 3-17, gave the Padua supporters something to cheer about. He gave them two sixes into the grandstand, six fours to all areas of the ground and 59 brilliant runs in the face of a Ashgrove attack with all the momentum.
Tail ender Nathan Black added a respectable 19 towards the chase however it was not enough to make a dent in Ashgrove’s mammoth total.
At Indooroopilly, St Peter’s downed St Laurence’s College to make it two-from-two to begin their season.
It was the same story as last week for the Saints, with their never-ending list of bowlers causing confusion for the visiting St Laurence’s outfit. Except this time, they also came to play in the field, causing a magnificent three run outs.
Bastien Walter, Aarav Pant, Seb Sinnott, Harry Barratt and Seb McCormack all had a say in this brilliant fielding showcase, but it was Walter who pounced first when dismissing Lauries’ opener Patrick Churchwood.
Then, the impressively short yet fast paced Ashis Neredumilli shone with his out swingers- taking four wickets while only going for 10 runs off his seven overs.
He was on a tear, dismissing three out of the Lauries’ four top order batsmen.
Right-arm off spinner Prahbi Bachu and right-arm quick Noah Johnson added the finishing touches with the ball, taking two and one wicket respectively to keep Lauries to just 84 runs.
Indeed that was a mighty effort given Lauries managed to score 123 runs off 32 overs last weekend against competition heavyweights Iona College.
The home side looked just as comfortable batting as they did bowling, thanks to an unbeaten 51 run effort from opener Bachu to help the Saints on their way to consecutive victories.
Bachu was not mucking around at the crease facing just 33 balls where he hit six boundaries and one six.
High praise to Laurie’s bowlers Evan Chamberlin and Mackenzie Douglas who fought hard and were rewarded with a couple wickets.
But, Brilliant Bachu, a handy 10 from Noah Johnson and 12 from Pant was all St Peters needed to get over the line. In the end, only losing three wickets before securing the result.
At Curlew Park, once again run-machine Steve Hogan was in a world of his own.
The in-form Year 10 scored a magnificent century off just 120 balls, belting 10 fours and five sixes in a match-defining knock.
Paddies’ batted first and James Weedon led the way with a speedy 34, before Hogan and Mitchell Hartshorn (47) got to work.
The Pair of them put on a 109 run partnership at almost a-run-a-ball. Then, Jack Todd (18) and wicketkeeper N.Carmody (13) had their say to post a formidable 8-262.
The wickets were shared among the Villa boys, with all rounders Connor Moloney and Finn Thallon taking two each, and Henrik Frederiksen, Tom Reick and Larry Clark all taking one.
Thallon (54) and Moloney (26) once again proved their batting prowess in the chase, only to fall short 62 runs.
Last week, the two of them had a superb partnership against Ashgrove and had Frank Piper not worn his cape on the day, they would have been the saviours after their team started 5-66.
But, Paddies were too strong with the ball in hand. Steve Hogan stand up and take a bow for removing wicketkeeper-batsman Tristan Bailey (37) who was getting into his groove.
Mathew Pereira had a great day taking four, while Hartshorn, who scored 47, took two wickets.
Ryan Jessep did his bit too, landing the crucial wicket of Reick for naught and Thallon for a tremendous 54.
At Iona, when Eddies’ replied to the home team’s 1-443, Iona bowlers Adam Richter (4-26) and Xander Thierry (4-21) got among the wickets, while St Edmund’s batsman Rundell (47) peeled off a nice innings.
Round 3
Villanova v St Laurence’s College
St Edmund’s College v Padua College
Iona College v Marist College Ashgrove
St Patrick’s College v St Peters
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