Rising teens tear up National Champs as we reveal Qld cricket Team of the Week

Match-winning knocks at nationals, state team selections and Premier Grade milestones – Queensland club cricket is ramping up as we highlight last round’s top performers.

UQ batsman Bryce Street. Picture: John Gass

Match-winning knocks at nationals, state team selections and Premier Grade milestones – Queensland club cricket is ramping up as we highlight last round’s top performers in our team of the week.

On top of naming our Premier Cricket team of the week, we reveal the Queensland Country and Metro youngsters making a name for themselves at the Under-19 National Championships and unveil the Queensland under-16 women’s squad.

Wynnum Manly’s Grace Collins hit her maiden century in the first grade competition and headlines our list of consistent performers, rising teens, and next-generation Queensland cricket representatives making a name for themselves in local circles.

UQ batsman Angus Lovell. Picture: John Gass

THE QUEENSLAND PREMIER CRICKET WRAP

While the Big Bash League continues across the holiday season, Queensland Bulls batsman Bryce Street ensured he would go into Christmas with runs under his belt with another standout knock in the Premier Cricket competition.

Street hit this third century so far this summer, with his 142 for University of Queensland helping him to a total of 858 runs at an average of 61 in all formats.

Their clash with Redlands finished in a draw, with the Tigers batting on in the second weekend to score 9-331 courtesy of Stephan Muller’s unbeaten 175.

Street will be a key figure in Queensland’s post-BBL quest for the Marsh Sheffield Shield with the Bulls sitting in third spot on the ladder.

Redlands bowler George Garrett. Picture: John Gass

There were a trio of centuries to hard-hitting all-rounders Harry Wood (Ipswich) and Caleb Ziebell (Gold Coast) as well as Sandgate-Redcliffe paceman Chathura Kaluthanthri.

Kaluthanthri was eye-catching, with his unbeaten 134 from the lower order a standout for the Gators as they set Ipswich a challenging target of 367.

However Wood, the reigning Peter Burge Medallist, hit his highest score of the season in response, with his 146 helping the Hornets to a high-scoring victory over Sandgate-Redcliffe.

Kingscliff product Ziebell, a long-time standout for New South Wales Country, who is in his first season in the first grade competition, hammered 153 for the Dolphins as they defeated South Brisbane.

Sunny Coast bowler Mitchell Cook. Picture: John Gass

In the Katherine Raymont Shield, rising teen talent Grace Collins produced a classy 114 for Wynnum Manly as the Maryborough product hit her maiden century in the first grade competition.

Collins was last year’s recipient of the Jodie Purves Young Cricketer Development Scholarship and was named this week in the Queensland under-16 squad, which will contest the national titles in Canberra from January 5-12.

It will be the first time in three years that the titles have been played.

The Queensland squad was selected based on recent performances across Premier and community cricket competitions, as well as previous state junior pathway, including the recently completed under-15 Female State Challenge.

The Premier Cricket competitions will now break until January 14.

Norths players celebrate a wicket against the Sunshine Coast. Picture: John Gass

Queensland Premier Cricket Team Of The Week, Dec 17-18

Bryce Street – 142 (176) – University of Queensland – men’s first grade

Stephan Muller – 175* (315) – Redlands – men’s first grade

Grace Collins – 114 (137) – Wynnum Manly – women’s first grade

Harry Wood – 146 (140) – Ipswich – men’s first grade

Caleb Ziebell – 153 (173) – Gold Coast – men’s first grade

Ellie Johnston (wk) – 60 (59) Sunshine Coast – women’s first grade

Chathura Kaluthanthri – 134* (156) – Sandgate-Redcliffe – men’s first grade

Naiya Varidel – 4/35 off 10 – Western Suburbs – women’s first grade

Dhanraj Pandya – 6/26 off 8 – South Brisbane – men’s sixth grade

Jamie-Lee Strang – 4/35 off 10 – Gold Coast – women’s first grade

Claire Schiller – 4/25 off 4 – Gold Coast – under-15 female competition

Toombul batsman Lachlan Mark Cricket action between Toombul and Wests. Saturday December 17, 2022. Picture, John Gass

UNDER-19 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: OUR QUEENSLAND METRO STANDOUTS

LACHY AITKEN and REUBEN BURGER (Game 1/2)

In Queensland Metro’s first contest of the national championships, it was a superb opening partnership from these two, which secured the win.
After wiping the ACT out for 162, Aitken tallied 74 and Burger 71, opening the batting in fine fashion.

It was a similar story in the second game when they came up against Tasmania with Aitken dismissed just shy of 50 and Burger once again starting things off nicely with 85.

Cricket action between Toombul and Wests. Picture: John Gass

CODY REYNOLDS (Game 1/2)

Reynolds had an impact in the opening two clashes against the ACT and Tasmania with two wickets in each game.

He had the help of Cameron Steinhardt, Thomas Malone, Weibgen Carter Pearson and Marcus Bean, who all chipped in with a couple wickets of their own.

HUGH WELBGEN (Game 2)

Weibgen didn’t see much time in the crease in the first game but in the second he got his chance and boy did he seize it.

At No.3, the Valley cricketer hit an unbeaten 92 off 76 to cruise to victory.

LACHY AITKEN and ANGUS TOLHURST (Game 3)

Aitken answered in his third straight innings with a mammoth 157-run knock and it was just the start Queensland were after

It also came at just the right time, with Burger, Weibgen and Ashton Gumm being dismissed cheaply while Aitken chipped away at over a-run-a-ball.

Tolhurst came to the crease at No.5 and joined in on the fun, hitting 79 to set the Northern Territory an almost unbeatable 315.

Toombul batsman Oliver West. Picture: John Gass

CALLUM VIDLEY and THOMAS MALONE (Game 3)

Vidler and Malone each took three wickets to defend the total.

But it was Vidler who stole the show, knocking over most of the top order batsmen for a combined 11 runs.

REUBEN BURGER, LUKE DAVIS and CARTER PEARSON (Game 4)

Burger’s 41 to start the innings yet again proved the difference with Queensland Metro downing NSW Country in their fourth game.

Davies played his part too with a half century before a timely Pearson cameo of 34 off 34 gave the Queenslanders one last push to their formidable 263-run total.

TOM BALKIN and CALLUM VIDLER (Game 4)

Balkin and Vidler took four and three wickets respectively in a dominant showcase of fast bowling.

Credit to the Queensland Metro side, who sent three NSW Country batsmen back to the sheds with their fielding.

QUEENSLAND COUNTRY STANDOUTS

Wests bowler Tom Whitney. Picture: John Gass

MATHEW WILKINS and REX TOOLEY (Game 2)

Wilkins and Tooley tried their best in a struggling Country side with each of them scoring 50s in the second game against South Australia.

Tooley was on a mission, hitting six fours and three sixes in an attempt to chase down the target.

Although Jem Ryan put in a quick 41, the Country boys were bowled out 69 runs short.

REX TOOLEY and CODY SADLER (Game 3)

Tooley continued to pile on runs with 47 while Sadler settled into his own at the other end scoring 61.

It was a partnership of more than 100, which earned the Queensland Country boys their first win of the championships, downing Tasmania by 22 runs.

High praise to Sadler, who also took three wickets to defend his team’s total of 203.