Schoolboy stars in KFC Premier Cricket Team of the Week

Two recent schoolboy stars broke into the KFC Queensland Premier Cricket Team of the Week.

Two recent schoolboy stars Tom Balkin and Flynn Thomasson broke into the KFC Premier Cricket Team of the Week.

Both all-rounders, Balkin (Toombul) and Thomasson (Valley) each took five wickets as raw talent rose to the top in a round which was somewhat of a blank canvas for top performers in the absence of Queensland Bulls and WBBL Brisbane Heat players.

St Joseph’s Nudgee College student Balkin, a genuine quick bowler built low to the ground, claimed 5-59 - his maiden five wicket haul in first grade.

Western Suburbs Annie Wikman made the Team of the Week.

Churchie old boy Flynn Thomasson, who was tutored at schoolboy level by former Queensland gloveman Peter Drinnen, also claimed five wickets - 5-29 in the under 19s.

Big runs chases were the story of the round, with a string of victories following through the top grades as a host of individuals stood tall.

Valley batsman Lachlan Pfeffer in action on Saturday against Wynnum Manly.

While Bulls wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson was setting himself for another Sheffield Shield century, his understudy Lachy Pfeffer was all class for Valley in the Sci-Fleet Motors First Grade competition.

The Laidley product finished with 143 as he and Dylan McLachlan (104no), ensured Valley chased down Wynnum-Manly’s mighty total of 6-373 to claim a hard-fought victory.

Sandgate Redcliffe celebrate a wicket First grade cricket between University and Sandgate Redcliffe. Saturday October 16, 2021. Picture John Gass

Likewise, University of Queensland captain Jano Coetzee performed a similar role with his 135 not out ensuring his side reached 7-351 to chase down Sandgate-Redcliffe’s total of 347.

Potential Queensland Fire squad contenders Tara Wheeler and Annie Wikman both enhanced their clams for higher honours in the Katherine Raymont Shield.

Uni batsman Angus Lovell Picture John Gass

Wheeler scored 103 for the Gold Coast, although her fine effort was not enough to prevent Wests from taking the win, with Wikman hitting a quickfire 86 from 81 balls to lead the victory charge.

The hard-fought one-day game also supplied a third member for the Team of the Week with teenager Jessica Bryant snapping up 4-31 from 10 overs for Wests in the Dolphins innings.

University bowler Will Sanders. Picture John Gass

While batters enjoyed the conditions over the weekend, there were classy efforts with the ball too from a pair of teenage pace bowlers.

KFC Queensland Premier Cricket Team of the Week (Oct 16-17)

Valley batsman Lachlan Pfeffer in action last weekend. Picture John Gass

1. 103. Tara Wheeler. Gold Coast. Katherine Raymont Shield.

2. 143. Lachlan Pfeffer. Valley. Sci Fleet Motors First Grade.

3. 135. Harold Jones. South Brisbane. Second Grade.

4. 86. Annie Wikman. Western Suburbs. Katherine Raymont Shield.

5. 135*. Jano Coetzee. University of QLD. Sci Fleet Motors First Grade.

6. 125. Jared Spies. Gold Coast. Second Grade.

7. 81*. Rosie McMahon. Sunshine Coast. Jodie Fields Shield.

8. 3-8 Darcey Johnson. Sandgate-Redcliffe. Katherine Raymont Shield.

9. 4-31. Jessica Bryant. Western Suburbs. Katherine Raymont Shield.

10. 6-9. Nicholas Purser. Western Suburbs. Sixth Grade.

11. 6-22 Hayden Sealey. Wynnum-Manly. Fifth Grade.

12. 5-26. Flynn Thomasson. Valley. U19 Male.

13. 5-59 Tom Balkin, Toombul. Sci Fleet Motors First Grade

Also in the mix were some rising youngsters and promising siblings.

It was a good weekend with the bat for the Snell brothers. Isiah hit 110 for Wests in their draw with the Sunshine Coast on Saturday while younger brother Toby scored 90 on Sunday in the opening round of the under-19 men’s competition to lift Toombul to victory over Redlands.

Wynnum Manly bowler Josh Frazer Valley v Wynnum Manly.

Also catching the eye again in Team of the Week calculations was Wests opener Rajiv Singh Buttar, who carried his bat to finish 96 not out as his side won an exciting clash in the Lord’s Taverners under16 competition with the frontrunners overcoming Darling Downs & South-West by one wicket.

Wynnum Manly bowler Anjana Nanayakkra against Valley Picture John Gass

There was also a neat 100 by South Brisbane top order batter Simranjit Singh Dhillon in their win against Valley in Lord’s Taverners.

And Sunshine Coast off-spinner Ruby Orchard shone in the Katherine Raymont Shield with the 16-year-old snapping up 3-14 from 9.3 overs in the win over Ipswich.