Season leaders clash in top of the table encounter

The GPS First XI cricket season reached a flashpoint today, with a top of the table clash between The Southport School and Ipswich Grammar School, and a big move by Churchie. Story here.

TSS celebrate a wicket earlier this season. Picture, John Gass

The Southport School were closing in on yet another First XI premiership after an inspiring performance from Jacob Bath took his side to victory over Ipswich Grammar School in the top of the table clash.

TSS defended 200, with off spin bowler Bath claiming three top order wickets and before a dramatic spell by Luke Franks swept out the tail.

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As a result of today’s game, TSS remained on top of the table, with Churchie now looming as a candidate alongside IGS. This was after Churchie’s Angus Storen tore the BSHS top order apart.

Here’s what happened in a crucial round six.

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The Southport School v Ipswich Grammar School

TSS recovered from the second ball loss of reliable opener Cameron Sinfield to post 200, a score that wins you more matches than it loses you in the GPS competition.

They then defended that total by dismissing IGS for 145, with Bath starring early and Luke Franks then dismissing the tail.

BBC batsman Cormac Todd. Picture, John Gass

Dinek Kinigama (45) was gallant for IGS, but not even his late effort with Joshua Lossberg could bring IGS close enough.

As mentioned earlier, TSS all-rounder Jacob Bath had another big match, scoring 39 and getting a wicket, second ball, with his off spin.

With the bat Bath pulled the trigger on his team’s recovery from 1-0 after IGS quick Will Pamenter had skidded a glistening new ball into the pads of Sinfield.

Bath struck seven fours on his way to 39 (48 balls) before emerging off spinner Luke Harper had him caught by Joshua Lossberg.

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Harper’s dismissal of Bath was desperately needed, but at 2-70 TSS still had a firm foothold.

Ishaan Sandhu then continued on where Bath left off, aggressively moving to another milestone before being dismissed for 53 (76 balls), again victim of Harper.

How is that one? Picture, John Gass

Harper’s introduction disturbed TSS’s rhythm, slowing the run rate, although TSS still had a foundation from which to launch a winning score when they reached 3-120 from 28 overs.

TSS were still on top as Jaxson Davies (29) settled in, but Jacob Cibulka dismissal of the Year 10 batting ace kept IGS in the contest because it brought two new batsmen to the crease at 4-130 (30 overs).

Pressure continued to mount on TSS when Noah Plater gleefully claimed TSS skipper Riley Johnson who twice this season had taken teams apart with thunderous middle order batting. But not today as TSS reached 5-150 with 16 overs in the bank.

Dushyant Thaman (34) and Gabriel Leitch (21) then combined to pick up the pieces, but the run out of Leitch (Sohaan Sharma to Luke Sheppard) meant IGS would be chasing 201 for victory.

The Southport School were always slick in the field. Picture, John Gass

TGS v Terrace

Toowoomba Grammar School edged out St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace in another thriller.

Initially TGS played from behind after being 7-130 in the first innings.

But they scrambled to 193, and then in the field they rallied off the back of Charlie Lachmund’s dynamic new ball burst.

Lachmund claimed three quick wickets and Terrace looked to be sinking fast.

But Max Murphy (54, 101 balls) found a willing partner in James Eustance (17) and an aggressive Geoege Hales (28 not out) who thumped quick runs.

In the end Terrace were dismissed for 184, with Black, Haynes, Cranston and Randhawa all taking wickets.

GPS first Xv cricket between Nudgee and BGS at Nudgee college Saturday February 17, 2024. Picture, John Gass

Toowoomba Grammar School’s top order was challenged early by Terrace new ball bowlers Elliot Quinn and Samuel Jones, before Gurnoor Singh Randhawa (39) continued his good form for TGS.

Terrace were on top early, and in a handy position when Theodore Bacalakis short circuited Charlie Bignell (16) innings, but Singh Randhawa pushed on before Geoege Hales broke through.

However James Eustance, who had already taken two catches, then held a caught and bowled from Cooper Webster and the innings changed.

Jones returned to snare another wicket and TGS were 7-130.

Hedley Donges then mounted a rescue operation, constructing a positive 36 (48 balls), and when Charlie Lachmund and Jackson Haynes scrambled runs at the death, TGS had recovered to make 193 and those late runs proved the difference.

Churchie batsman Daniel Desmet . Picture, John Gass

BSHS v Churchie

Churchie’s Angus Storen (4-19) was the story of the morning - and the afternoon - as his team kept its premiership chances afloat by beating BSHS (101).

Storen was magnificent in the first hour, taking 3-13 from six overs before the BSHS batsmen could blink.

GPS First XI cricket between Gregory Terrace and Churchie. Saturday February 3, 2024.

Bowling in partnership with fast bowling enforcer Daniel Boreham, Storen induced two caught behind chances - both snared by gloveman Jayden Draper.

After Storen’s early success, left arm spinner Henry Hillier continued to keep things tight, while Tighe Morris and Rupert Bignall struck telling blows.

Slow bowler Morris had BSHS’s batsmen in a spin - at one stage he had figures of 8-2-14-1 while Rupert Bignall claimed 2-9 from eight overs.

Storen then returned to the bowling crease late to take a fourth wicket, leaving a defiant BSHS tail ender Lenny Henry stranded on 17 not out (62 balls). Churchie then chased 101 for victory.

Henry then completed a nice involvement in the game by dismissing inform Churchie opener Connor Rudman.

But that man Storen could not be kept out of the game, with his 44 not out coming from just 61 balls. Jayden Draper also scored 31 not out in the nine wicket win.

Team BBC at a break earlier in the season. Picture, John Gass

BBC v BGS

BBC’s big batting four - Blake Armstrong, Zac Robinson and Ryan Atley - fired the home side launched to a season best 254 against BGS at Oakman Park.

In a high scoring game BGS responded with 221, but the bar had been raised too high by the BBC batsmen earlier in the day.

Influential Brisbane Boys College all-rounder Blake Armstrong (63) continued his outstanding season to help set up a big total against BGS.

And behind him the BBC batting had substance, with Atley producing a spectacular 58 from 65 balls.

GPS First XI cricket action.

The left hander dominated his team’s second half of the innings, with eight four piercing the field.

Earlier BBC passed 100 in the 20th over as left hander Armstrong took the bowling as only he can.

With Queensland junior representative Zac Robinson (38) with him at one end, Armstrong backed himself to loft four sixes before he had reached 40.

Armstrong strode past his half century, although their innings was checked at 4-150 (33 overs) when both Armstrong and Robinson were dismissed quickly.

Spinner Rishi Mehta dismissed Robinson (38), while Nicholas Scott cut short Armstrong who looked bound for a century.

But there was no collapse today as Atley said “follow me’’ to the lower.

In the BGS innings, Sam Wallwork (39), Hugo Spencer (40) and Eli Brain (35) all took up the challenge, and even at the death Rishi Mehta (20) hit out.

Tight bowling from Christian Alexander and Oliver Hottot complemented a four wicket haul by Lachlan Sellars who kept taking wickets despite going at six an over.

ROUND 7

Nudgee v TGS

Churchie v IGS

Terrace v BBC

BGS v BSHS

Bye: Tss