Taverners Queensland Boys Under-17’s top performers from rainy round 6 action on Sunday
Here’s 21 top Taverners talents from the elite Under-17 cricket competition who starred in a rain-affected round 6. The top performers are highlighted here as the semi-final battle hots up.
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Only four rounds remain in the elite Taverners Queensland Boys Under 17 cricket competition as the top four battle begins to heat up.
Wynnum-Manly shot up into equal-first place alongside University following a win in a rain-affected sixth round on Sunday.
There were only three winners, Norths, Gold Coast and Wynnum-Manly with the remaining three washed out.
Before the rain was too much to handle, a variety of young guns stood tall and delivered, most notably Sea Eagles skipper Hayden Hamilton who scored 63 not out in a win.
Gold Coast opener Patrick Eveleigh (67) and Norths duo Eli Brain (70 not out) and Finn Thallon (62 not out) also starred in winning efforts.
Read on to catch up on who did what across the competition in round 6.
TAVERNERS TOP PERFORMERS
Will Souter and Riley Eckersley (Redlands)
The prime moving Tiger cubs were elite rotating the strike on Sunday in a rain-affected clash at Redlands.
No. 5 batsman Souter scored at run-a-ball pace for his 32 while skipper Riley Eckersley, who is averaging 36.5 on the season, scored an unbeaten 25 (17 balls) to give his side a big boost going into the innings break.
Eli Brain (Norths)
There was no stopping Norths’ first drop batsman Eli Brain at the weekend. The kid is in the form of his life, scoring 301 runs at 75.25 this season in an impressive prelude to next year’s GPS First XI competition.
The Brisbane Grammar ace scored an unbeaten 70 (69 balls) on Sunday after arriving at the crease for just the second ball of the innings.
Redlands had just started in style but quickly Brain brained them with five fours and a six propelling Norths towards the total with ample time to spare.
Finn Thallon (Norths)
Brain’s right hand man was Villanova College weapon Finn Thallon, whose 62 not out was influential for the visitors.
The big man hit six fours and a six and thwarted everything Redlands threw at him in a pivotal 130-run stand alongside Brain.
Patrick Eveleigh (Gold Coast)
After falling short against Wynnum-Manly the week prior, the Dolphins bounced back into the winners circle. Batting opener Pat Eveleigh had a huge say in that.
Eveleigh was sent into bat by Toombul and he quickly made them rue that decision when he scored 67 (66 balls) and flew the flag in an 85-run first-wicket partnership.
Brody Felton and Kai Dalli (Gold Coast)
With Eveleigh holding the lantern, No. 3 batsman Brody Felton followed suit by scoring an all-important 41 (56) early in the Gold Coast innings.
He worked hard for his runs and soon after himself and Eveleigh were dismissed, No. 5 bat Kai Dalli showed some class of his own.
Jagmeet Singh had made the crucial breakthrough picking up the wicket of Eveleigh and Dalli took his chance with two hands and produced a half century that helped post an impressive first-innings score of 241.
All-rounder Cameron Sinfield also chipped in (32, 27 balls).
Jason Bakshi and Fraser Judd (Toombul)
Opener Jason Bakshi and first drop bat Fraser Judd put in a gallant fight against the Dolphins’ bowlers posting 55 and 40 runs respectively.
Bakshi was a man on a mission, sharing in two partnerships worth more than 50 runs and when he was dismissed for 55, his side were in a good spot at 2-135.
The team captain Spencer Green, who bowled 10 overs the innings prior, also chipped in with 29 runs (36 balls).
Rhys Horne and Cooper Johnson (Gold Coast)
The left-handed all-rounder from the Labrador club played a key role in the Gold Coast’s 38-run win at home.
He picked up three wickets, all capable batters, and went for 34 runs in 10 overs which was economical in the context of the game.
He picked up the key wicket of Bakshi who was settled, and he also prevented Sam Jones (5) from getting into a groove.
His right-hand man was Cooper Johnson who cleaned up the Toombul bottom order. In the process, eliminating all hope for the visitors who would have come very close had Johnson not stepped up.
He finished with figures of 9.3-0-35-4 (Overs-maidens-runs-wickets).
Colby Rudd and Rhys Johnston (Ipswich)
Ipswich openers Colby Rudd and Rhys Johnston put up a blockade on Sunday and kept out everything the Wynnum-Manly new-ball bowlers had.
The pair put on 78 runs before Johnston (41, 56) was bested by Sasen Perera.
Rudd (70) kept his razor sharp focus before Kethmin Meegasdeniya caught him LBW. During their time in the middle, Rudd and Johnston ran well between the stumps and cherished their wicket like their lives were on the line. Lachlan Cullen (36 not out, 55 balls) also scored well for the Hornets.
Rudd (2-26, 10 overs) then delivered in spades at the bowling crease.
Kethmin Meegasdeniya and Shoubhit Jain (Wynnum-Manly)
Spin-bowling Brisbane State High student Kethmin Meegasdeniya broke the dam wall down to remove Ipswich’s Colby Rudd who had held his ground for 134 balls.
That was a big wicket by Meegasdeniya (10-0-39-3) who struck twice more later on to take the sting out of the Ipswich bottom order.
Jain (one wicket) was also a bowling delight with his economical 10 overs leaking just 29 runs.
The Wynnum-Manly bowlers would not have been as successful without the help of Sasen Perera, Hayden Hamilton and Luke Biddle.
Hayden Hamilton (Wynnum-Manly)
The outstanding Sea Eagles vice-captain maintained his fine vein of form on Sunday when he challenged hard across his five overs (0-15) before seeing his team to safety with a calm and collected 63 not out (98 balls).
The scorer of 368 runs so far this season was ever-present again and his wonderful 68-run stand with Toby Collins nailed the coffin shut.
He is averaging 73.6 batting No. 3 with Sunday’s knock a no-nonsense innings that bumped his side to equal first on the table (tied with University).
Toby Collins (Wynnum-Manly)
Collins was a cut above on Sunday with his aggressive mindset with the bat paying off big for the visitors.
The Iona College youngster scored 43 at run-a-ball pace and his power-game was just what the doctor ordered when the match swung in the balance with 10 overs to go.
Collins put away three sixes and a four, his speedy 44-ball special the key to victory.
Malakai Pearce (Sunshine Coast)
Pearce applied pressure with the ball as rain drizzled down onto Athur Hingst Oval on the Sunshine Coast.
The Scorchers’ skipper led by example again picking up the wicket of both University openers before snaring his third when he removed Hamish Down for naught.
Pearce finished with figures of 10-2-35-3 and made the breakthroughs Oscar Cawse, Banjo Seaniger and Thomas Town had worked hard for.
Alex Walduck, Angus Storen and Christian Alexander (University)
The University top order batters toiled away as the rain got heavier and prevailed in less-than-desirable batting conditions.
Walduck tallied 32 runs opening the batting, Storen 36 coming in at No. 4 and Alexander 26 not out before the covers were brought on.
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