Who led the way in round 7 of Taverners Queensland Boys Under-17’s

Taverners under 17 cricket’s round 7 reveal: Gold Coast Dolphins all-rounder takes seven wickets, snares a run out and scores half century in a Player of the Round performance. See who else shone from your club here.

Ayaan Khan bowling earlier in his career - he shone last round in Taverners Under-17s. Picture: Nev Madsen

Gold Coast all-rounder Luke Ward was a runaway player of the round after a dramatic performance with bat and ball against Sandgate-Redcliffe on Sunday.

The Jimboomba cricket junior, a third season player in the Lew Cooper Cup Taverners competition, bowled his team to victory courtesy of a seven wicket haul (7-24) - after scoring an unbeaten half century (63 not out).

Jimboomba gems Owen Maguire and Luke Ward.

He was also involved in a run out, capping an extraordinary round seven performance.

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That performance ensured Gold Coast maintained momentum heading toward the finals.

South Brisbane’s Dushyant Thaman bowling earlier in the year for The Southport School. Picture, John Gass

Another impressive player of the round was Redlands’ spinner Ayaan Khan who took 4-5 and scored a vital 10 not out as Redlands (8-153) crept past South Brisbane (150) with just nine balls remaining.

TAVERNERS CRICKET PLAYERS OF THE DAY, ROUND 7

Gold Coast v Sandgate Redcliffe

Jaxson Davies (Gold Coast)

The Southport School’s Year 10 student Jaxson Davies sent the Gold Coast hurtling toward a match winning 258 when he scored 74 opening the innings on Sunday against Sandgate Redcliffe. Davies, who scored a century on GPS First XI debut earlier this year, was not all bash and barge. Rather he produced a carefully put together innings which included three overs of dot balls - but also seven boundaries.

Luke Ward (Gold Coast)

A Player of the Day in round 3 when he was the key man in the Dolphins’ win against Valley, Ward scored runs and took wickets in a sensational effort. Firstly he produced another half century (63 not out, 77 balls). After his vice-captain Brody Felton had taken on the Gators’ bowlers, Ward shared an important partnership with Davies before seeing the innings through with Cooper Johnson. He was calm in a mini crisis when five quick wickets fell.

Then his leg spin whisked out the Gators’ batsmen after stern defiance from Sandgate Redcliffe openers Cooper Ruthenberg (36) and Jack Southgate (44). There was nice bowling pressure early by Gold Coast pair Cooper Johnson and Ellis McCarthy, and later by Rhys Horne (1-33), but it took Ward’s magic to find the wickets.

Special mentions:

Cooper Ruthenberg and Jack Southgate (Sandgate Redcliffe)

Gators’ openers Cooper Ruthenberg 36 (50 balls) and Jack Southgate (44, 100 balls). The boys gave Sandgate Redcliffe a chance of victory with their solid opening stand before Dolphins’ leg spinner Luke Ward impacted the match. Gators’ Lakshdeep Singh (2-32, 10 overs) also did well.

Redlands v South Brisbane

Ayaan Khan (Redlands)

From the southern Gold Coast, Coomera Hope Island junior Khan was a spin bowling wizard who spun out the tail before dismissing the troublesome Deacon Hunt. Souths had a foundation at 4-128, but Riley Eckersley’s dismissal of Souths’ top scoring Lenny Henry (41) opened the door for Khan to weave his magic. Then, with Redlands 8-143, Khan hit a pressure relieving six on his way to 10 not out alongside Will Cassell (three not out, 18 balls).

Dushyant Thaman (South Brisbane)

What Khan did for Redlands, Thaman did for South Brisbane. The left arm orthodox spin bowler pinned Redlands’ batsmen to the floor with his masterful spell of 10-4-17-4. He had grand support from Luke Herrman (2-29), Ishaan Sandhu (2-25) and Ryan Beatty (0-27, 10 overs), but Thaman was the money who removed Souths’ trumps Riley Eckersley (32) and Joe Parsons (35), among others.

Harry DeSouza playing GPS First XI for Terrace this year.

Northern Suburbs v Valley

Harry DeSouza (Norths)

The St Joeseph’s Gregory Terrace student impacted the match in dramatic fashion with a telling 88 not out (134). His long innings gave Norths stability at one end, enabling Eli Brain (43, 53 balls) and Charlie Henderson (45 not out, 69 balls) to back themselves at the other end. While DeSouza hit 10 fours, there were plenty of dot balls and quick running between the wickets. Brain was backing up after 24 hours earlier hitting 63 in second grade for Norths.

Oliver Dauber (Valley)

It took a run out to remove Dauber who was anchoring the Valley’s challenging 212, He placed just two fours between the field, but did plenty of scurrying up and down the Geoff Dymock Oval pitch. He saw Valley out of trouble at 3-53 and when he was dismissed, Valley were well positioned at 5-158.

Special mentions: Eli Brain (Norths) scored 43 but also kept his cool in a high scoring match to claim 1-27 from eight overs. Brain also had a run out in the dismissal of Valley’s highest scorer, Oliver Dauber. Marist College Ashgrove student Joey Laner (4-47) was attacked early, but still removed both Norths openers before returning to snare another two lower order batsmen who were intent on supporting Angus Peters (21 not out) and Harry Morton (43).

Joey Laner bowling for Marist College Ashgrove this year.

Ipswich v Toombul

Rhys Johnston (Ipswich)

Country boy Johnston fired the Ipswich (3-189) batting to victory over Toombul (188). Opening, the Toowoomba Grammar School ace shared a match winning first stand of 137 with Colby Rudd (51). The boys did not overplay their hand, but when the ball was there to be hit, they cracked it to the boundary. Johnston is a North Queensland product who boards at Toowoomba Grammar School, and while he can keep wickets, he often plays as a specialist batsman due to the Hornets’ depth in glovemen.

Mulgrave product Rhys Johnston - he plays club in Tav’s for Ipswich and attends TGS. Photo: Craig McGrath

Jacob Orbell (Toombul)

Bayside boy Jacob Orbell (78) was outstanding in his team’s total of 188. He shone like a beacon, ignoring Toombul’s collapsing innings to retain his composure and be last man out after coming to the crease 2-43. It was one of the finest performances of the round.

Colby Rudd (Ipswich)

Aside from his opening partnership of 137 which ensured his side victory, Rudd was also one of his team’s best bowlers (10-3-29-1). He and Robert McClure (10-1-2-23) produced disciplined bowling that was crucial in their team’s win.

Sunshine Coast v Western Suburbs

Malakai Pearce (Sunshine Coast)

The Scorchers’ captain Pearce rewarded the hard work of his Oscar Cawse, Thomas Town, Cooper Keogh and Charlie Kruger with his three wicket haul (3-24) which eroded Wests’ innings.

Sunshine Coast cricketer Malakai Pearce.

The Glasshouse districts’ junior maintained the rage after the crucial dismissal of Callum Pamenter to mix maidens with wickets.

Special mentions: Charlie Kruger (Sunshine Coast) for his outstanding spell of 8-1-18-2 which included the removal of the dangerous Wests’ captain Ryan Atley who was set on 40. Banjo Seaniger (Sunshine Coast) was also handy at the death (1-14, six overs).

Wests captain Ryan Atley when he played First XI for Brisbane Boys College. Saturday February 11, 2023. Picture, John Gass

Cooper Keogh (Sunshine Coast)

Wests were a faint hope when they reduced Wests to 3-69 chasing 144, but Gympie product Cooper Keogh saw to that with a brisk 39 not out which included six fours.

Sunshine Coast Scorchers Lord Taverners talent Cooper Keogh.

Wynnum Manly v University of Queensland

Shoubhit Jain (Wynnum Manly)

Sea Eagles junior Jain was the main man after producing a captivating spell of 4-32. He changed the match with the dismissal of Uni’s best batsman, the dangerous Blake Armstrong (47), who was on his way to a half century. He trapped Armstrong LBW after earlier bowling the respected Angus Storen. He added two other victims, but his dismissal of a set Armstrong when Uni had reached 3-106 was the turning point.

Blake Armstrong (University)

Armstrong hustled through his 10 overs of left arm orthodox spin to snare 1-32, and was his team’s big batting hope, delivering 47 in a flourish.

Wynnum’s Joshua Ritchie batting earlier this year for Iona in AIC First XI cricket. Picture, John Gass

Special mentions

Iona College student Joshua Ritchie (59, 114 balls) went deep into the Wynnum innings before Sea Eagles’ teammate Noah Maguire capitalised on his good work with a thrilling 41 (45 balls).

Kethmin Meegasdeniya (Wynnum Manly) was again a wicket taking specialist with his five over burst yielding 3-7, including the dismissal of promising all-rounder Christian Alexander.