Toowoomba Grammar School beat Terrace, Brisbane Boys College pip Churchie in GPS cliffhangers
The giant-killing Toowoomba Grammar School’s First XI today claimed a stunning upset win over Terrace while Brisbane Boys College ploughed through the gloom to pip Anglican Church Grammar School in two GPS cricket cliffhangers.
GPS
Don't miss out on the headlines from GPS. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The giant-killing Toowoomba Grammar School’s First XI today claimed a stunning upset win over Terrace while Brisbane Boys College ploughed through the gloom to pip Anglican Church Grammar School in two GPS cricket cliffhangers.
Only two matches were possible due to wet weather, but all four teams bundled more entertainment into two fixtures than you’d see in a week of Big Bash League cricket.
It was gripping stuff from start to finish at both venues.
Several times Churchie (200) looked set to overhaul BBC (9-207) only to finish marginally short, with BBC’s effort spirited along by Campbell Cowan’s inspiring four wicket spell.
$1 for 28 days: Full digital subscription
At Ron Oxenham Oval, TGS withstood intense pressure from the St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace fieldsmen and bowlers to creep to 6-104 after bowling Terrace out for 103.
“They are one of the strongest schoolboy teams assembled in the country, so for us it is a good win,’’ said TGS director of sport Steve Fryer.
TGS took advantage of a lucky call at the toss to send the home side in on a sporting wicket and slowish outfield.
TGS bowlers’ Dan Brown, Mitchell Doolan, Paul Draheim, Jem Ryan, Joseph Wood and Taj Glenn backed their captain to the hilt, with Brown snaring 3-16 and Draheim and Wood two wickets each.
At one stage their disciplined line and length had Terrace reeling at 8-56 before Jeremy White (19) and Mitchell Bodimeade (17) scrambled late runs.
“The bowlers put the ball in the right spot and we took our chances,’’ said Fryer, while also praising the fieldsmen.
Terrace actually did well to rally to 103 and many pundits thought it would be enough.
Aspirations of victory were heightened when Terrace fast bowler Aubrey Stockdale claimed two wickets just before lunch to reduce TGS to 2-9, and the Toowoomba Grammar’s victory target was a long, long way away.
But Harry Meiklejohn (22), Jack Thompson (20) and Mitch Doolan (29) steadied the ship as TGS rose to 3-84.
But when you play a team of Terrace’s ability, there is always going to be a twist and so there was when Thompson was brilliantly run out by Luke Davies, and then Doolan bowled by Jeremy White.
Such was the euphoria, White was tackled to the ground by a teammate and with TGS 5-85, it was game on.
The Terrace banter, so evident pre-lunch, echoed across the Don Oxenham Oval all over again as the Red and Blacks sensed they were a chance.
Dylan Kritzinger then bowled Dan Brown and with TGS 6-97 it was edge of the seat stuff.
But Steele and Glenn got the job done for TGS and it was mission accomplished for the boys from the Darling Downs.
“It was tough and tight all the way to the end,’’ Fryer added.
No bowler was more deserving of a wicket than Terrace paceman White.
He attacked the bowling crease like a pole vaulter launching down the runway, and those observing lost count of the number of times he beat the bat.
He took 1-21 from 10 overs, but could have taken five wickets, such was the quality of his performance.
There was a moment of controversary with TGS at 3-56.
Fielding at short mid-wicket, Bodimeade claimed a juggling catch from TGS batsman Jack Thompson’s flashing blade, but after consulting the umpires ruled the ball had hit the ground before Bodimeade regained it.
At Brisbane Boys College, Churchie sliced through BBC’s top order to have the home side 5-48 before a partnership between Ali Zaidi (55) and Taj Annan (72) inflated the BBC innings.
Churchie’s left arm spinner Harry Edwards (2-30) was key to the collapse after Burger, Thomasson and Rankin had challenged the BBC top three.
But Zaidi and Annan, who is also a First XV rugby player, were up for the challenge.
The tall Annan, a boarder from New South Wales, was eager to drive but also expertly worked the ball square into the gaps.
Zaidi, who answered an SOS from the touring Pakistan under 17 side to play some matches during December, again looked class.
One flick to the mid-wicket boundary was a classical bit of wristy batsmanship.
His deft touch extended to a delightful late cute which moved him to 43, and then with lightning feet he was onto the backfoot to pull to the mid-wicket boundary.
Annan celebrated Zaidi’s 50 with his own rousing pull stroke to bring himself closer to a half century.
Annan scored his 72 from 80 balls, an innings which increased in tempo as it progressed.
Edwards, his shirt in need of a good dry clean after throwing himself around the field, was excellent at the bowling crease for Churchie while Thomasson, a state under 17 representative, was quick and direct at the stumps.
When Churchie batted, Campbell Cowan sliced through with three quick wicket as Churchie tumbled from 1-57 to 3-59.
But Reuben Burger (50), Herring (12) and Corrigan (25) threaded the Churchie innings back together again after a patient Jacob Verstegen (38) had lost his wicket to Cowan.
Edwards (11 not out) then tried hard to scurry Churchie over the line, but they fell just short.
BBC, the masters of close finishes last season, had done it again.
Round three will be played next weekend, with premiers The Southport School keen to get on the park after having a round one bye, and a washout today.
GPS First XI: Batsman who hit more sixes than fours makes Team of the Week
GPS First XI cricket Team of the Week: The round 2 team includes a player who hit more sixes than fours, a Year 10 rookie from a losing side and a Gremlins’ junior from the bush.
8 Next Gen 7s rugby rookies to black book for the 2032 Olympics
A former Wallaby centre has likened one of Queensland’s best unsigned rugby teens to All Blacks World Cup-winning fullback Ben Smith.