Two elite performances unfold - one by a TSS bowler, the other by IGS opener
Like Clark Kent transforming into Superman, Sohaan Sharma’s season has changed dramatically, earning him No.1 billing in round 4’s GPS First XI Team of the Week. Full side here.
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Sohaan Sharma completed a dramatic transformation to plunder a magnificent century and keep Ipswich Grammar School atop the premiership table alongside The Southport School.
Sharma’s 103 was as dramatic as an afternoon thunderstorm, with his 88-ball innings featuring 11 fours and five sixes.
The most extraordinary thing is that the Year 11 student entered the innings with just 24 runs from 74 balls during his previous three innings this season.
UNDER 19 TEAM OF THE YEAR INCLUDES GPS FACES
A right hand opening batsman who has an ability to be destructive, particularly straight, is a part of the Queensland under 16s pathways program.
As a result he was the first player chosen in our latest Team of the Week - and the second one was The Southport School Year 11 spinner Dushyant Thaman (six wickets).
PREMIERSHIP LADDER ENTERING ROUND 5
1. IGS, (four wins), 2. TSS (four wins), 3. Churchie (three wins, one tie), 4, Terrace (one win, tie, loss), 5. BBC (one win, two loses), 6. Nudgee (one win, three loses), 7. TGS (one win, three loses), 8. BGS (three loses), 9. BSHS (three loses).
The Team
1. Sohaan Sharma (IGS)
Sharma has been a high achiever at the Western Suburbs club - including a
136 in fourth grade - but his spectacular knock of 103 against BSHS in GPS First XI action last Saturday is the innings which has really got tongues wagging.
It was a dazzling knock which ensured his side turned at the lunch break running down hill.
2. Jack Hillier (IGS)
Hillier was Sharma’s opening partner and together they shared in a head spinning 141 stand that propelled their side into a winning position. Hillier scored a fluent 63 (77 balls) with four fours and three sixes.
3. Angus Storen (Churchie)
A gritty Storen fortified his team’s innings when he took the long route toward scoring 54. Storen ran plenty of ones and two in between hitting six fours and a six, defying the opposition across 105 deliveries.
4. Jaxson Davies (TSS)
After a sensational debut century in round 1, the junior Mudgeeraba Nerang took on the Brisbane Boys College bowlers in a momentum shifting knock of 62 (54 balls).
BBC’s were encircling the reigning champions, but Year 10 student Davies
5. Blake Armstrong (BBC)
The cream rose to the top against BBC when Armstrong set the tone for his team’s 234. He maintained the momentum of the innings set by open Angus Harris (48), moving to 51 from 57 before becoming one of Dushyant Thaman’s six wickets. Armstrong also was good with the ball, conceding 0-43 from his left arm spin. But he made our side for his batting.
6. Gurnoor Singh Randhawa (TGS)
He has been among the competition’s most consistent performer and his 59 was a mini reward for his efforts. Singh Randhawa dug deep - he faced 85 balls - but he lashed out to hit four fours and two sixes.
7. Gabriel Leitch (TSS)
For the first time this season, TSS faced adversity against a BBC side which had seized the initiative away from their rivals following the dismissal of batting young gun Jaxson Davies and Jacob Bath. TSS were 6-130, until three season First XI veteran Leitch rescued his side with 51 not out (83 balls), sharing in a crucial partnership with Ted Waterman (27).
8. Dushyant Thaman (TSS)
Let us all stand and acclaim Dushyant Thaman. And keep the ovation going. Thaman was superlative with his 6-28 from nine overs, rescuing his side after BBC had laid a platform at 2-167. He removed both Zac Robinson (45) and Blake Armstrong (51) who were set, and although BBC still made 234, there was scope for a really big innings. BBC’s batsmen went for their shots against Thaman, but he stayed the course, helped by Riley Johnson’s stumping of Shravanth Prabhakar Pradeep Reddy
9. Henry Hillier (Churchie)
The left arm orthodox spinner continues to impact the competition. The TGS batsmen could do little to break his momentum as he claimed three top order wickets on a way to a haul of 10-1-29-4. By the time he had finished at the bowling crease, Churchie was eyeing victory.
10. Spencer Green (Nudgee)
It is a long time since we have seen bowling figures like these - 10-7-4-3. The 2023 North Brisbane captain and junior representative player was elite at the bowling crease. It was a simply stunning display by the Year 10 leg spinner on a day of high achievers in the competition.
11. Jacob Cibulka (IGS)
While the damage had been done much earlier by Luke Harper (2-30) and Jettison Emmerson (2-12, six overs), it was Cibulka who added the cream to the strawberry and scones. He claimed 4-18.
12. Cooper Beachy-Head (BBC)
The young right arm off spin bowler was confronted by a TSS’s blazing Jaxson Davies and an iron-willed tail ender Ted Waterman when he was at the bowling crease, but under pressure he did well to claim four wickets - among them the flowing Davies. He earned 12th man narrowly from Jet Emmerson (see below).
Special mentions:
Jettison Emmerson (IGS)
He earned his way into our story again with his outstanding right arm medium pace that pinned BSHS early - and which also penetrated the batting defences. He claimed 2-12 from just six overs in a winning team effort.
Ted Waterman (TSS)
Medium pace bowler Waterman (27) is a regular in this story because of his bowling, but he gets a special mention after his match winning batting performance. Alongside Gabriel Leitch, Waterman was involved in match winning partnership after TSS had slumped to 6-130.
Angus Harris (BBC)
Harris, Blake Armstrong (51) and Zac Robinson (45) all would have wanted more, but their performance was a tick given the success TSS have had this season in the field. TSS has a tendency to trigger an avalanche of pressure from ball No.1, but Harris fought back with his 48 from 49 balls.
Billy Connellan (Nudgee)
New ball slow bowler Connellan started Nudgee’s roll to victory with a caught and bowled - and it only got better from there for his side. He finished with 2-26 from 10 overs. Karmichael Dee also claimed a bonus two runs.
Joshua Cranston (TGS)
Opener Cranston deserves A for effort after spending 78 balls compiling his hard earned 38. There is nothing like an opening batsman digging in and putting value on his wicket.
Highlights from As games.
10As: On a day when most matches were abandoned due to Friday’s big wet, TSS’s Krrish Whala made a claim 60, and then BBC’s Hamish Down a run-a-ball 69.
11As: BGS’s Matteo Boccolacci claimed 4-21 on a day dominated by the ball, while Nudgee’s Tejas Ashok (2-16, eight overs) took the best figures.
Churchie’s Archer Ryan (4-11) loved the bowling condition in his game, but so did TGS’s Gilbo Tighe 3-28.
9As: Nudgee’s Tristan Auliff (three wickets) got among the batsmen, while BGS’s Harry Weibgen (19 not out, 46 balls). Then when Nudgee batted, Ben Del Favero rose with 42 not out.
For Churchie Angus Peters (38) did well in the conditions, while TGS opener Darcy Muckert dropped anchor for 30 from 95 balls.
ROUND 5
Terrace v Nudgee
TSS v BSHS
BGS v TGS
Churchie v BBC
Bye: IGS
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