Sydney Shires Cricket: Top 10 bowlers at halfway point

Sydney Shires Cricket has returned after the Christmas break. Here are the bowlers that have impressed us so far this season.

Bowling is tough in one-day cricket, but here are the 10 bowlers who have impressed us so far this season.

Sydney Shires Cricket returns from an extended break this weekend as the competition starts the two-day format of the game.

We’ve already gone through the best batsmen of the season so far, but the guys trying to keep them off the board have been pretty impressive as well.

Here are NewsLocal’s top 10 bowlers of the Sydney Shires Cricket first-grade season … so far.

Alec Cornelius (left) has been a stalwart in attack for Lane Cove this season as the club holds on to a top six position.

10. ALEC CORNELIUS (LANE COVE)

Stats: 32 Overs, 9 Wickets @ 13.11, 3.69 Economy Rate

Alec Cornelius hasn’t bowled as many overs as most of the guys on this list, but he’s sporting a strong average and has been hard to get away.

He took three wickets in each of his first two games where he bowled, and only has one wicketless outing so far this season.

His best figures of 3/10 came against a Warringah side who have scored a lot of runs this season.

9. SCOTT TIMBRELL (LINDFIELD)

Stats: 43.5 Overs, 10 Wickets @ 14.30, 3.26 Economy Rate

Scott Timbrell has ably led the Lindfield attack this season, but has hit a slight dry spell with his wicket taking.

He flew out of the blocks with a 2/24 against Lane Cove, then took three wickets in each of the next two matches, including his best figures of 3/17 against Roseville.

Timbrell hasn’t played first grade since December 6, so it remains to be seen whether he will continue to bowl in the New Year.

Charlie Booth first came to NewsLocal’s attention in 2010 when he took five wickets in a competition in Darwin. Now he’s older and taking wickets in Shires first grade.

8. CHARLIE BOOTH (EPPING)

Stats: 31.1 Overs, 9 Wickets @ 11.33, 3.27 Economy Rate

Charlie Booth is another bowler with a smaller body of work, but he’s been fantastic in his 31 overs this season.

He’s only played four matches this season but already has two innings with three wickets. His nine wickets have come at an average of just over 11, and he’s going for just over three runs an over.

His best figures where 3/25 taken against Lindfield in round two.

Billy McCarthy (pictured playing in the Green Shield) has been extremely impressive in limited chances this season. Picture: Justin Sanson

7. BILLY MCCARTHY (EPPING)

Stats: 26.2 Overs, 10 Wickets @ 5.90, 2.24 Economy Rate

If Billy McCarthy had bowled a few more overs this season, he’d be in serious contention for the top spot on this list.

However, he’s only bowled the full 10 overs in two matches this season, and didn’t bowl at all in his first two games.

Since figures of 1/12 against Lane Cove in round three, McCarthy has rattled off 9 wickets over three weeks all while going for just over two runs an over.

Should see his usage go up in the two-day format.

Will Greenland sends down a delivery for Warringah Cricket Club. Picture: Warringah Cricket Club

6. WILLIAM GREENLAND (WARRINGAH)

Stats: 54 Overs, 14 Wickets @ 18.43, 4.78 Economy Rate

This may seem a little low for someone who owns a share of top spot on the wicket-takers list, but his higher economy rate hurts him here.

Greenland has been a workhorse for the Northern Beaches team, bowling the full 10 overs in four of his six games so far this season.

He’s taken four wickets in two matches this season, including his best figures of 4/35 against Lane Cove in round four, and only failed to take a wicket in one match.

5. BRENTON J WRIGHT (BURWOOD)

Stats: 48 Overs, 13 Wickets @ 13.54, 3.67 Economy Rate

Brenton Wright has been a key part of Burwood’s heavyweight team this season with both the bat and the ball.

He’s the only player to make both this top 10 and our list of the top 10 batsmen of the season.

Wright has a very good average with a decent economy rate, and has taken three wickets on three occasions this season.

His best figures of 3/17 came in a loss to Epping on December 5.

Ryan Corns has been prolific so far this season for Burwood.

4. RYAN G CORNS (BURWOOD)

Stats: 50.1 Overs, 14 Wickets @ 15.21, 4.25 Economy Rate

It was hard to split teammates Wright and Ryan Corns, but Corns gets the nod in part to the extra wicket and the extra overs.

Corns has only had one bad outing this season (an 0/59 against Mt Pritchard-Southern Districts), and has been a wicket-taking machine.

His best figures where 4/42 against Warringah in the last match before the break, and has two other matches with three wickets.

Henry Evans has been Roseville's most efficient bowler in 2020/21, taking 12 wickets at a low average and economy rate. Picture: Supplied

3. HENRY J EVANS (ROSEVILLE)

Stats: 47 Overs, 12 Wickets @ 11.67, 2.98 Economy Rate

Henry Evans has a strong average, a stingy economy rate, and is ably carrying the attack for a side safely in the top six.

He’s bowled in six matches so far this season, and only once has failed to take a wicket.

His best figures of 4/29 came in round six against Strathfield, a match where he bowled the full 10 overs for the first time.

Lane Cove’s Ravi Ravi has been the standout pace bowler so far this season.

2. RAVI RAVI (LANE COVE)

Stats: 60.4 Overs, 14 Wickets @ 13.57, 3.13 Economy Rate

Ravi Ravi has been the best fast bowler so far this season, and is the first of our bowlers to have cracked 60 overs.

Has opened the bowling just about every week for Lane Cove, and taken a lot of wickets doing so.

His best figures of 5/16 (against Pennant Hills) are the best any bowler has achieved this season, and he’s also taken three wickets on two other occasions.

Danish Ahmed has been extremely effective with the ball this season for Epping, taking 14 wickets with an economy rate of just over two runs per over. Picture: Supplied

1. DANISH AHMED (EPPING)

Stats: 67.5 Overs, 14 Wickets @ 11.00, 2.27 Economy Rate

This was an easy decision. Danish Ahmed has bowled the most overs, has the best average, and the best economy rate in the competition.

He’s only failed to bowl the full 10 overs on two occasions this season, and only once failed to take a wicket.

Ahmed raced out of the blocks with nine wickets in his first three matches, including 5/43 against Lindfield. His wicket-taking has slowed down slight since then, but had back-to-back two-wicket performances before the break.