APS Cricket: Xavier College spinner Roland Murphy takes a seven-wicket haul on First XI debut

After not starting the summer in Xavier College’s First XI squad, a year 10 spinner took his chance to fill in by taking a seven-wicket haul on debut. His story leads our wrap.

Roland Murphy took a big haul playing for Surrey Hills last summer.

One game, one mention on the Xavier College honour board.

Year 10 off-spinner Roland Murphy has set the bar extremely high after an impressive APS cricket debut.

Murphy, who was originally not in Xavier’s First XI squad of 17, was called upon to be the firsts frontline spinner.

He grabbed his chance with both hands, capturing 7-84 and finishing an unbeaten batter in a tense close to the match.

Murphy took seven of Carey Grammar’s nine fallen wickets before helping Xavier Thorburn (78 not out) chase down the required 251.

“We knew he was good enough but thought he was fine playing 10A cricket,” Xavier College’s Director of Cricket David Kinsella said.

“We had an injury to our frontline spinner in the First XI squad of 17, which is why our opening bat and our captain bowled some offies.

“We wanted to make sure we had a specialist spinner and we thought ‘we had to pick Roland, he’s a wicket-taker’.

“He’s not fazed by the occasion, he wouldn’t have been very nervous, he’s the type of laid-back kid that nothing fazes him.”

Roland Murphy took a big haul playing for Surrey Hills last summer.

Kinsella said Murphy was one of many strong cricketers in Xavier’s year 10 program.

“We have got a couple of year 10 boys that are pretty talented,” he said.

“We hope to build a side around them moving forward, it can be luck of the draw with whoever comes to the school who likes cricket.

“Roland is definitely one of those boys that fit into that category.”

Elsewhere, Haileybury College continued its unbeaten run, defeating Wesley College.

Haileybury set Wesley 242 for victory before dismissing the hosts for 153 in the second innings.

Charlie Wigney snared 5-40 for Haileybury while Freddie Arnhold took 2-29 which included a wicket on the first ball of the innings.

Brighton Grammar star Alex Turner was just five runs shy of yet another century.

The left-hander cruised to 95 off 132 balls before being dismissed by St Kevin’s College’s Alfie Kidman.

Charlie Wood (57) was also among the runs as Brighton set St Kevin’s 228.

Joe Curtain – batting from no.9 – crunched 63 but St Kevin’s eventually lost by 12 runs.

A better-than-run-a-ball 71 from captain Sam Lalor guided Geelong Grammar to a commanding win over Melbourne Grammar.

Batting first, Lalor belted six sixes during his 60-ball stay.

Geelong Grammar set the hosts 232 and proceeded to bundle Melbourne Grammar out for 164.

Geelong College, meanwhile, defeated Scotch College in a canter, chasing down the required 147 in 66 overs with five wickets in hand.