J.G Craig Shield: Billy Rayner, Jobe Fraser among top performers

It’s been an exciting start to the J.G Craig Shield with the competition now pass the halfway mark. Here are the top performers so far.

The J.G Craig Shield is officially past the halfway mark after the round 4 action was completed on Thursday.

There have been a number of impressive performances from young cricket stars across the opening rounds as they prepare to aim for a place in the finals series.

Here’s a look at the top performers across the competition so far.

TOP RUN SCORERS

210 - James Rosham, Kew

207 - Aaron D’Souza, Moorabbin

193 - Santhosh Ramireddy, Williamstown

184 - Luke Ivanovic, Croydon

179 - Ranbir Singh, Ormond

178 - Jobe Fraser, Malvern

177 - Shehzad Singh, Donvale

174 - Max Parrott, Ormond

170 - Charles Smith, Malvern

161 - Thisura Sooriyaarachchi, Ivanhoe

LEADING WICKET TAKERS

11 at 5.55 - Lachlan Watson, Altona

11 at 6.09 - Jayvier Virk, Spotswood

11 at 8.27 - Zac Disney, Box Hill

10 at 4.9 - Luke Gilham, Williamstown

10 at 6.1 - Leo McRobert, Ivanhoe

10 at 8.5 - Billy Rayner, Croydon

9 at 6.67 - Japjeet Khaira, Preston

9 at 7.4 - Rehan Sharma, Taylors Lakes

9 at 10.33 - Camdyn Jones, Croydon

8 at 3 - Riyan Bhasin

8 at 7.25 - Josh Thomas, Bayswater

8 at 12.25 - Thomas Baron, Elsternwick

ROUND 4 REVIEW

Young cricketers are continuing to put on a show in the J.G Craig Shield.

In Thursday’s action, Spotswood captain Jayvier Virk put together the tournament’s third century with 104 runs from 102 balls in his side’s narrow loss to Melton.

The Williamstown Colts junior also showed off his ability with the ball after finishing with 2-28 from nine overs.

His form has been impressive throughout the week having recorded a 50 not out against Yarraville while taking seven wickets across the previous two matches.

Coburg youngster Xavier Grant was unfortunate not to finish with a century in his side’s win over Coburg after he was dismissed on 98.

Kew’s James Rosham was the other player to make it to the 90s finishing unbeaten on 96 in his side’s win over Plenty Valley.

The best bowling figures of the day belonged to Altona’s Lachlan Watson who finished with 5-11 in his side’s convincing win over Yarraville.

Caulfield’s Joshua Bridges (5-20) was the other player to claim a five-for in Thursday’s action.

Meanwhile, Taylors Lakes and Williamstown played out a thriller at Lionheart Reserve.

Taylors Lakes claimed 6-2 to snatch the unlikeliest of victories and run out four-run winners.

ROUND 4 TOP SCORERS

104 - Jayvier Virk, Spotswood

98 - Xavier Grant, Coburg

96* - James Rosham, Kew

80 - Rupptaz Kharoud, Brunswick

75 - Aajil Maredia, Mt Waverley

ROUND 4 TOP BOWLING PERFORMANCES

5-11 - Lachlan Watson, Altona

5-20 - Joshua Bridges, Caulfield

4-5 - Devasses Brar, Taylors Lakes

4-11 - Thomas Baron, Elsternwick

4-19 - Charlie Taylor, Coburg

ROUND 4 RESULTS

EAST: Balwyn 5-120 def. Bayswater 98; Donvale 8-185 (Abhikaran Chhina 58) def. Box Hill 77; Croydon 7-197 (Jack Childs 69) def. Noble Park 167; Mt Waverley 2-175 (Aahil Maredia 75, Hayagriv Malichetty 51no ) def. Endeavour Hills 8-171 (Jishan Lizanage 60).

NORTH: Brunswick 5-206 (Rupptaz Khasoud 80) def. Strathmore 85; Coburg 7-174 (Xavier Grant 98) def. St Bernards 9-124; Kew 6-222 (James Rosham 96no) def. Plenty Valley 179 (Anagha Bhan 51); Preston 9-115 (Anthony Grobler 54) def. Ivanhoe 114.

SOUTH: Malvern 0-175 (Jobe Fraser 67ret, Charles Smith 51ret) def. Moorabbin 115 (Aaron D’Souza 50); Elsternwick 104 (Joshua Bridges 5-20) def. Caulfield 97 (Thomas Baron 4-11); Brighton 9-136 (Thomas Merry 56) def. Oakleigh 69; Ormond 7-256 def. Port Melbourne 6-118.

WEST: Altona 6-148 def. Yarraville 59 (Lachlan Watson 5-11); Taylors Lakes 80 def. Williamstown 76, Werribee 6-138 (Viraaj Aulakh 59) def. Hoppers Crossing 9-134, Melton 4-167 (Ayman Zawahir 52) d Spotswood 165 (Jayvier Virk 104no).

ROUND 3 REVIEW

The J.G Craig Shield has its first two centuries of the 2023 competition.

Malvern’s Jobe Fraser, who also plays his junior cricket for Yarrawonga Mulwala, hit 109 runs from 107 balls as his prevailed in a comfortable win over Caulfield.

Fraser’s 138-minute stay at the increase showcased power and precision as he finished with 14 boundaries and four 6s in an impressive knock as his side reached 7-239 from its 45 overs.

His innings came after a move to the top of the order having come in at three in the opening two games of the competition.

Jobe Fraser, who is from Yarrawonga Mulwala, and representing Malvern in the J.G Craig Shield hit a century. Photo: Facebook.

Meanwhile, Williamstown had its fingerprints all over Wednesday’s action as a young pair stole the show in their side’s 17-run over Werribee in warm conditions.

Santhosh Ramireddy hit an unbeaten 101 runs from 82 deliveries to continue his impressive start to the competition.

He registered a half-century in the opening game on Sunday against Melton.

His teammate Antone Herb finished with 4-10 to help Williamstown get on top in the contest.

The best figures of the day belonged to Croydon’s Billy Rayner who produced a bowling masterclass with x-xx to help his side across the line against Endeavour Hills.

ROUND 3 TOP FIVE RUN SCORERS

109 – Jobe Fraser, Malvern

101 - Santhosh Ramireddy, Williamstown

77 - Thisura Sooriyaaratchi, Ivanhoe

76 – Luke Bellingham, Croydon

76 – James Rosham, Kew

ROUND 3 BEST BOWLING FIGURES

4-10 – Antone Herb, Williamstown

4-16 Jayvier Virk, Spotswood

4-16 – Billy Rayner, Croydon

3-3 – Hayden Kenny, Kew

3-6 – Max Kondogiannis, Kew

ROUND 3 RESULTS

EAST: Bayswater 7-152 (M O’Neill 50) def. Mt Waverley 9-149; Balwyn 2-96 def. Donvale 93; Noble Park 6-179 (Cooper Dornan 73) def. Box Hill 8-177; Croydon 9-27 (Luke Bellingham 76, Luke Ivanovic 51) def. Endeavour Hills

NORTH: Plenty Valley 5-157 (Prabhsimran Singh 64no) def. Ivanhoe 156 (Thisura Sooriyaaratchi 77); Kew 7-187 (James Rosham 76) def. St Bernard’s 44 (Hayden Kenny 3-3); Brunswick 3-137 def. Preston 115; Coburg 133 def. Strathmore 9-132.

SOUTH: Elsternwick 9-167 def. Brighton (Freddie Brayshaw 53); Oakleigh 1-68 def. Port Melbourne 45; Malvern 7-239 (Jobe Fraser 109) def. Caulfield 5-158 (Jujhar Singh 51no); Ormond 4-257 (Ranbir Singh 67no, Oscar Scott-Waters 59no) def. Moorabbin 8-108

WEST: Hoppers Crossing 5-166 (Shiven Mangan 56no) def. Yarraville 9-104; Spotswood 9-150 (Darcy Lamont 52) def. Altona 78 (Jayvier Virk 4-14); Williamstown 1-140 (Santhosh Ramireddy 101no) def. Werribee 123 (Antone Harb 4-10); Taylors Lakes 6-101 def. Melton 100.

ROUND 2 REVIEW

Round 2 of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association’s has produced a series of stunning displays on Tuesday.

Donvale’s Shehzad Singh produced the innings of the day narrowly falling short of a century in a 97-run knock against Plenty Valley.

Singh finished with eight 4s and five 6s in his sensational knock which included a 96-run partnership with Kaviru Balamanage who recorded his own half-century.

Donvale eventually ran out 101-run winners on the back of a dominant bowling display as Balamanage also produced a sensational bowling display to pick up two wickets.

In other top performances, Bayswater’s Josh Thomas tore through Croydon’s top order with the best figures of the day of 5-18 from just five overs.

Unfortunately, Thomas’ performance, which also included a run out, wasn’t enough as his side went down by 67 runs.

Meanwhile, Balwyn wicketkeeper Neel Malangi was impressive in his side’s loss to Box Hill taking three catches and completing two run outs.

Ormond’s 4-288 against Malvern was the top score of the day.

ROUND 2 TOP PERFORMERS

Batsman

97 — Shehzad Singh, Donvale

80 — Aaron D’Souza, Moorabbin

76 — Oscar Scott-Waters, Ormond

70 — Harry Austin, Mt Waverley

66 — Ranbir Singh, Ormond

Bowlers

5-18 — Josh Thomas, Bayswater

4-4 — Milun Fernando, Ivanhoe

4-6 — Jakey Pietz, Box Hill

4-15 – James Rosham, Kew

ROUND 2 RESULTS

EAST: Croydon 8-208 (Jack Childs 54, Josh Thomas 5-18) def. Bayswater 141, Box Hill 9-114 def. Balwyn 52 (Jakey Pietz 4-6), Donvale 4-226 (Shehzad Singh 97, Kaviru Balamanage 50) def. Endeavour Hills 124, Noble Park 9-162 (Gus Kennedy 56) def. Mt Waverley 158 (Harry Austin 70).

NORTH: Ivanhoe 4-154 (Christopher Oliver 50 no) def. St Bernards 93, Brunswick 171 def. Coburg 89, Plenty Valley 142 def. Preston 74, Kew 5-151 def. Strathmore 4-112.

SOUTH: Brighton 5-107 (Dylan Wells 33no) def. Caulfield 50 (Tom Merry (3-2), Ormond 4-288 (Oscar Scott-Waters 76) def. Malvern 124 (Jack Hay 3-9), Elsternwick 8-167 (Hugh Lynch 43) def. Port Melbourne 113, Moorabbin 9-179 (Aaron D’Souza 80) def. Oakleigh 145 (William Forest 4-28).

WEST: Spotswood 4-137 (Jayvier Virk 50no) def. Yarraville 61, Melton 6-112 def. Werribee 110, Williamstown 9-184 (Madden Sadowy 57) def. Hoppers Crossing 74, Altona 7-122 def. Taylors Lakes 116.