The latest AIC First XI cricket Team of the Week includes a comeback king from Laurie’s

Comeback king first chosen in the round 3 AIC First XI cricket Team of the Week which features players from seven schools.

Iona players enjoy a drinks break against St Peters on Saturday.

St Laurence’s College all-rounder Benjamin Stallman produced a man of the match performance to be first man picked in the latest AIC Team of the Week.

HOW ROUND 3 UNFOLDED

Stallman rescued the St Laurence’s innings with a hard hitting 47 not out from No.8, and then took 4-15 bowling medium pace last Saturday against St Edmund’s.

It was a triumphant moment for Stallman who first made his First XI debut three years ago as a Year 10 student.

But last year he succumbed to a bowling injury and missed First XI selection, although he did play in the Second XI as a specialist batsman.

Iona field a ball against St Peters on Saturday.

He has made up for lost time this season, culminating in his performance last weekend.

St Peters batsmen discuss tactics against the Iona attack.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

1.Christian Frederiksen (Villanova)

Frederiksen was the pillar of his team’s innings, batting deep into the day to make a fine 35 following his 78 in round one against St Peters. His reliability no doubt helped give his captain Finn Thallon the freedom to play his shots.

2. Oliver Goring (St Peters)

In a batting crisis Goring stood up to the Iona bowlers, flowing to 34 from 54 balls. The quality of his innings is emphasised when you consider the rest of the batsmen succumbed to Iona’s talented attack.

3. Max Halls (St Edmund’s)

Halls defied the St Laurence’s bowlers for most of the innings, and without his 50 the match would have been finished much earlier. He also claimed two established batsmen with the ball and took two catches during a busy day.

4. Finn Thallon (Villanova)

Thallon was the destroyer with both bat and ball, with the four season veteran of First XI cricket leading by example. He hit 51 from just 69 balls against Padua, and then claimed two early wickets when the new ball glistened. Fallon dismissed Padua’s No.2 and No.3 batsmen which disabled the Padua innings.

Ashgrove all-rounder Jack Watson. Picture courtesy of Denver Jensen.

5. Jack Watson (Ashgrove)

Watson helped prevent Marist from sliding to an upset loss after St Pat’s bowlers had their rivals down and almost out at 6-123. Watson batted calmly, pondering over 115 deliveries to resurrect the Ash innings alongside William Easter.

Ashgrove First XI captain Joey Laner. Picture courtesy of Denver Jensen.

6. Joey Laner (Ashgrove)

Laner ripped through the St Pat’s batting line-up to snare 5-16. Bowling straight, he sent rivals heading back to the dressing room before most of them had time to work up a sweat. Laner also scored a handy 19, but his 6.1 bowling spell was devastating.

7. Benjamin Stallman (St Laurence’s)

Stallman was magnificent with bat and ball – and he needed to be to ensure his side doused a spirited performance by St Edmund’s. St Laurence’s were a nervous 4-53, and then at 6-89 Stallman started to impact the match with his 47 not out. With the ball, the Year 12 medium pace bowler claimed 4-15 as Eddies’ fell 37 runs short.

While the accurate Stallman can take new ball wickets with the seam, he is just as effective with the old ball.

Padua College player Ryan Out contributed with bat and ball. Picture, John Gass

8. Ryan Out (Padua)

A big hearted performer for Padua, the young spinner bowled beautifully to help restrict Villa after Finn Thallon had got his side off to a thrilling start. He took 1-20 from 10 overs, dismissing stoic Villa opener Christian Frederiksen who had set himself to bat through the innings. Out then top scored with a gutsy 42 in an collapsing innings.

9. Andrew Dickie (Villanova)

While Finn Thallon nipped the top off the Padua innings, leg spinner Dickie stormed through the middle order to take 4-23 from nine overs. His victims included Padua’s two best batsmen, Adam Noon (27) and Ryan Out (42), who were not giving their wickets away.

10. Flynn Donnelly (Iona)

The Year 11 medium pace bowler had a day out against St Peters, claiming 4-16. He did just enough with the ball, with three of his victims claimed by gloveman Lachlan Smith and the other trapped LBW.

James Turner took 1019 from 10 overs for Iona.

11.James Turner (Iona)

Leg-spinner Turner was a high class support bowler who complemented his team’s swing and seam attack. He claimed 1-19 from 10 overs and the wicket taking Donnelly would have been grateful to have him building pressure from one end.

Special mentions

St Edmund’s bowlers Samuel Morris (1-18) and Rylan McDonald (1-27) unsettled St Laurence’s batsmen early with tight bowling which set a high standard in the field.

Hayden Robinson (St Edmund’s) felt the wrath of St Laurence’s hard hitting all-rounder Stallman, but he still claimed three wickets, including two important top order scalps.

Lachlan Smith claimed three catches from Donnelly and deserves a special mention.

Jacob Bingham (St Laurence’s) took 1-24 from 10 overs and contributed to the pressure inflicted by Stallman with another outstanding performance across two spells.

William Easter (Ashgrove) was the aggressive player in an innings changing partnership alongside Jack Watson, making 31 not out from 37 balls after Ash were in trouble. He also claimed 0-10 from five overs.

Adam Hogan (St Patrick’s) is a young leg spinner who bowled with tremendous control against the Ashgrove top order. He bowled 10-1-30-2.

Carter McSweeney (St Patrick’s) had a good day with a defiant 22 and also 1-35 when he bowled.

Quinn Walton (Padua) earns a special mention for his 2-30 that included the wicket of Finn Thallon.

Originally published as The latest AIC First XI cricket Team of the Week includes a comeback king from Laurie’s