AIC First XI cricket: Power rankings and the unsung heroes from all teams
Power rankings and the unsung heroes of all eight AIC First XI cricket teams ahead of a round which could decide the premiership.
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The AIC First XI cricket competition is down to the business end of the season with undefeated Iona College confronting arch rivals Villanova College in a local derby on Saturday.
Villanova have lost just one game and if they are victorious on home turf, the premiership race will be thrown wide open.
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If Iona win they will be in the box seat for the premiership. Iona play St Patrick’s in round seven.
With everything to play for, we reveal our power rankings for all eight teams as we head into the final two weeks of the season while shining a light on the competition’s unsung players.
Round 6 matches: Villa v Iona, Padua v St Peters, St Edmund’s v St Patrick’s, St Laurence’s v Ashgrove.
THE LADDER
1 Iona
2 Marist Ashgrove
3 Villanova
4 St Peters
5 St Laurence’s
6 St Patricks
7 Padua
8 St Edmunds
POWER RANKINGS
1. Iona
Iona have won four from four and are tracking towards a First XI premiership.
After last year’s heartbreak, the bayside boys have been brilliant all season - although we were starved of the round three blockbuster against Ashgrove due to bad weather.
Iona started the year with a rollicking 163 run win over St Laurence’s, then a clinical nine wicket win over St Edmund’s. Iona then captured two more wins to head into round six with their tails up.
They beat Padua by 112 runs and then St Peters, who upset Ashgrove a week prior, by nine wickets.
Some of Iona’s highlight performances have included:
+ Openers Liam Carter (70) and Joshua Ritchie (112) in a first round batting master classs against St Laurence’s.
+Harley Malpass (61), Nicholas Bragger (59) and James Turner’s (9.1-0-47-4) brilliance in the same game.
+ Clancy Muniandy and James Turner’s superb bowling performance in round two when they snared four wickets each.
+ Liam Johns’ 76 not out from just 30 balls in a blistering batting display against St Edmund’s.
+Joshua Ritchie (66), Toby Collins (61) and Clancy Muniandy (40) with epic knocks to beat Padua at home. In that game, Callum McKeon was king at the bowling crease (8-0-23-3).
+ Harley Malpass’ AI bowling (10-2-25-3) against St Peters last weekend followed by a fantastic partnership between Liam Carter (46*) and none other than Malpass himself (112*).
2. Villanova
One of the big risers this week as they continue their climb to the premiership.
Villanova started the season with a loss to Ashgrove, but since then have tallied three strong wins over St Patrick’s, St Edmund’s and Padua.
Now at full strength, Villanova players face their biggest test when they collide with the last undefeated team in Iona.
If they win, a three-way-premiership between Ashgrove, Iona and Villanova looks possible - although Villanova would have to defeat St Peters in the final round which won’t be easy.
Villanova hit their straps last weekend in a 118 run win over Padua, where Mitchell Francis (33 not out, two wickets), Ollie Chalmers (36), Zac Joyce (34), Finn Thallon (41) Roman Dunne (85) and Ned Godwin (three wickets) featured strongly.
They couldn’t be more prepared to welcome bayside rivals Iona onto Andrew Slack Oval on Saturday, especially with Ned Godwin on a hot streak with the ball (seven wickets in two games).
3. Marist
Last year’s premiers would be disappointed with their round four loss against St Peters which came after a washout against recent time rivals Iona.
But like all good teams do, Ashgrove bounced back and returned to the winners column, by way of a 169 run win over St Patrick’s.
Ashgrove’s young veterans Will Nickelson, Sam Lewis and Louis Morris have all lived up to the hype this season with Nickelson scoring runs and taking catches behind the stumps.
Morris has been sensational with both bat and ball, while Lewis has done a tremendous job starving batters of runs with Morris.
Opening batter Frank Piper has been consistent against the new ball, Year 11 all-rounder Joey Laner has taken his game up a level after bursting onto the scene last year, and new faces like Flynn Cleary, Archie Murray, Will Easter and Jack Watson have impressed.
Ashgrove will take a grand final approach to this weekend’s clash against St Laurence’s because, provided other results fall in their favour, a win is required to stay in the premiership race.
4. St Peters
It was a toss up between St Peters and St Laurence’s for fourth spot on the rankings but we went with St Peters because of their Pink Day victory over Ashgrove.
It was the first time the Saints First XI had beaten Ashgrove and what a day to break the duck.
In that gripping 17 run win, Ashish Neredumilli and Sritam Sai Vytla (four wickets each) were bowling heroes.
Openers James Nelson and Liam Bahemia have been ultra consistent with the bat, while Noah Johnson (No. 3 bat) and bowlers Hugo Kelly, Lars Sagorski and Austin Kroll have been solid.
They are still alive in the premiership race.
5. St Laurence’s
Like Villanova, St Laurence’s have been getting into their groove and are finding their feet in the competition this season.
After suffering two losses to start the season, St Laurence’s came back from the bye week with vengeance, winning two from two to head into a clash against Ashgrove in good form.
Aiden Mohr has been on a tear as of late, notching scores of 35 and 86 in his last two games. Meanwhile Daniel Gray (71), Thomas Stenhouse (57 followed by 32 not out) and Lachlan Wigan (10-3-21-3) were flying.
It’s worth noting the rain was a prominent factor in the school’s round two DLS loss at the hands of St Peters.
6. St Patrick’s
St Patrick’s lone win came in round one over Padua and since then have struggled.
But no other team in the competition has had to deal with losing one of Queensland’s brightest junior cricketing prospects.
St Patrick’s have been without batting ace Steve Hogan who is playing first grade club cricket with Sandgate-Redcliffe on the weekends. Picking up the baton has been Steve’s younger brother Adam who has picked up wickets regularly across the season.
The Bullock brothers Lewis (opening batter) and Alexander (right arm paceman) have been strong, as have the Tsingos boys, Austin (top order batter) and Theo (opening bowler).
Who could forget right arm fast bowler Matthew Pereira who has been destructive in his first and second spells.
7. Padua
Padua are yet to capture victory, but the side will be no pushovers against St Peters on Saturday.
They are more than capable of causing an upset and the Saints will be treading carefully at Banyo.
Some of Padua’s best moments this season have included:
+ Sameer Prasad’s wonderful bowling against Ashgrove in round two. He finished with figures of 9-0-26-3.
+Cameron Plackett’s new ball bowling and top order batting.
+Will Tozer’s impact with both bat and ball.
8. St Edmund’s
St Edmund’s haven’t had its best season in terms of results, but there have been multiple positives along the way.
Aside from the team’s general effort in all areas, No. 3 bat Patrick Albion has been strong (40 not out in round one) while opening bowler Rylan McDonald has been a shining light.
He has snared wickets with the new ball while the emergence of all-rounder Max Halls has been another highlight.
UNSUNG HEROES
Iona College
James Turner
The Year 10 student is an excellent young prospect who, when he made his debut earlier this season, took four wickets in his first match. But no less surprising was his impact as a great team man.
“James is always running water and always providing support to all our players,’’ said Iona First XI coach Wayne Niven.
In fact, in the first game against St Laurence’s, Turner actually provided water for one of the opposition bowlers who was cramping up late in the innings.
“He initially ran the water in this instance to one of our set batters but when he saw the Laurie’s bowler cramping, he instinctively offered that player the water,’’ Niven explained.
Turner’s debut almost came last season when he was in Year 9, but he dislocated his spinning finger during the final training session.
The wait has been worth it - on and off the field.
Nicholas Bragger
Iona College Assistant Head of Sport (Acting) Anthony Bannerman was astounded by Bragger’s dedication to playing both First XI AFL and cricket for Iona.
“His unwavering work ethic and commitment to Iona sport has led him to be co-captain for the AFL team,’’ said Bannerman.
“Backing it up the next day, he plays a pivotal role in First XI cricket also commendable, inspiring teammates, proving what it means to be an Ionian.’’
St Laurence’s College
Aiden Mohr
An experienced player, Mohr has been invaluable filling a number of different roles over the past few seasons. He is an aggressive batsman in the middle order and also a part time off spin bowler, both of which were important cogs in the Laurie’s side.
“Aiden generally supplies most of the on field motivation and energy in the field,’’ said First XI coach Cameron Wigan.
Padua College
Ryan Out
The Year 10 off spinner has been an eye-catching development player this season who has earned recognition.
In round 1, attempting to defend a low score, Out bowled beautifully and gave his side some hope, taking 2-15 from 10 overs.
Sameer Prasad
Sameer Prasad was not intimated in his round 2 clash against premiers Marist.
The opening bowler and Year 11 student troubled the top order with his outswing, taking 3-26 from nine overs.
He has been on the money.
Marist College Ashgrove
Joey Laner
Ashgrove continued its tradition of berthing brilliant Year 10 talent when Joey Laner made his debut last year.
In the past Ashgrove has had the likes of Tom Collier, Cooper Mackie, Jack O’Neill and Jacob Kumaru make their First XI debuts as Year 9 and 10 students.
Then there were spin bowlers Lewis and Morris and in 2023 it was a Year 10 pacemen Laner.
The right armer opens the bowling and bats in the middle order, where he hit a season best 60 in the first game against Villanova.
He will be crucial to Ashgrove’s success next year in his final year of schooling.
St Peters
Isaac Krause
A Year 10 player who always gives everything he has to training and playing, Krause is St Peters best fielder.
He can create opportunities through his athleticism and ability to read the game, and his safe hands ensure he is a valuable team member who will only get better as the years progress.
“He is a country kid who is always genuinely trying to get better and is the first to offer assistance to set up and pack up at training,’’ praised coach Andy Richards.
“His attitude is infectious and I would like to have 10 others like him.’’
Richards described him as living by the squad’s program ethos of “humble, hungry, smart”.
Villanova
Zac Joyce
Young veteran Joyce has been influential for Villanova, opening the batting and bowling 10 overs a game at times.
If he doesn’t get a start with the bat, he bowls economically and picks up a wicket or two.
He has also been elite in the field.
St Edmund’s
St Edmund’s have had a turbulent season, and throughout Rylan McDonald has offered strong middle order batting to go along with his new ball bowling.
Around him Max Halls and Patrick Albion have been solid at the batting crease.
Originally published as AIC First XI cricket: Power rankings and the unsung heroes from all teams
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