Queensland Junior Cricket: Stars, stat-kings of U16 Boys Metro Carnival revealed

Queensland Junior Cricket: Stars, stat-kings and game-breakers of U16 Boys Metro Carnival revealed here.

Queensland’s next wave of representative cricketers were on show this week at Wynnum-Manly District Cricket Club during the U16 Boys Metro Carnival.

MSW proved the top team, taking out the grand final match against the Gold Coast with a convincing 78-run-victory.

See which players shone across the week of action below.

In the grand final between MSW and the Gold Coast, Brisbane Boys’ College student Christian Alexander produced a giant-killing effort.

Alexander, with the help of Blake Armstrong and Lachlan Moore on the opposite end, snared six wickets in less than 10 overs.

This came after the young gun made 39 opening the batting, displaying nerves of steel in a grand final.

U16 BOYS METRO TOP EFFORTS ON DAY THREE/ FINALS

BRISBANE NORTH

Isaac Paine put in a dominant performance for the Bears in both matches, scoring a dashing 71 runs in Round 3. He came out on top with his brilliant bowling performance in both matches, taking three wickets with an economy of 2.35.

MSW

Christian Alexander took his team past the winners post by taking eight wickets in Round 3 and finals, destroying the Dolphins U16 batting line-up.

Alex Walduck impressed with his temperament and a rock-solid 70-run innings in the finals, helping his team to victory.

GOLD COAST

Cooper Turner single-handedly took his team’s score to 179 by scoring a half-century, hitting some beautiful shots during his batting, and taking three wickets in the finals to cap off a stellar campaign.

BEARS

Atharva Chatrapati had a cracking performance in both Round 3 and Finals, taking five wickets.

U16 BOYS METRO TOP EFFORTS ON DAY TWO

Blake Armstrong.

MSW

On day two of the championships MSW had no shortage of standout performers.

Christian Alexander and Blake Armstrong began the batting innings in style with 62 and 37 respectively, hitting nine fours and four sixes between them.

Ryan Atley, a BBC First XI selection, then warmed his engines for the GPS season with a marvellous 107 with the bat.

His century featured 11 boundaries.

Following in Atley’s footsteps was Rushi Kakkad (69, 62 balls) and Alex Walduck (441*, 34 balls), notching 342 runs for MSW in a batting blitz.

Jagmeet Singh

Singh was on song at the bowling crease, cashing in for three wickets at 2.12 runs an over.

BEARS

Harry Morton

Morton had a captain’s knock of 58* on day two of the championships.

He played within himself, letting the wide ones go and pouncing on the ones that were there for him.

He faced 77 balls and enjoyed in various partnerships.

Alexander Smith (40) and Noah Ebeling (34) scored well in the loss against MSW.

BRISBANE NORTH

Luke Sentance and Lewis Bullock

Sentance scored 28 opening the batting while No. 8 Bullock showed fight with 28 runs late in the game.

GOLD COAST

Patrick Eveleigh

Eveleigh scored a crucial 41 from 46 opening the batting for the Gold Coast.

It was a match where ever run counted and Eveleigh’s efforts against the new ball, paired with the work of Ellis McCarthy (29) and Campbell Dixon (34), was enough to keep Brisbane North at bay.

Riley Eckersley (6.1-3-11-2), McCarthy (4-0-15-2) and Lachlan Mulcahy (3-1-7-2) made sure of victory with fine efforts with the ball.

U16 BOYS METRO TOP EFFORTS ON DAY ONE

MSW

Blake Armstrong and Christian Alexander

University of Queensland were the Taverners Queensland Boys Under 17 premiers.

Members of the premiership winning University of Queensland Taverners side, Armstrong and Alexander were at it again with a 84 run first innings partnership.

Armstrong, a batting prodigy, scored 59 while Alexander scored 30, getting MSW to the dream start on day one.

Alexander also took three wickets in four overs on day one.

Rushi Kakkad

The Wests Taverners player scored a half century on day one at run-a-ball pace.

Shlok Dani

Dani snared three wickets in a brilliant first spell on day one. Then Lachlan Moore joined the party to collect four wickets in an economical 10 overs where he leaked 33 runs.

BRISBANE NORTH

Isaac Nixon

On day one, Nixon was the pick of the bowlers with a three-wicket-effort a tremendous effort against a strong MSW outfit.

Dominic Scott

On day on Scott scored 56 runs at No.8.

He came in under a world of pressure and with Isaac Paine (41, 42 balls), Brisbane North resurrected their innings and put on 170 before being bowled out.

BEARS

Lachlan Buckle

Buckle had a blast with the bat on day one, scoring 55 in a gritty knock where he hit four fours and a six in 78 balls.

It was even more impressive considering two of his teammates were dismissed for naught before he went out to bat.

GOLD COAST

Ellis McCarthy

Queens vs. Surfers Paradise (batting) Ellis McCarthy. 18 November 2023 Southport Picture by Richard Gosling

McCarthy was masterful with the ball on day one, snaring four wickets in nine overs while going for just 1.44 runs an over.

He was a game-breaker in Gold Coast’s four wicket victory over the Bears.

Ayaan Khan

Talk about a game-breaker. This bloke scored a critical 49* which flew the Gold Coast to safety when the Bears had the upper hand.

Khan had other ideas and his unbeaten 49 was the key to victory.

Originally published as Queensland Junior Cricket: Stars, stat-kings of U16 Boys Metro Carnival revealed