Taverners Queenland Under-17s: Cricket top guns from round three revealed; Dolphin Luke Ward dazzles to inspire victory

Taverners Qld Boys: The elite Under-17 cricket competition continued to unearth next-up stars and here the top performers are uncovered. Catch up on round three.

The Gold Coast and University of Queensland will enter round four undefeated following wins on Sunday in the Taverners Queensland Under-17s cricket competition.

Gold Coast batsmen Luke Ward (64, 87 balls) was key in his team’s away victory over Valleys while Lachlan Moore, Blake Armstrong, Tom King and Harry Langdon took wickets in University’s commanding nine wicket win over Norths.

The top performers from all six round three matches are uncovered below.

TAVERNERS TOP GUNS FROM ROUND THREE

Western Suburbs 10-214 def South Brisbane 10-158

Sohaan Sharma (Wests)

What a start to the season Sohaan Sharma has had.

The Wests opener elevated his batting average to a whopping 74.67 with an influential 85 runs on Sunday.

He hit 11 boundaries and put on a 116 run partnership alongside Rushi Kakkad.

Rushi Kakkad (Wests)

Kakkad took his time and added an important 48 runs to the total.

South Brisbane bowler Luke Herrmann starved him of his first half century but Kakkad’s efforts with Sharma at the other end paved the way to victory for Wests.

Ishaan Sandhu (Souths)

The Southport School First XI cricketer Ishaan Sandhu.

Sandhu was hard to stop for the second successive week.

After a telling knock of 44 the week prior, batting opener Sandhu (51) dug deep to produce a half century.

He put away six boundaries and against a deep bowling line-up, he weathered the storm very well.

Lenny Henry (Souths)

Henry had another crack at No. 6 scoring 31 from 42 balls.

Although he would be just as well suited higher up in the order, Henry has quickly found himself a home as a dangerous middle order batsmen capable of getting runs in a flash.

His unbeaten 31 followed a quickfire 29 in round one.

Shlok Dani (Wests)

The Wests vice-captain left his mark when producing 19 runs and then three wickets.

Dani went for just 1.2 runs an over and dismissed Souths skipper Dushyant Thaman which was a big moment in the match.

SPECIAL MENTIONS

+Souths bowler Dushyant Thaman was excellent snaring four of the first five wickets in the field.

+Wests quick Luke Mayer’s 10 overs were spot on. He finished with figures of 10-2-29-2 (overs-maidens-runs-wickets).

Wynnum-Manly 6-224 def Toombul 10-128

Hayden Hamilton (Wynnum-Manly)

Who is going to stop Hayden Hamilton?

The gun all-rounder has already amassed 228 runs with three half centuries giving his team their best chance to win early on this season.

On Sunday the No. 3 batsmen entered the crease quickly after the early wicket of Josh Ritchie.

Proceedings could have gone one of two ways and lucky for the Sea Eagles, Hamilton (93, 128 balls) was in his zone.

Liam Stieper and Sasen Perera (Wynnum-Manly)

The Sea Eagles duo were on song and their efforts rewarded Hamilton and the likes with telling spells at the bowling crease.

Liam Stieper collected four wickets in just six overs, while Sasen Perera claimed the prized scalp of Jacob Orbell (30 runs), one of three wickets he took on the day.

Spencer Green (Toombul)

The consistent captain held up his end of the bargain and tried hard to take his team to victory.

He took 1-33 from 10 overs, Toby Collins (37) an important scalp of his in the context of the match.

With the bat in hand Green (26, 29 balls) looked on pace to get Toombul very close before Wynnum-Manly’s Shoubhit Jain struck.

SPECIAL MENTIONS:

+Wynnum-Manly opener Josh Cranston (26, 43 balls), No. 5 Toby Collins (37, 61 balls) and dynamic duo Ezra Wolfik and Kethmin Meegasdeniya (38 runs between them) who battled hard to move the Sea Eagles into the 200s.

+Toombul bowlers Jagmeet Singh and Charles Dale for their economical bowling.

+Wynnum-Manly No. 5 Toby Collins whose 37 run knock put a canyon between the two sides. He deserved another plug.

+ Wynnum-Manly spin bowling ace Kethmin Meegasdeniya who took a wicket and required just 12 deliveries to rack up 21 runs.

University of Queensland 1-103 def Northern Suburbs 10-102

Charlie Henderson (Norths)

With wickets falling like flies around him, No. 5 batsmen Charlie Henderson had nerves of steel that enabled him to produce a team high 33.

He was in there for the long haul, Henderson the final wicket to fall after University’s bowling blitz.

Harry Langdon and Lachlan Moore (Norths)

It was only a matter of time before Brisbane Grammar weapon Harry Langdon left his mark.

After bowling well for little reward in the opening two rounds, Langdon moved in to snare the first three wickets of the match and have Norths reeling at 3-17.

His bowling buddy Lachlan Moore moved in as well later on with his three wickets and involvement in a run out putting an end to the Norths innings.

Tom King (6-2-9-2) and Blake Armstrong (8-2-25-1) also took wickets in impressive spells.

Angus Storen (University)

Angus Storen during the Taverners Grand Final last season. Gold Coast V University of Queensland at Bill Pippen Oval.

The University opener will be giving the Norths bowlers nightmares this week after showing great poise, determination and of course, skill, in his unbeaten 48 run knock.

Storen saw his side to victory with two sixes and four boundaries sucking the life out of his rivals before reaching the total well before the 20th over.

Blake Armstrong (University)

Blake Armstrong. GPS First XI cricket between BBC v TSS. Saturday February 17, 2024. Picture, John Gass

What can’t he do?

The progression of Brisbane Boys’ College all-rounder Blake Armstrong continued at breakneck speed on Sunday when he claimed the scalp of Joey Laner (19), took a whopping four catches in the field and then belted an unbeaten 36 from 19 to power his side home.

He was elite.

SPECIAL MENTIONS:

+Norths all-rounder Joey Laner was game in a losing effort, the Marist College Ashgrove Year 11 snaring a wicket and producing 19 runs in the midst of a batting collapse.

Sunshine Coast 7-160 def Sandgate-Redcliffe 9-159

Tom Town (Sunshine Coast)

The Glasshouse Mountains was Town’s turf on Sunday.

He put on a masterclass, Town opening the bowling and landing a blow immediately when he removed Jack Southgate.

He struck again to dismiss Lachie Mills and then later on he picked up his third and fourth wicket which capped off an effective seven overs.

Banjo Seaniger (Sunshine Coast)

A young Banjo Seaniger batting for Darling Downs. Metropolitan West vs. Darling Downs. Queensland School Sport Championships 10-12 Boys Cricket State Championships. Tuesday. 17th Nov 2020. Picture: Nev Madsen

Toowoomba Grammar School spinner Banjo Seaniger took no prisoners at the weekend and his pressure bowling spun a web around the troubled Gators batsmen.

A high class Year 10 student, Seaniger took just one wicket but in an impressive feat, he leaked just seven runs across 10 overs.

He was unplayable.

Oscar Cawse (Sunshine Coast)

Maroochydore junior cricketer Oscar Cawse. Picture: Facebook.

Cawse had a similar impact on the match, his pressure bowling creating wickets for Town, Lachie Patterson and Charlie Kruger.

Cawse’s fantastic figures were 9-3-19-1.

Lakshdeep Singh (Sandgate-Redcliffe)

Lakshdeep Singh. Picture: Pat Hoelscher

His team hasn’t had the start they were after this season but Singh has shone bright in each outing.

The tricky leg spinner set a high standard, Singh claiming 2-21 off 10 overs with his wickets the first two to fall in the Scorchers innings.

Elijah Welsh (Sunshine Coast)

Glasshouse youngster Elijah Welsh.

Good things come to those who wait.

Welsh, the Scorchers opening batsmen, had starts of 13 and 23 in the opening rounds and this time he protected his wicket all the way to a crucial 53 runs.

Welsh was a supremo running between the wickets and his fierce determination against the Gators new ball bowlers was the difference.

SPECIAL MENTIONS:

+ Sandgate-Recliffe batters Jules McAllister (34) and Jullian Bass (25 not out) showed tremendous fight against an amped up Scorchers bowling attack.

+Sandgate-Redcliffe bowler Billy Connellan fought hard and was rewarded with three wickets.

+Sunshine Coast batters Malakai Pearce (24) and Will Dodunski (26 not out) contributed valuable scores in the run chase. Dodunski’s run-a-ball 26 was very influential in the final 10 overs when the game was hanging in the balance.

Redlands 5-183 def Ipswich 10-182

Tom Vaseo (Redlands)

Queensland Under-15s fast bowler Tom Vaseo.

The young Tiger let it roar again with two important top order wickets turning the tables early for his side.

Ipswich were going along nicely, 26 runs for no loss.

That was until Vaseo struck with back-to-back wickets to make it 2-26 and throw a spanner in the works.

He also ran out Jaxon Hohl which came at a good time.

Krrish Whala (Redlands)

Whala moved mountains for Redlands at the bowling crease.

He removed important Ipswich batter Daniel Craig (42) and leaked just 23 runs across his eight overs.

Daniel Craig (Ipswich)

Craig came in after Vaseo’s double had troubled the Hornets and he did well to form an innings with his partners at the other end coming in and out.

He scored 42 from 77 balls.

Pat Rose (Ipswich)

Rose above he did with both bat and ball.

Pat Rose bowled 9.2 overs on the money and prior to this he scored a team high 54 (87 balls) coming in at No. 7 with his team at sitting shakily shaky 5-79.

He worked hard running between the wickets with the bat and with the ball, although he didn’t get a wicket, he challenged hard.

Oscar Dioth and Rob McClure (Ipswich)

The bowling pair from Ipswich had 182 runs to work with and could not have done a better job.

Between them not one wide was bowled, four wickets were taken and 19 overs were produced.

They were on the money from the get go.

Riley Eckersley and Will Souter (Redlands)

Team captain Eckersley arrived at the middle with just shy of 150 runs left to get.

When he walked off, the war had been won and Eckersley’s unbeaten 56 was to thank.

His right hand man was vice-captain Will Souter who scored quickly for his 41.

The pair put on 73 runs to bounce Redlands back into the winners circle.

SPECIAL MENTONS:

+ Redlands opener Sree Bachu survived an early onslaught from the Ipswich bowlers and posted an essential 28 (51 balls).

+Redlands No. 5 batsmen Joe Parsons (33,47 balls) had an all-important innings, Parsons sharing in a timely 56 run partnership with Riley Eckersley.

Gold Coast 6-183 def Valley 10-181

Hugh Burke (Valley)

Burke’s 39 run blitz late in the Valley innings sparked life back into the side after the Gold Coast bowlers were on top for the majority.

He hit four fours and a six and with No. 9 Sam Drinnen (18) the pair put on an impressive 54 to head into lunch with hope.

Rhys Horne (Gold Coast)

The Southport Labrador Cricket Club all-rounder let rip on Sunday.

He bowled well for 1-25 off 10 overs and, with Luke Ward, ran out key Valley batter Ben Rothwell who had more to give.

Opening the batting, Horne hit 18 from 24 balls before Will Easter cashed in.

Sam Drinnen (Valley)

Drinnen battled hard at Yoku road, the No. 9 batter scoring 18 runs late in the piece before coming into the attack and taking two wickets when the Gold Coast closed in on the Valley total.

Drinnen’s bowling figures were 6-1-24-2 and he removed The Southport School top gun Jaxson Davies who was classy.

Luke Ward (Gold Coast)

No. 4 batsmen Luke Ward tormented his old team with a match defining knock of 64 from 87.

A young veteran of Taverners cricket, Ward hit six fours and after a shaky start by the Dolphins, he and Jaxson Davies steadied the ship and steered the side to victory.

Together Ward and Davies combined for 56, with Ward the most influential player from both sides on Sunday.

SPECIAL MENTIONS:

+Valley No. 4 batsmen Ben Rothwell showed his dependability again with a score of 35.

+Gold Coast bowler Cameron Sinfield was at his damaging best. He took 3-33 from 10 overs.

+ Dolphins bowler Lachlan Barnes claimed two important Valley wickets in a smart and effective five over spell.

+Valley bowlers Will Easter (2-44), Harry Morton (1-18) and Dan Desmet (1-30).

Originally published as Taverners Queenland Under-17s: Cricket top guns from round three revealed; Dolphin Luke Ward dazzles to inspire victory