North Qld Cricket Alliance Under-12 Carnival: Winners and losers, star performers
A four wicket haul helped North Queensland charge into the U12A final in unexpected circumstances on Monday. Meet the star performers, see the pictures and our teams of the day.
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North Queensland’s most talented under-12 cricketers have escaped the rain disruption in Cairns to make their mark on the representative calendar in Townsville.
Check in here each day to follow their progress as the star performers make their names.
Find the star performers and match reports from other regions by clicking on the competition name in the factbox below.
TUESDAY DECEMBER 19
Under-12A
In the final game of the tournament, Far North capped off a perfect run in Townsville against North Queensland,claiming four victories in four matches.
North Queensland won the toss and elected to bowl and managed to keep Far North score at 4-139 after 40 overs.
Cruz Johnston continues his stellar form with 49 runs from 91 balls, agonisingly close to a half-century. He continued his man of the match performance with the ball taking 3-11 and preventing them from reaching the target total by 35 runs (9-104 after 40 overs).
Central Queensland claimed bronze after defeating Mackay-Whitsunday by 61 runs. CQ U12A Mace Blackburn dominated with 6-16, while Riley Hermann starred with 62 runs from 84 balls.
Under-12A Team Of The Tournament
1. Riley Hermann, Central Queensland) 62 runs (84) and 4-8
2. Caleb North, Far North (47 runs not out off 103)
3. Cruz Johnston, (C) Far North - (73 runs off 111 and 3-11)
4. Jordan Bye, North Queensland (57 runs off 75 and 3-17)
5. Flynn Ryan, Mackay-Whitsunday (45 runs off 47 and 3-21)
6. Blaze Murphy, Far North (49 runs not out off 64)
7. Quade Cock, (WK) Central Queensland (39 runs off 79)
8. Mace Blackburn, Central Queensland (6-16)
9. Joshua Hamilton-Brown, North Queensland (4-10)
10. Noah Young, Central Queensland (4-26)
11. Angus Holt, Far North (4-29)
Under-12B
Mackay-Whitsunday won the toss and elected to bat in the final game of the tournament against Far North.
Connor Stephens (27 runs from 65 balls) and Mason Dickson (22 runs from 25 balls) were phenemonal giving their side a strong start before being bowled out for 166 runs.
With the contest in the air after the first innings, Spencer Faulkner stepped up with 3-26, while Connor Doolan, Jack Harriott and Leopold Murphy impacted with two wickets each to bowl Far North all out for a 129 run total.
In the bronze place playoff. Central Queensland’s Henry Houghton bashed 108 runs from 110 balls, combining with Jacob Bradford (55 runs from 66 balls) to lead their side to victory wver North Queensland with a 3-281 total. A target score North Queensland were unable to match finishing their innings all out for 168 runs.
Under-12B Team Of The Tournament
1. Hunter Towner, McKay-Whitsundays (33 runs off 32)
2. Henry Houghton, Central Queensland (108 runs not out off 120)
3. Shaun Riley, (C) Far North 141 runs (104 runs and 3-9)
4. Jacob Bradford, Central Queensland (55 runs off 66)
5. Xavier Stathooles, Central Queensland (39 runs off 72)
6. Spencer Faulkner, Mackay-Whitsundays (28 runs off 35 and 3-26)
7. Kyass Barba, Far North (34 runs off 29 and 2-19)
8. Cooper Stephen, McKay-Whitsunday (3-32 and 27* runs off 65)
9. Joe Robino, North Queensland (3-24)
10. Hudson Croxford, Far North (4-37)
11. Sam Costello, Far North (4-32)
MONDAY DECEMBER 18
Under-12A
North Queensland will contest the final of the under-12 A boys cricket carnival on Tuesday despite falling to Mackay-Whitsunday by a run.
Confusion reigned after the final ball with local mathematicians crunching the numbers with competition organisers to determine which team would face Far North in the decider.
The other three teams all finished 1-3, meaning run rate would become the deciding factor – but first Mackay-Whitsunday had to be docked 10 runs for a slow over rate.
North Queensland had copped the same penalty earlier in the match, blowing M-W’s score out to 160 after Joshua Hamilton-Brown claimed a four-wicket haul, however the final penalty transformed the 11-run loss a 1-run loss.
North Queensland’s batsmen couldn’t get set during their chase until Ashton Catalano came in at 6-75
and refused to leave, hitting 32 not-out and coming within 11 runs of tying the game with four balls remaining – when NQ’s final wicket fell.
But the calculations following the tight contest allowed North Queensland to finish second overall and they will play the undefeated Far North on Tuesday.
Meanwhile the Far North juggernaut rolled on – but it had to survive a scare.
73 runs from Cruz Johnson set the tone for a high-scoring match but none of his teammates came along for the ride and Far North only managed to set 149 – still its highest total of the carnival so far.
Central Queensland came out strong with opener Quade Cock hitting 39 runs as his team came within seven runs of victory.
Some players and team staff thought it was enough to make the final but after confirmation of the 10-run penalty to Mackay-Whitsunday, North Queensland were confirmed as second-placed.
Under-12A Team Of The Day
1. + Quade Cock, Central Queensland (39 off 79, 2 catches)
2. Cruz Johnston, Far North (73 off 111, 2-19 from 6)
3. Flynn Ryan, Mackay-Whitsunday (45 off 47, 1-11 from 5, 2 run-outs assisted)
4. Ashton Catalano, North Queensland (32 not-out off 43, 1 run-out assisted)
5. Sam Ritson, Central Queensland (21 not-out off 40)
6. Noah Young, Central Queensland (18 off 16, 4-26 from 8)
7. Angus Holt, Far North (4-29 from 7, 1 catch)
8. Joshua Hamilton-Brown, North Queensland (5 off 7, 4-10 from 6.4, 1 catch, 1 run-out assisted)
9. Alex Valmadre, Mackay-Whitsunday (2-10 from 3.1)
10. Lachlan Taylor North Queensland (7 off 19, 2-18 from 8, 1 run-out assisted)
11. Alex Slean, Central Queensland (6 off 22, 2-15 from 7)
Under-12B
Far North maintained its perfect record in the under-12 B carnival with a crushing 67-run victory over Central Queensland.
It was a combined effort from the Far North boys to set a total of 225 runs, though Shaun Riley coming in late and blasting 40 not-out off 19 was a highlight.
Central Queensland were 2-17 before they knew it and despite Xavier Stathooles settling in for 39 runs they couldn’t mount the comeback.
Chasing a large total, the North Queensland boys were bowled out for 119 – 67 runs short of the target set by Mackay-Whitsunday.
Spencer Faulkner was brilliant on both sides of the ball with a quick 28 off 35 before barraging North Queensland’s batters going 2-15 from four overs.
Logan Hague took a wicket and topscored for NQ with 21 runs.
Under-12B Team Of The Day
1. Seb Di Mauro, Far North (26 off 41, 1 run-out unassisted)
2. Kyuss Barba, Far North (34 off 29)
3. Xavier Stathooles, Central Queensland (39 off 72)
4. Spencer Faulkner, Mackay-Whitsunday (28 off 35, 2-15 from 4, 1 run-out unassisted)
5. Carter Peters, Far North (34 off 32, 1-10 from 3, 1 catch)
6. Shaun Riley, Far North (40 not-out off 19, 1-15 from 5, 1 catch)
7. Logan Hague, North Queensland (21 off 24, 1-19 from 7)
8. + Mason Dickson, Mackay-Whitsunday (8 off 19, 3-16 from 3, 1 catch)
9. Hudson Croxford, Far North (4-37 from 8)
10. Korbin Dibben, Mackay-Whitsunday (2-3 from 3, 1 catch)
11. Harry Bopping, North Queensland (2-26 from 6, 1 catch, 1 run-out unassisted)
SUNDAY DECEMBER 17
Under-12A
Far North captain Cruz Johnston remains unbeaten at the crease and as skipper after two matches at the North Queensland Cricket Alliance Under-12A competition.
Johnston enjoyed his finest performance of the carnival in an eight-wicket victory over rivals North Queensland on Sunday, hitting a composed 35 not-out off 61 deliveries and adding two catches, a stumping and two assisted run-outs as wicketkeeper.
Opener Caleb North survived the whole day to end on 47 not-out, hitting the matchwinning runs with a boundary.
North Queensland’s Lucas Morrish put up a fight with 30 from 74 balls but was the only bat in his side to fire, with his team bowled out for 94 in the 38th over of the 40-over match.
Darcy Alford was Far North’s leading performer with the ball, taking 2-13 from six overs.
Central Queensland cruised past Mackay-Whitsunday’s total of 125 runs with four wickets and 11 overs to spare.
Flynn Ryan scored a rapid 40 for MW in the first innings but could not find a partner to bat with.
Central’s Riley Hermann trigger a significant collapse, taking 4-8 from three overs to send Mackay from 3-104 to all-out for 125.
The second innings did not begin smoothly as CQ fell to 4-33 in the ninth over, with Emerson Baker taking three wickets in the second over of his spell.
Thomas Compagnoni (36no) and Alex Slean (25) put on a 37-run partnership to get their side out of trouble and into the winner’s circle for the first time this carnival.
Under-12A Team Of The Day
1. Caleb North, Far North (47no off 103; 1-10 from 5.0)
2. Sam Colless, Mackay-Whitsunday (16 off 28)
3. Flynn Ryan, Mackay-Whitsunday (40 off 31)
4. +Cruz Johnston, Far North (35no off 61; 2 catches, 1 stumping)
5. Lucas Morrish, North Queensland (30 off 74; 2-12 from 7.0)
6. Alex Slean, Central Queensland (25 off 46; 1 catch)
7. Thomas Compagnoni, Central Queensland (36no off 31; 1-16 from 3.0)
8. Emerson Baker, Mackay-Whitsunday (3-25 from 5.0; 1 run-out)
9. Riley Hermann, Central Queensland (4-8 from 3.0; 17 off 39)
10. Archer Wilkes, Central Queensland (2-16 from 5.5
11. Darcy Alford, Far North (2-13 from 6.0)
Under-12B
Far North’s Shaun Riley brought up his century by clearing the fence at Townsville’s Cutheringa Park in the finest innings of the youngster’s cricket career.
Riley raised the bat in 81 deliveries and accelerated from there, adding a further 38 runs in 22 balls to end on a career-high 141.
Far North’s 12As are undefeated after two games but Riley’s dominant display for the Bs hints that selectors may have got it wrong by leaving him out of the top side.
North Queensland’s wayward bowling conceded 70 extras - including 43 runs from no-balls - to enable Riley’s Far North team to close out the innings 4-277.
No U12B team was chasing at 6.95 an over for victory and Far North romped to a 150 run victory.
Sam Costello was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4-32 from 5 overs.
Jed Hancock (4-17) and Charlie O’Brien (3-19) helped Central Queensland defend its tally of 10-158 for a 41-run victory over Mackay-Whitsunday.
A solid team batting performance gave Mackay a target to chase and it proved enough as a sharp bowling performance from Hancock and O’Brien stopped the opposition short.
Under-12B Team Of The Day
1. Ashton Rockley, Far North (29 off 96)
2. Logan Hague, North Queensland (25 off 18)
3. Shaun Riley, Far North (141 off 104)
4. Isaac Keiler, Central Queensland (23 off 32)
5. +Mason Dixon, Mackay-Whitsunday (23 off 26; 2 catches, 1 stumping)
6. Matthew Liston, North Queensland (29 off 73)
7. Logan Hampson, North Queensland (22 off 19)
8. Jed Hancock, Central Queensland (4-17 from 6.0)
9. Sam Costello, Far North (4-32 from 7.0)
10. Charlie O’Brien, Central Queensland (3-19 from 4.5; 1 catch)
11. Joe Robino, North Queensland (3-24 from 7.0; 1 catch)
SATURDAY DECEMBER 16
Under-12A
North Queensland all-rounder Jordan Bye led his side to an eight-wicket victory over Central Queensland in the opening match of the North Queensland Cricket Alliance Under-12A representative carnival at Gill Park in Townsville.
Bye was the pick of North Queensland’s bowlers with figures of 3-17 from seven overs to help bowl out Central Queensland for 128.
Ashton Catalano (3-39) and Lucas Morrish (2-12) played strong supporting roles.
CQ No.8 Finlay Hall was his side’s finest performer with bat, entering the fray with his side at 6-49 in the 15th over.
SEE 60+ PHOTOS BELOW
Hall remained until the final over, topscoring with 39 to power his side to a defensible tally.
Two early wickets left North Queensland at 2-32 but a 97 run partnership between Bye (57no from 75) and Morrish (16 from 48) steered the replacement hosts to a comfortable win.
Far North wicketkeeper Blaze Murphy overcame a week of cyclone disruption to guide his team to its own eight-wicket victory over Mackay-Whitsunday.
A strong team bowling performance from Cruz Johnston (2-3), Lachlan Emerson (2-9) and Hugh Ferguson (2-17) held their southern rivals to 77 in the first innings, with just 53 runs scored from the bat.
Murphy (49no from 64) was the diesel engine driving the chase, opening the batting and remaining to hit the winning runs with a boundary in the 18th over.
Captain Johnston (15no from 31) came in with his side at 2-19 and stuck with Murphy in a matchwinning partnership.
Under-12A Team Of The Day
1. +Blaze Murphy, Far North (49no off 64; 1 catch, 1 runout)
2. Jordan Bye, North Queensland (57no off 75; 3-17 from 7.0)
3. Cruz Johnston, Far North (15no off 31; 2-3 from 3.0)
4. Lucas Morrish, North Queensland (16no off 48; 2-12 from 7.0)
5. Finlay Hall, Central Queensland (39 off 71)
6. Lachlan Bath, Mackay-Whitsunday (13 off 27)
7. Luan Liesching, Mackay-Whitsunday (12 off 7)
8. Jimmy Rogers, Mackay-Whitsunday (11 off 31)
9. Alex Slean, Central Queensland (1-16 from 5.4)
10. Ashton Catalano, North Queensland (3-39 from 7.0)
11. Lachlan Emerson, Far North (2-9 from 3.0)
Under-12B
Rain at Cutheringa Park in Townsville forced the opening round of play in the Under-12B division to be abandoned but not before two tightly contested first innings.
Central Queensland’s Orlando Acton (27ret. no), Henry Houghton (31), Xavier Stathooles (28 ret. no) and Jed Hancock (34no) had piloted CQ into a commanding position against North Queensland at 3-165 when rain began to fall in the 34th over.
Play would not resume.
A 33 from opener Hunter Towner (33) and 58 extras from the Far North bowling attack delivered Mackay-Whitsundays to its own imposing lead of 162 at the change of innings.
Rain denied Far North its opportunity to chase and the match was washed out.
Points were split in both matches.
Under-12B Team Of The Day
*Far North and North Queensland batting innings washed out
1. Orlando Action, Central Queensland (27 off 51)
2. Henry Houghton, Central Queensland (31 off 46)
3. Hunter Towner, Mackay-Whitsunday (33 off 32)
4. Xavier Stathooles, Central Queensland (28 off 45)
5. Jed Hancock, Central Queensland (34no off 38)
6. Mason Dickson, Mackay-Whitsunday (12 off 18)
7. Spencer Faulkner, Mackay-Whitsunday (17 off 27)
8. Sam Costello, Far North (3-18 from 8.0)
9. Carter Peters, Far North (3-30 from 8.0)
10. Shaun Riley, Far North (3-9 from 2.4)
11. Joe Robino, North Queensland (1-21 from 6.0)
IN PICTURES: NQ v CQ U12A
Originally published as North Qld Cricket Alliance Under-12 Carnival: Winners and losers, star performers