FIRST XI: We reveal Toowoomba cricket’s best two-day players

STAR PLAYERS: The Chronicle runs the rule over our top batsmen, bowlers and all-rounders from every grade to select our Toowoomba Cricket First XI. Find out who made the team here.

Western Districts players celebrating a wicket. Picture: Kevin Farmer

CRICKET: The regular season of the TCI two-day season has come to an end, with the finals set to kick-off this weekend.

With some players making the XI for the first time, and others solidifying their place with continued good form we’ve named our regular season two-day 1st XI.

Batsmen

Luke Neale (Wests A-grade)

The captain has shown his class all season. Finishing with an impressive 342 runs at an average of 68.4, he hit a remarkable top score of 189. The best batsman across the TCI A-grade comp, Neale also pitched in with a handy eight wickets.

Luke Neale bats for Wests. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Wayne Hamlet of Northern Brothers Diggers. Photo: Contributed.

Wayne Hamlet (Northern Brothers Diggers C-grade)

The top run scorer across all grade cricket in Toowoomba this season, Hamlet ended the regular season with an astonishing 390 runs to his name. With an average of 65 and a top score of 136, he had a season to remember.

Anthony Guse (Northern Brothers Diggers C-grade)

Batting in tandem with fellow bash-brother Wayne Hamlet, Guse notched up 293 runs for the season at an average of 58.6. With a top score of 153 coming from four matches, he had a stellar season with the willow in hand.

Chris Smythe (Souths Reserve-grade)

The middle order batsmen had a hit and miss season with more than 60 per cent of his runs coming from one monster inning. Smythe scored 202 not out against Northern Brothers Diggers – he scored 302 runs in total across five matches.

All Rounders

Mark Alexander (Easts B-grade)

Fellow all-rounder and Easts B-grader Alexander had a very handy season. Across four matches he recorded 149 runs with an average of 49.67, and a top score of 103. Alexander chipped in with the ball as well taking 13 wickets at a 4.23 average, and snagged 6-12 for his best figures.

Kellie and Mark Alexander at the Sports Darling Downs Sports Stars of the Year dinner. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Adam Kerrigan (Easts B-grade)

The Easts all-rounder had a very respectable regular season. With bat in hand, Kerrigan totalled 229 runs across four matches with an average of 76.33, and a top score of 118. Kerrigan also took 10 polls at an average of 5.4, with his best figures reading 4-11.

Wicketkeeper

Matthew Nunn (Wests A-grade)

The most consistent keeper across the season, Nunn has provided a safe pair of hands behind the stumps. Taking a total of 10 catches and one stumping, he played in all five matches. Nunn also had a season high of four catches in a single inning.

Western Districts wicketkeeper Matthew Nunn. Picture: Kevin Farmer.

Bowlers

Shoeb Harun (Easts B-grade)

Harun has been the pick of the B-grade bowlers throughout the season, putting up some incredible numbers in the process. With 21 wickets to his name, coming at an average of 5.33 across five matches, his best figures for the season were 7-8.

Andrew Crooke (Uni C-grade)

Crooke had a stellar season with both bat and ball in hand. Taking 21 polls across five matches at an average of 5.19, his best figures for the season were 5-9. Crooke has an argument to be included as an all-rounder having scored 189 runs for the season with a high score of 116.

Sam Titterton bowls for Western Districts. Picture: Kevin Farmer.

Sam Titterton (Wests Reserve-grade)

With an incredible 26 wickets to his name, Titterton was the highest wicket-taker across all grades this season. Dismantling opposing batsmen with his pace deliveries, his wickets came at an average of 5.38. Across six matches, his best figures for the season were 7-19.

Robert Phillips (Uni C-grade)

Phillips had the best game of any bowler this year. With an insane spell across both innings against Souths, Phillips took 14-37. In total, he ended the season with 23 wickets at an average of 7 across his five matches.