Toowoomba Cricket: Top 10 TCI A-grade performances from round 5

Ranked: After another action-packed weekend of Toowoomba cricket, The Chronicle ranks the top 10 A-grade performances from round 5. See who made the list here.

The fifth round of the Toowoomba A-grade cricket season produced two classic matches as Wests held on to defeat Souths by one-run in a clash which went down to the final ball and Uni bowled Northern Brothers Diggers out on the second last ball to also claim a one-run victory.

At the Southern Cross Reserve, Met-Easts flexed their muscle as they cruised to a big win over Highfields.

Throughout the clashes, there were some stellar individual efforts with the bat and ball.

Check out our list of the top 10 individual performers from round 5.

Connor Philp bowls for Northern Brothers Diggers. Picture: Kevin Farmer

10. Connor Philp (Northern Brothers Diggers)

Philp continues to show his class with the ball as he took 3-34 off eight overs against Uni.

He also scored a handy 17 runs with the bat in the second innings but would be left to rue what could have been as his dismissal left the Dragons on the back foot at 6-113, needing 95 to win.

9. Noel Knight (Univeristy)

In a game decided by the barest of margins, Knight helped University hold on for victory as he took 3-38, which included the prized wicket of Aidan Watterson, who was looking strong before his dismissal.

Brian May bats for Wests.

8. Brian May (Western Districts)

After a couple of early dismissals, May helped steady the ship for Wests with his fine 42 off 79.

The Warriors batter came in at 1-7 and eventually departed after leaving his mark at 7-157.

Tim Sullivan bats for Northern Brothers Diggers. Picture: Kevin Farmer

7. Tim Sullivan (Northern Brothers Diggers)

Sullivan was very nearly the hero for Northern Brothers after his solid 40 runs off 47 balls.

The Dragons were under the pump early at 4-69 but Sullivan almost dragged his side over the line.

6. Hunter Payne (University)

Payne came up clutch for Uni as he took 3-39, including the wicket of Sullivan in the final over to help his side claim a one-run win.

With two balls left in the game, Uni needed one wicket to win, while Northern Brothers needed two runs to win and one to tie it.

Payne held his nerve to dismiss the in-form Sullivan to claim a thrilling victory for his side.

Ben Brocherie bats for Metropolitan-Easts. Picture: Kevin Farmer

5. Ben Brocherie (Met-Easts)

Brocherie’s strong run of form continued as he carried his bat to victory with an unbeaten 50 off 46 balls.

The Met-Easts captain hit five fours and two sixes on the way to an eight-wicket win with more than 20 overs to spare.

4. Tully Willson (University)

Willson led from the front with a classy 59 off 66 balls against the Dragons which included seven boundaries.

3. Hayden Campbell (Met-Easts)

For the second week in a row, Campbell claims third spot on this list after his lethal spell with the ball.

Campbell took 4-24 off seven overs as his side restricted Highfields to 7-139 after 40 overs.

2. Gurnoor Singh Randhawa (Souths)

Randhawa scored a mesmerising 70 runs off 99 balls at the top of the order for the Magpies.

With wickets falling around him, the Souths opener held his nerve to help his side post a competitive total batting first.

Northern Brothers Diggers' Aidan Watterson. Photo: Kevin Farmer.

1. Aidan Watterson (Northern Brothers Diggers)

Watterson was immense with bat and ball as he finished with figures of 4-41 and scored a rapid 46 runs off 38 balls.

His quickfire 46 included seven fours and one maximum as he operated at a blistering strike-rate of 121.05.

Round 4

The fourth round of the Toowoomba A-grade cricket season saw batters take full flight with two players reaching a ton and another falling agonisingly short.

In the match between two of the in form sides at the moment, Northern Brothers Diggers outclassed Souths Magpies to claim a four-wicket win with seven overs to spare, while Western Districts survived an early scare to defeat Highfields and Met-Easts put University to the sword.

Check out our list of the top 10 individual performers from the weekend

10. Jacob Fry (Met-Easts)

Fry finished the game on a high as he took 3-28 and ripped through the University tail to seal victory for the Trojans.

9. Ruvith Karunarathne (Souths)

With the Magpies in all sorts of trouble at 9-105, Karunarathne came in at number 11 and combined for a 42-run final wicket stand to give his side a glimmer of hope headed into the second innings.

He was then a force to be reckoned with as he spearheaded the Magpies’ attack with three scalps in the second innings.

Ultimately, his efforts were not enough as Northern Brothers claimed a relatively comfortable win but it would have been far more one-sided if not for him.

8. Aaron Convery (Northern Brothers Diggers)

Convery’s stellar start to the campaign continued on Saturday as he posted his second half century of the season to finish not out on 63 as he carried the bat to victory for the Dragons.

The young opener has been one of the most consistent performers this season with 202 runs at an average of 67.3.

7. Andrew Johnston (University)

University was in all sorts of trouble when Johnston made his way out to the middle at 6-113.

However, Johnston blasted six fours and three sixes on his way to 55 off 40 balls late in the game.

The task was ultimately too much for him and his side as they were bowled out for 210, 85 runs short of Met-Easts’ first innings total.

6. Ryan Ward (Western Districts)

In a match where several batters from both teams struggled to get going, Ward put Highfields to the sword with an electric spell with the ball.

Ward took 4-17 off seven overs and operated at an economy rate of just 2.42 runs per over.

5. Daniel Robinson (Western Districts)

Robinson scored 61 runs off 85 balls to help rescue the Warriors’ innings after they slumped to 4-41 while batting first.

He held down the fort while teammate Corey Dioth kept the run-rate ticking over as the pair combined for a game-changing 135-run stand.

4. Dean Fry (Met-Easts)

It was an unforgettable day for Dean Fry as he scored an unbeaten century and claimed a wicket with the ball as well.

Fry hit a blistering 101 runs off 82 balls with nine fours and three sixes at an impressive strike-rate of 123.17.

Hayden Campbell bowls for Met-Easts. Picture: Nev Madsen.

3. Hayden Campbell (Met-Easts)

University batters had no answer for Campbell as he tore through their batting line-up.

The pace bowler was relentless as he ended with impressive figures of 5-47.

Ben Brocherie for Met Easts. Picture: Nev Madsen.

2. Ben Brocherie (Met-Easts)

Brocherie put in a scintillating display as opener as he smashed his way to 128 off just 94 balls against Uni.

Striking at 136.17, the Met-Easts captain hit a whopping 18 fours and three sixes.

Corey Dioth bats for Western Districts. Picture: Kevin Farmer

1. Corey Dioth (Western Districts)

Dioth takes the number one spot this week after he turned the game around for the Warriors with a classy innings.

Coming in at 4-41, Western Districts had its back to the wall against Highfields but Dioth helped turn the game around as he scored an unbeaten 98 off 97 balls.

Needing four runs off the final ball of the innings to bring up his ton, Dioth could only manage two runs and fell just short of what would have been a deserved century in a clash where only four players from either team reached double figures with the bat.

His performance with the bat alone was enough to take the top spot but his day got even better in the second innings as he took 2-4 off one over with the ball to put the icing on the cake of a superb individual effort.

Round 3

The third round of the Toowoomba A-grade cricket season produced some standout individual performances and major team victories as we highlight the best of the best.

The Northern Brothers Diggers claimed an impressive win over Met-Easts, in a clash which could be pivotal in the race for finals come the end of the season, while Western Districts continued its perfect start to the season and Souths cruised to victory over Highfields.

Here is our list of the top 10 performers from the latest round.

10. Marx Aluguvelli (University)

Aluguvelli put in an impressive performance with the ball as he took 3-17 which included the important wicket of Matthew Nunn.

9. Josh Cranston (Highfields)

The Bulldogs opener withstood the new ball and produced a stunning knock which ultimately set the foundations for his side.

Cranston scored 53 runs off 92 balls before he was eventually dismissed.

8. Nick Budden (Souths)

Nick Budden makes the top 10 for a second successive week after he scored an unbeaten 51 on the way to the Magpies’ eight-wicket win over Highfields.

7. Raja Ganeshraj (Souths)

Ganeshraj kickstarted Souths’ run-chase as he scored an impressive 56 runs as opener.

His innings only included three boundaries as he instead regularly rotated the strike and kept the opposition bowlers on their toes.

Matthew Nunn bats for Wests. Picture: Nev Madsen.

6. Matthew Nunn (Western Districts)

After losing his opening partner Luke Neale for a duck in the first over, Nunn and Brian May helped rescue the inning for the Warriors with a 106-run partnership.

Nunn scored 57 runs off 92 balls including five fours and two sixes.

Brian May bats for Western Districts. Picture: Kevin Farmer

5. Brian May (Western Districts)

May showed his class batting at three as he scored 64 runs off 91 balls and hit six boundaries.

He was the backbone of the Warriors’ innings as he came in after just two balls with the score 1-0, before eventually being dismissed in the late stages of the contest with the score 7-182.

Daniel Pollock bats for Metropolitan-Easts.

4. Daniel Pollock (Met-Easts)

With wickets falling around him, Pollock was a composed figure out in the middle for Met-Easts.

He scored a blistering 66 runs while holding down the fort as the other four batters at the top of the order combined for only 28 runs.

Connor Philp bowls for NBD. Picture: Nev Madsen.

3. Connor Philp (Northern Brothers Diggers)

Whenever Met-Easts would get a run going, Connor Philp would be there to bring their momentum to a halt.

Philp took 4-21 off eight overs at an impressive economy rate of just 2.62 runs per over.

2. Aidan Watterson (Northern Brothers Diggers)

The Northern Brothers Diggers captain stepped up with both bat and ball for the Dragons on Saturday as he scored 45 runs in the middle order to help his side post a competitive first innings total of 8-205.

He was then a thorn in the side of the Trojans batters as he took 3-44 and dismissed three players for a duck.

1. Mark Dunkley (Souths)

Topping this week’s list is Souths’ Mark Dunkley, who was electric with the ball in hand as he took 5/39 off eight overs at an economy rate of 4.87 runs per over.

Round 2

Round 2 of Toowoomba cricket saw the two juggernauts in Western Districts and Metropolitan-Easts face-off, with the former putting in a dominant display, while Souths claimed their first win of the season in a high-scoring contest against University and Northern Brothers Diggers defeated Highfields.

Here is our list of the top 10 individual performances from round 2.

10. John Schmacker (Northern Brothers Diggers)

Schmacker barely put a foot wrong with the ball as he took 2/14 off five overs against the Bulldogs.

9. Arshdeep Singh (Highfields)

For the second week in a row, Singh features in the top 10 list after he scored an impressive 45 runs off 47 balls, which included seven boundaries.

With the ball, Singh took 1/33 as he bowled the dangerous Aaron Convery for 52.

8. Aaron Convery (Northern Brothers Diggers)

With Northern Brothers needing a relatively low 156 runs for victory, Convery showed his class as he scored 52 runs off 75 balls at the top of the order to guide his team to victory.

Brian May bats for Western Districts. Picture: Kevin Farmer

7. Brian May (Western Districts)

The “Bush Bradman” showed he still has it as he scored an unbeaten 54 to help the Warriors end their first innings with a devastating score of 1/235.

6. Connor Philp (Northern Brothers Diggers)

Philp was a menace with the ball as he took 3/22 off eight overs at an economy rate of just 2.75 runs per over.

Nick Budden bats for Souths.

5. Nick Budden (Souths)

Budden was unstoppable for the Magpies as he scored an unbeaten 89 off 104 balls to give Souths their first win of the season.

His impressive stint included 15 fours as the University bowlers had no answer for him.

4. Rahul Suresh (Souths)

Suresh scored a rapid 87 off just 59 balls, which included 12 fours and one six.

His strike-rate of 147.45 allowed the visitors to chase down the total of 244 with four overs to spare.

3. Matthew Nunn (Western Districts)

It was a fine all-round display from the Western Districts opener and wicketkeeper as he carried the bat with an unbeaten 90 in the first innings before taking three catches in the second innings.

University opener Cooper Webster after scoring a century on Saturday, October 14, 2023.

2. Cooper Webster (University)

In most other weeks, Webster’s efforts would have been more than enough to claim top spot on the list, but not this week.

The University young-gun scored a career-high 123 runs off 129 balls, which included 12 fours and one maximum.

He then showed his class as a crafty spinner in the second innings as he took 2/25 off 7.5 overs.

However, despite his extraordinary performance, it was not quite enough for his side to see it through and take home the win as Souths proved too strong in the end.

1. Luke Neale (Western Districts)

In a clash which was a rematch of last season’s two-day grand final, Neale stood tall with bat and ball as he scored 59 runs to lay down the foundations for the Warriors in the first innings before dominating with the ball.

Neale took 5/26 off just five overs to leave the Met-Easts batters shell-shocked.

Round 1

Across A-grade there were several impressive individual performances from the three games which took place.

Here is our list of the top 10 performances from round 1.

10. Raja Ganeshraj (Souths)

Ganeshraj was the shining light of the Magpies bowling attack as he kept the Trojans batsmen on their toes with his spin bowling.

With Met-Easts cruising at 1-129 chasing 211, Ganeshraj took three quick wickets, including the vital scalp of Darren Koch, who scored 84 runs to keep the Magpies in the contest.

Ultimately it was not enough as Met-Easts claimed victory in the 38th over, but his figures of 3-30 off 8 overs gave Souths a chance.

Magpies captain Rohan Drummond. Picture: Nev Madsen.

9. Rohan Drummond (Souths)

Drummond provided stability in the middle order for Souths with an impressive 50 off 49 balls.

The Magpies captain showed his leadership as he took control at the crease but with a strike-rate of 102.04 but he was unable to properly unleash and punish the Met-Easts bowlers.

8. Marcus Frizzell (Western Districts)

Frizzell was a menace with the ball as he took 3-23.

All three of his wickets were vital as he dismissed the players who were poising a threat to the Warriors’ bowling attack.

7. Aidan Watterson (Northern Brothers Diggers)

Watterson gave Northern Brothers Diggers a glimmer of hope in the second innings as he took 4-45 in his side’s loss to Western Districts.

However, the fact he only managed nine runs with the bat in the first innings prevented him from earning a higher spot on this list.

6. Ryan Martin (Western Districts)

Martin made his presence felt with both bat and ball as he took 2-28 off 6 overs in the first innings, then backed it up with a short cameo with the bat to seal the win.

Martin scored an unbeaten 32 off 19 deliveries at a strike-rate of 168.42 and hit six fours.

5. Dean Sullivan (University)

Sullivan played a pivotal role in University’s successful run chase as he scored 85 runs off 81 balls and formed a 196-run second wicket partnership with Tully Willson.

With the gloves, he made a stumping to dismiss Ben Anderson, who was looking dangerous on 49 at the time.

4. Arshdeep Singh (Highfields)

Singh dominated with the bat as he tore the University bowling attack to shreds with an unbeaten 78 off just 54 balls at a strike-rate of 144.44.

After suffering a narrow defeat where University chased down Highfields’ first innings total of 4-272 in the final over, if Singh had managed to face more than just 54 balls, then the Bulldogs may have come away with victory.

Michael Dowe bowls for Wests. Picture: Nev Madsen.

3. Michael Dowe (Western Districts)

Dowe blitzed through the Northern Brothers Diggers batting line-up to end his eight-over spell with figures of 4-21.

Along with taking wickets, he was also extremely economical as he operated with an economy-rate of 2.62 runs per over and bowled two maidens.

2. Darren Koch (Met-Easts)

Koch scored a blistering 84 runs off just 67 balls at a strike-rate of 125.37.

He hit the ball across all parts of the ground with nine fours and four sixes.

University’s Tully Willson. Picture: Kevin Farmer

1. Tully Willson (University)

Willson scored an emphatic 113 off 101 balls including 14 fours and two sixes in University’s thrilling victory over Highfields.

To make things better, he brought up his ton with a maximum and also ran out Kurtley Neilsen in the first innings in a clash where wickets were hard to come by for both teams.