We name the top 3 players from every Toowoomba cricket match
HOWZAT: The Toowoomba cricket season is back in full swing and we’re running the rule over every single match. Find out who picked up our 3-2-1 points honours from your side’s match here.
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Cricket season is in full swing again and The Chronicle sport team are running the rule over every match from A to C-grade.
Just like the Dally M Medal in the NRL we will be awarding three points to the top performer from each match followed by two and one point to the other stars.
Check here each week to find out who the best players from your weekend match were.
ROUND 1
A-grade
Met-Easts 4-196 vs Southern Districts 7-183
In the one-day competition grand final rematch, the Trojans claimed victory over the Magpies once again.
Newly-appointed Met-Easts captain Daniel Pollock set the tone for the contest at the top of the order as he scored an impressive 72 runs from 95 balls, while Dean Fry (60 off 88) also impressed.
With 197 runs needed for victory, the game was in the balance for much of the run chase as Souths at one stage needed 31 runs from 27 balls with six wickets in hand thanks to the impressive work from Rahul Suresh – who scored a team-high 43 runs.
However, his efforts were not enough as a late flurry of wickets in the final overs saw Met-Easts hold on for a 13-run win to kickstart their title defence.
3. Daniel Pollock (Met-Easts): 72 runs from 95 balls and 2-34 from eight overs.
2. Dean Fry (Met-Easts): 60 runs from 88 balls.
1. Rahul Suresh (Souths): 1-49 from nine overs and 43 runs from 52 balls.
Western Districts 4-209 vs Northern Brothers Diggers 10-121
The Western Districts juggernaut sent out an early statement with a resounding 88-run victory over Northern Brothers Diggers.
Batting first, the Warriors were under the pump early as they found themselves at 2-33.
However, one of the all-time Toowoomba cricket greats stepped up for Western Districts and turned the contest on its head.
Brian May was at his elegant best with the bat as he scored an unbeaten 98 runs from 107 balls.
He could very easily have added another ton to his resume but was unable to get back on strike for the final 10 balls of the innings.
The Dragons’ chase got off to the worst possible start as Aaron Convery was dismissed off the very first ball and it did not get much better from there as wickets continued to fall before they were bowled out for 121.
3. Brian May (Wests): 98 not out from 107 balls, three catches and 2-6 from two overs.
2. Ryan Ward (Wests): 3-27 from seven overs.
1. Mark Burt (Wests): 3-12 from 4.3 overs.
University 6-258 vs Highfields 10-176
University kickstarted its 2024-25 season in style with an 82-run victory over Highfields at USQ Oval.
After winning the toss and opting the bat, Connor Walker and Sam Gillespie set the tone for the contest with the former scoring an electric 105 runs from 86 balls and the latter 51 from 70.
The runs continue to flow with handy contributions from the middle order as the Bulldogs were set an imposing 259 runs for victory.
In response, the Uni bowlers were in fine form and gave little away, picking up wickets at regular intervals before bowling Highfields out for 176.
3. Connor Walker (Uni): 105 runs from 86 balls.
2. Sam Gillespie (Uni): 51 runs from 70 balls.
1, Hemal Shah (Uni): 13 runs from 20 balls and 3-21 off five overs.
Reserve grade
Southern Districts 10-153 vs Met-Easts 10-126
It was wickets galore at Harristown Park as the Magpies and Trojans reserve grade bowlers put on a show, with 20 wickets falling for just 279 runs.
After winning the toss, Souths managed just 153 runs before being bowled out, with captain David Callick the pick of the batters with 48 runs from 70 balls.
With the ball, Kahlem Reardon was a force to be reckoned with as he took 6-19 off eight overs.
However, his efforts with the ball were ultimately not enough as the Trojans were bowled out in response for just 126 runs with Timothy Blanch the pick of the batters with 38 runs form 44 balls.
It was a stellar all-round bowling effort from Souths with four players taking at least two wickets and no one taking more than three scalps.
3. Kahlem Reardon (Met-Easts): 6-19 off eight overs and 19 runs from 23 balls.
2. Timothy Blanch (Met-Easts): 3-14 off 5.3 overs and 38 runs from 44 balls.
1. David Callick (Souths): 48 runs from 70 balls.
University 4-215 vs Highfields 10-111
University was a class above as it claimed a comfortable 104-run win at Highfields Sport Park.
Batting first, Uni hit the ground running with a 135-run opening stand between Marx Aluguvelli and Darcy Shelton.
Aluguvelli was eventually dismissed for 52, while Shelton made it to 84 before David Rix found the better of him as Uni went on to make it to 4-215 off the 40 overs.
After a promising 44-run opening stand in response, the University bowlers got to work but Highfields continued to show some fight to make it to 4-90.
However, University’s class was too much for the Bulldogs as they took the last six wickets for just 21 runs.
3. Darcy Shelton (Uni): 84 runs from 108 balls and 2-15 from four overs.
2. Marx Aluguvelli (Uni): 52 runs from 64 balls.
1. Daniel Skillington (Uni): 3-5 from two overs.
Northern Brothers Diggers 9-150 vs Western Districts 10-104
There were wickets a plenty at Captain Cook Reserve as bowlers from both sides dictated the contest.
Batting first, Northern Brothers battled its way to 150 runs from 40 overs with captain Michael Coleborn leading the way with 55 runs from 71 balls.
After a promising start which saw Wests battle to 1-50 in response, Northern Brothers fought back and triggered a stunning middle-order collapse as four wickets fell for just seven runs.
It did not get much better from there as the Warriors were bowled out for 104.
3. Michael Coleborn (Northern Brothers): 55 runs from 71 balls.
2. Daniel Giumelli (Northern Brothers): 4-25 from eight overs.
1, Jake Gill (Wests): 1-11 from five overs and 31 runs off 38 balls.
B-grade
Wests Warriors 6-181 vs Souths Magpies 2-183
Souths cruised to a comfortable eight wicket win with nearly five overs to spare at the weekend.
After winning the toss the Magpies with opener Nayte Baker (78 not out) steering Warriors to a competitive 181.
Unfortunately for Warriors their next best ‘scorer’ was the extras column (33 runs) with Samuel McGinn (26) and Ian Sippel (21) the next best contributors.
In reply Magpies openers Scott Sowerby (53) and Michael Holzl laid the platform for a comprehensive win combining for a 151-run opening stand.
3. Michael Holzl (Souths Magpies): 100 off 100 balls, 15 fours and 1 six.
2. Nayte Baker (West Warriors): 78 not out of 115 balls, 11 fours.
1. Scott Sowerby (Souths Magpies): 53 off 84 balls, 4 fours.
Diggers Blue 7-317 vs Highfileds Bulldogs 10-56.
Diggers were an unstoppable force – torching the Bulldogs bowling attack at Captain Cook Reserve.
Bulldogs looked to be in control early with Diggers reeling early at 1-17 after the loss of Anthony Guse for a duck and when Rob Fenwick was bowled for 23 they were in more trouble at 2-39.
David Kenway came to Diggers rescue though scoring a blistering 118 off just 67 balls which included 8 fours and 11 sixes.
Batting at No. 7 Kaiden Philp also did some damage scoring 63 off 55 balls.
With the ball in hand Diggers tore through the Highfields line-up with Alan Donges (12) and Ethan Lyons (10) the only Bulldogs to reach double figures.
3. David Kenway (Diggers Blue): 118 off 67 balls, 8 fours and 11 sixes.
2. Brendan Ziebell (Diggers Blue): 5-23 off 7 overs.
1. Kaiden Philp (Diggers Blue): 63 off 55 balls (7 fours, 2 sixes) and 1-2 off 2 balls.
Souths Ravens 10-119 vs Met-Easts Blue 7-186
Met-Easts produced a solid all-round performance in their win over Souths.
Sent in to bat the Trojans set a competitive total despite the regular loss of wickets late in their innings.
Adam Kerrigan (77) and Brendan Redinger (43) were the key contributors with the bat.
In reply Souths were never able to get their innings going with Marko van Vuuren tearing through their middle order.
Stephen Bowles produced a gritty 39 off 44 balls opening the batting for Souths.
3. Marko van Vuuren (Met-Easts Blue): 4-23 off six overs.
2. Adam Kerrigan (Met-Easts Blue): 77 off 81 balls, 8 fours and 3 sixes.
1. Brendan Redinger (Met-Easts Blue): 43 off 49 balls, 6 fours.
University 10-188 vs Met-Easts Gold 3-317
With Dominic Seaby heading back to the sheds and just 18 runs on the board – Uni’s decision to bowl appeared to be the right move at the weekend.
Mets’ Hugo Cavanagh and Lachlan Muggleton however had other ideas with the pair combining for a massive 245-run second wicket partnership.
With 147.41 strike rate, Cavanagh hit Uni to all ends of the ground on his way to a massive 171 off just 116 balls (22 fours and 4 sixes) while Muggleton produced 100 off 100.
Uni fought hard with the bat but after falling to 2-12 and 3-45 early they were never realistically going to be able to chase down the mammoth Mets total.
3. Hugo Cavanagh (Mets-Easts Gold): 171 off 116 balls, 22 fours and 4 sixes.
2. Lachlan Muggleton (Mets-Easts Gold): 100 off 100 balls, 13 fours
1. Mitchell Skillington (University): 49 off 71 balls, 5 fours.
Met-Easts White 10-69 vs Diggers Gold 4-70
Diggers bowling attack drew everything they could out of the Kingsthorpe Recreation Reserve deck at the weekend.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl Diggers through the Met-Easts line-up taking less than 30 over to reduce them to just 69 runs.
They then made short work of the run chase taking 22.5 overs to secure a six-wicket win.
3. Tomas Crump (Diggers Gold): 4-17 off 7 overs.
2. Kyrna Crump (Diggers Gold): 2-10 off 8 overs.
1. Tobin Cherry (Met-Easts White): 17 off 19 balls, 3 fours.
C-grade Pre-Christmas comp
Met-Easts Red 6-189 vs Souths Ravens 10-186
Mets and Souths went down to the wire in Queens Park.
After winning the toss and going into bat, Souths had skipper Harvinder Khalsa to thank for their competitive total.
Batting at No. 9 Khalsa produced a quick fire 48 off 28.
In reply Jack and Trevor Jellicoe got Mets off to the perfect combining for an opening stand of 89 runs.
Souths looked to have Mets rattled claiming the next two wickets for just 10 runs but it wasn’t enough with the rest of the Mets middle order racking up the required runs.
3. Harvinder Khalsa (Souths Ravens): 48 off 28 balls, 5 fours and 3 sixes.
2. Jack Jellicoe (Met-Easts Red): 51 off 47 balls, 4 fours and 3 sixes.
1. Edward Barwick (Met-Easts Red): 3-17 off seven overs.
Souths Magpies 10-146 vs Uni Phoenix 5-147
It was a battle of wills and nerves at Centenary Heights State High School on Saturday.
Souths and Uni had their moments with the bat and ball but neither were able to take full control of the match.
Sent into bat Souths had Ranjit Singh Dhillon (49) and Brendan Harding (46) to thank for their competitive total with Jack Leavy (23) the only other player to reach double figures.
In reply Uni got off to a horror start collapsing to 3-36 before Daniel Ryan saved the day with 57 not out off 70 balls.
3. Daniel Ryan (Uni Phoenix): 57 not out off 70 balls, 9 fours.
2. Dev Trivedi (Uni Phoenix) 5-24 off 5 overs.
1. Ranjit Singh Dhillon (Souths Magpies): 49 off 69 balls, 5 fours.
Northern Brothers Diggers vs Western Districts Warriors
Northern Brothers Diggers forfeit
Highfields Bulldogs 6-250 vs Souths Currawongs 9-197
Paul York was the star in what was an impressive all around Bulldogs performance with bat and ball.
York (77 not out) was well supported by a number of teammates with Bulldogs opting to bat first.
Chasing 251 for victory plenty of Souths bats looked promising early but only Sachin Premchandran (58 off 62) was able to go on a post a decent score.
3. Paul York (Highfields Bulldogs): 77 not out off 64 balls, 2 fours and 6 sixes.
2. Nathan Johnson (Highfields Bulldogs): 4-24 off six overs.
1. Sachin Premchandran (Souths Currawongs): 58 off 62 balls, 8 fours and a six.
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