Top-four sides dominate CTPL’s best players ahead of semi-finals
Before University, Lindisfarne, North Hobart and New Town lock horns in the CTPL’s semi-finals, find out who was the best with both bat and ball in hand this season.
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With another CTPL first-grade regular season in the books and University, Lindisfarne, North Hobart and New Town gearing up for semi-final action, The Mercury runs down the top five batters and bowlers from the season.
TOP FIVE BATTERS
5. Josh Hartill (Glenorchy)
19 games, 662 runs, 33.1 average, 118 high score
The Glenorchy skipper had a consistent year at number three for the Magpies on his return to the CTPL. He scored his first half century of the year in round five against University before backing it up with an unbeaten 54 against North Hobart in round seven. He did go through a form slump following that where he scored just 55-runs in six games before two consecutive 60-plus innings in T20 and one-day games converted into a season high score of 118 in round 26 against New Town. Fell agonisingly short of a second century in the final round of the season when he posted a score of 98 runs from 214 balls against Clarence.
4. Jack White (North Hobart)
22 games, 689 runs, 31.32 average, 90 high score
Another captain that led from the front this season was North Hobart’s Jack White. Also batting most weeks at number three, it took White until the round eight two-day game against Clarence to post a score he would have been happy with. He knocked 73 runs in the first innings and followed it up with a 60-run stand in the second to lead his side to a 91-run victory over the Roos. Produced his season-high score of 90 against University in round 24.
3. Charlie Wakim (Lindisfarne)
22 games, 715 runs, 39.72 average, 89 top score
After starting the season with scores of 1, 1, 0 and 18, Wakim finally produced some quality batting in consecutive weeks against University to get himself into form. The first was a 55-run stand in a two-day game before a 76-run knock in the first T20 game of the season. He then hit a purple patch between rounds 19 to 24 where he put together five innings of 50-plus runs including a season high 89 in the Lightning’s 14-run win over Glenorchy in round 24.
2. Mitch Owen (New Town)
18 games, 882 runs, 51.88 average, 118 top score
The Bucks captain was outstanding all season for his side, leading from the front and getting them across the line on a number of occasions. Led the competition for runs after round three following scores of 52 and 80 in consecutive weeks before producing back-to-back centuries in rounds five and six. Scored another in the 69-run win over Greater Northern in round eight before finishing the season with a quick-fire 49 runs from 38 balls in the final game of the season against Kingborough that saw the Bucks win by five-wickets to lock up fourth sport on the ladder and a place in the finals.
1. Mac Wright (Lindisfarne)
19 games, 899 runs, 49.94 average, 176 top score
After playing the first two games of the season, Wright went down with injury until round nine. His return fell flat after being dismissed for a duck but got back to form in the two games following with scores of 54 and 105. Produced his best innings of the season in round 23 when he scored 176 runs from just 168 balls. Wright smashed 22 boundaries in the Lightning’s big 182-run win over South Hobart-Sandy Bay following their 4-328 first innings total. Put together another big score of 168 runs in round 25 against New Town to overtake Owen on the runs leaderboard before his call-up to Tasmanian Tigers duties.
TOP FIVE BOWLERS
5. Will Sanders (Lindisfarne)
23 games, 38 wickets, 25.21 average, 5-31 best figures
A key reason for the Lightning’s season in which they finished second on the two-day table and came runners-up in both the T20 and one-day grand finals, Sanders work with the ball all season was terrific. His season best of 5-31 came early in round two but he did back it up with another fifer against Glenorchy in round six (5-36). Went wicketless on just six occasions throughout the season in a sign of his consistency.
4. Jarrod Freeman (Lindisfarne)
20 games, 38 wickets, 16.68 average, 4-23 best figures
‘Froggy’ was another key reason behind the Lightning’s stellar season across all formats. When not taking wickets for the Tasmanian Tigers, Freeman was busy dismissing the competition’s best batters. He took two or more wickets in 11 games and went wicketless in just two matches. Season-best figures of 4-23 came in the T20 semi-final loss to Lindisfarne. Also proved he is just as good with the bat, finishing the season with 656 runs which included two centuries.
3. Iain Carlisle (North Hobart)
19 games, 41 wickets, 16.86 average, 5-23 best figures
Another Tasmanian Tigers contracted bowler, Carlisle was the best of the Demons quicks all season. Finished with 41 wickets and took a fifer on three different occasions. Started the season on fire with 11 dismissals in three games for just 86 runs.
2. Mohammed Rizvi (University)
20 games, 43 wickets, 13.37 average, 5-15 best figures
Consistency was a key to Rizvi’s game in the 2022/23 season. The Lions bowler took wickets in his first five games before a quiet week against Lindisfarne in round nine saw him take two wickets each week from rounds 10 to 16. Rizvi then put together his best bowling spell of the season in round 21 to take 5-15 in the Lions 77-run win over Glenorchy.
1. Tim Oakley (University)
21 games, 45 wickets, 16.38 average, 5-13 best figures
The best bowler of the CTPL first-grade men’s season was Tim Oakley. In his 21 games he took 45 wickets. Oakley claimed wickets in every game he played up until round 21 which included a 5-29 game against New Town in round seven and his season-best figures of 5-13 in a T20 game against Kingborough in round 11. Did enough early in the season to hold off his Lions teammate after taking just two wickets in his last four games.
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