As the GPS First XI cricket season draws to a close, the question remains: who are the unsung heroes of the season? Toowoomba Grammar School’s Connor Walker has certainly made a mark, scoring a coveted century in their win over The Southport School, putting TGS in the lead for the premiership. But there are other players who have contributed significantly to their teams’ success, from Blake Armstrong’s crucial wickets for Brisbane Boys College to Sewmith Samarawickrama’s bowling prowess for TGS. With the final round looming, it remains to be seen who will come out on top and claim the coveted title this season.
Important Details about GPS First XI premiership 2023 unsung heroes –
– Connor Walker scored a century for TGS in GPS First XI cricket
– TGS is in the premiership lead entering the final round
– Brisbane Boys College slipped to third after losing to Terrace
– The Southport School had their round 7 match washed out and a bye yesterday
– Blake Armstrong, Tom Stubbin, James Eustance, Carter Corless, Jayden Draper, Jacob Bath, Ryan Summers, Matthew Fielding, Ryan Atley, James Martens, Sewmith Samarawickrama, Cooper Webster, Kruger Ewald, Oliver Skerl, Oliver Spence, Jem Du, Jake Kranen, Dave Pranshu, Henry Hillier, and Charlie Moore are the unsung heroes of the season.
Who have been the unsung heroes of GPS First XI cricket this season? And who is in the box seat to claim the coveted premiership next Saturday? In this blog, we will cover the latest updates on both topics.
Toowoomba Grammar School’s Connor Walker scored a cherished GPS First XI century as TGS moved over Brisbane Boys College (BBC) and The Southport School (TSS) to take the premiership lead entering next week’s final round.
Walker, a year 11 boarder, raised his 100 from 132 balls as TGS (5-265) generated enough bonus points to ease past premiership leaders TSS.
BBC slipped to third after they lost to a Tom Stubbin-inspired Terrace who defended (8-187). Bonus point kings TSS had their round 7 match washed out, followed by a bye yesterday, leaving BBC and TGS with a chance to claim the premiership lead entering the final round.
It was TGS who took their chance, with the Darling Downs’ boys accounting for Nudgee (148) despite 59 not out from Jack Balkin.
In partnership with Walker, Oates again fired with thrilling batting. It was blast off time for Oates who crashed 56 runs from 31 balls after Charlie Bignall (42) and Joe Sippel (25) had laid an early platform alongside Walker. Oates and Walker added 98 runs in just 52 minutes as TGS reached the safety of 5-265.
When Nudgee batted, the TGS attack bowled beautifully in unison as Samarawickrama (2-27), Webster (2-25), Lachmund (1-36), Malhotra (3-26) and Kruger (1-32) bowled well.
Terrace unseated BBC after Theodore Bacalakis (68) and Harry Frost (64) added a match defining 144 for the second wicket. Despite BBC’s recovery to restrict Terrace to 8-187, BBC (116) batting did not stand up to Stubbin, Eustance and Ilott, who took eight wickets between them.
In the BSHS v Brisbane Grammar School (BGS) clash, Callum Vidler (45) influenced the match with the bat this time as BGS claimed victory despite Oliver Peck’s four wickets for BSHS. BGS scored 8-205 with Vidler top scoring, and then the inform Soham Sane unleashed for BGS with three wickets.
Vidler also claimed one and with masterful bowling by Ollie Skerl, the target proved too great for BSHS (168) despite Daniel Skipwith blasting 72.
In Ipswich, Churchie paceman Dan Boreham (4-19) and spinner Charlie Moore (4-18) claimed eight wickets between them to roar through Ipswich Grammar School for 96. There was also grand support from the Storen boys, Henry Hillier of course and Tighe Morris who bowled eight overs for just 11 runs.
When Churchie batted they overcame the loss of two early wickets to win by seven wickets, with Jack Ryan and Clancy Brady both 30m not out.
Unsung Heroes of the Season
Blake Armstrong (BBC)
He went within one scoring shot (97) of a cherished and rare GPS First XI premiership, and offered a fine support role with his slow bowling. His valuable contribution was highlighted again in round eight with the new ball when he bowled 10-6-9-0. Aside from his runs, he snared seven wickets while also conceding around 2.80 runs an over which helped build pressure down the line.
Tom Stubbin and James Eustance (Terrace)
The right arm swing bowler and hard hitting all-rounder had a fine season for Terrace, with his bowling as the foundation of his season. Stubbin claimed a match winning 3-23 in Terrace’s upset win over BBC and along with James Eustance, bowled their side to victory. Eustance (13 wickets at 16) upgraded his season ranking from good to very good after his three wicket haul yesterday as well. The promising William Ilott also had a good season.
Carter Corless (Nudgee)
Corless entered the season slightly understated given a Kasprowicz (Ed), another McFadyen (Noah), and even a Balkin (Jack) – all well known names in GPS sporting circles – were part of the Nudgee attack. But Corless did a great job breaking partnerships across the summer. Right arm out swing bowler Angus McLean, no relation of the great Paul McLean, was also Nudgee’s pace bowling enforcer and had a bit of x-factor about him, while Kasprowicz was economical.
Jayden Draper (Churchie)
Churchie were blessed to have such a craftsman behind the stumps and the great news for the college is that he will be back again in 2023. Under the coaching of former Queensland gloveman Peter Drinnen, Draper continues to impress and the 2022 Queensland Schoolboys keeper is sure to have a major leadership role waiting for him next summer. He does not have the batting of Matt Fielding (Nudgee) or Ryan Atley (BBC), but by heavens, he has the glovework.
Jacob Bath and Ryan Summers (TSS)
Entering next week’s final round, Bath has been a tremendous asset to his team with economical bowling, six wickets and a half century with the bat. One of the best all-rounders in the competition, he provided balance to the almost perfectly weighted TSS team which is on the cusp of yet another premiership. Summers was also called upon following Griff Williams limited bowling and did a tremendous job, maintaining pressure (2.89 runs per over) and chipping in with six wickets.
Matthew Fielding (Nudgee)
Are we talking about the best wicketkeeper batsman in the competition? Probably. Although he missed out yesterday, he has had a good summer confronting the new ball and despite missing out yesterday in Toowoomba, Fielding still has almost 250 runs at 35 with a fluent strike rate of 72.
Ryan Atley (BBC)
If Fielding is not the best wicketkeeper batsman in the competition, then Atley is. He has been a revelation for BBC at No.5 and again threatened yesterday with a dozen before his dismissal. He has 238 runs at 38, delivering some telling mini-innings that have helped BBC no end.
James Martens (BBC)
Martens started the season in a blaze of batting glory, but ultimately it was his bowling which would ensure he was mentioned on our list of Unsung Heroes. Martens’ batting – he scored two half centuries – was not understated, but his bowling was as he averaged a wicket a match in support of a workmanlike attack.
Sewmith Samarawickrama (TGS)
The Queensland under 17 national medium-pacer was almost impossible to get away with the new ball. While he also took some handy wickets, it was the pressure he built early which helped carve a pathway toward success for the giant-killing TGS. Also, don’t underestimate the contribution of all-rounder Cooper Webster, who aside from his batting and bowling, was a terrier in the field. Kruger Ewald will also be a very, very strong contender for our Team of the Year.
Oliver Skerl and Oliver Spence (BGS)
Spencer had a good season with the bat and was handy with the ball, while Skerl mesmerized opponents with his spin and guile. As a bowling unit, they provided variation and support to inform Sane and of course Callum Vidler when he appeared late in the season.
Jem Du, Jake Kranen and Dave Pranshu (BShs)
Before Jack Sonter started on his run-scoring feast, the BSHS bowling attack battled bravely with no runs to play with. Du, Kranen and Pranshu were a part of a gallant bowling group who ensured opposing batting line-ups had to work hard for the victory, with the threesome keeping pressure on with both wickets and heaps of dot balls. And there is a late season wildcard in the BSHS pack, Oliver Peck, who claimed four wickets yesterday.
Henry Hillier and Charlie Moore (Churchie)
Hillier was like a Boa constrictor, pinning batsmen and building pressure as he hustled through his overs, almost always with the new ball. Exhibit A was yesterday when, against Ipswich Grammar School, he bowled his 10 overs for 1-15. Moore, who claimed four wickets yesterday, was even more economical across the summer and it was through no fault of his own that he missed out on a couple of hauls which went to Draper.