With the ACT’s return to the Toyota National 2nd XI competition a little over a week away, Premier Cricket performances are becoming important not just for weight of numbers, but for their timing as well.
Weston Creek Molonglo top order bat Zak Keogh’s star continues to rise, with a well-made 123-ball innings of 109 against Tuggeranong at Stirling notable for the comfort with which he reached three figures.
Keogh batted superbly through the second session to bring up his first century of the summer and pushed the ‘Creek to 254 where they were bowled out in the 59th over. Daniel Oshyer was the chief destroyer with 5-39 from 15 overs for Tuggeranong, who finished the day 3-91 from 37 overs.
At ANU North, WA import and promising allrounder Lachie Simpson posted his first ton in Canberra, finishing unbeaten on 159 and helping the Students reach 289 against Queanbeyan.
Simpson came to the crease with ANU in a spot of bother at 4/48 but put on a century stand with fellow spin-bowling allrounder Jake Smith, and then added another 114 with the tail to put the Students in a strong position.
Guy Gillespie finished with 5-38 for the Bluebags, and Queanbeyan will resume next week on 0/13 after seeing out five overs late on Day 1.
Sent in by Western Districts at Jamison, patience was the name of the game for Ginninderra on a slowish wicket. They batted the day out to reach 6/208, with most of their top order getting starts, and with Wests bowlers doing an economical job with the ball.
And at Keith Tournier Memorial in Ainslie, North Canberra Gungahlin found themselves in early trouble once again, this time slipping to 4/23 against Eastlake. Sam Williams started getting a few away, and he and Gen Casarotto added 131 for the sixth wicket before Williams fell for an even 100.
Casarotto (82no) went on with the tail to allow Norths to see out the day at 9/257, while young quick Nick Kent finished with four wickets for the Demons.
The runs flowed in the Women’s North-South game at Chisholm on Sunday, as well, with South winning the toss and batting first, and making an impressive 285 when they were bowled out in the 50th over.
ACT Meteors allrounder Alisha Bates continued her run with the bat, making 72 from 54 balls, while exciting pathways products Rachel Carroll (62) and Bree Dillon (66) provided strong support in the solid South total.
But in reply, Meteors pair Kayla Burton (52) and Grace Lyons put on 114 for the first wicket for North. Annie Wikman made a quickfire 42, before Lyons (119no) and Angie Genford (55no) finished the job in the 36th over. North home with a comfortable eight-wicket win.
Lower grade standouts:
- Bree Dillon had a big weekend with the bat, making 70 from 43 balls for Wests in their five-wicket win over Tuggeranong at Kaleen in the Women’s Grade competition on Saturday.
- Eastlake’s Women has six different wicket-takers as they rolled ANU for 73, and with Claire Murray and Shazia Rahman Zazai getting them home in the 20th over for a seven-wicket win.
- And down at Rockley Oval in Googong, multi-sport talent Alyse O’Brien made 105 in Queanbeyan’s innings of 6/225, before turning around and taking 4-25 with the ball to help bowl Weston Creek-Molonglo out for 167 in 38 overs, and ensure the Bluebags keep track with Eastlake and Wests in a three-way tie on top of the table.
- In 2nd Grade, ANU spinner Tristan du Toit backed up his nine wickets for the match last weekend with another 8-33 from 27 overs against Queanbeyan at Freebody.
- Ginninderra’s Tom Carmody took 5-42 in 24.1 overs against Wests at Kippax, as they bowled the Lions out for 154 late in the day.
- Tuggeranong were left to chase leather all day at Chisholm, after sending Weston Creek-Molonglo into bat first and watching on as they declared late in the day at 8/410 and sending the home side in for six awkward overs. It looked a good decision when the ‘Creek fell to 3/24, before Hugh Taylor (121) and Sam Myburgh (134) put on 246 for the third wicket. It’s Taylor’s second century in a week, after his 110 against Norths last week.
- Eastlake’s Sachin Liyanage claimed 5/56 from 21 overs at Kingston, bowling Norths out for 219 after the Eagles won the toss and batted. The Demons will resume Day 2 on 2/111.
- In 3rd Grade, Grant Miller took 5/46 for Tuggeranong, who bowled Weston Creek-Molonglo out for 201.
- And Queanbeyan’s Cam Edgar posted the highest total for the weekend, posting 180 against ANU at ANU South.
Article by Brett McKay
Image: L: ANU's Lachie Simpson and R: Weston Creek Molonglo's Zak Keogh’ raise the bat after respective century innings. Images thanks to ANU & Weston Creek Molonglo Cricket Clubs