Junior Cricket Recap

The forecast heatwave didn’t dampen the spirits of the players and parents at the last week of Junior Cricket at the Nutrien Ag Solutions Cricket Complex in Home Hill on Friday. The usual afternoon breeze at the grounds was enough to keep everyone comfortable while watching and playing. Some of the parents weren’t taking any risks of dehydration by keeping their fluid intake up with many trips to the canteen for a cool beverage or two. The Rookies and Challengers played some fun games and drills throughout their sessions and no stats were recorded this week. Billy Muilwyk was the winner of the ‘Player of the Week’ award.

A new player “trying out cricket” took out the best bowling in the Under 13s this game. Aarnav Desai clean bowled two batters in his overs to end up with 2 for 9 off two. Others to take wickets were William Chandler 1 for 8 and Nate Quagliata 1 for 15, the rest of the wickets were runouts. Top scorer with the bat was again Michael Finn with 15 not out, followed by Oscar Mahoney with 13 and Marshall Parker 11. ‘Players of the Week’ awards went to Aarnav and Oscar who also bowled very well getting one maiden and figures of 0 for 1 run.

Our combined Home Hill/Charters Towers Under 17 team travelled to Brothers’ home ground to play them on Saturday afternoon in a heat affected shortened 30 over game.  During the week we had lost players to unavailability, injury and a positive Covid test Friday morning so we were playing with 7 players, a tough mission in the high temperature and humidity. One of our players had to leave early so we opted to bowl first which was also the hottest part of the game, it was certainly stacking up against us. Shorter spells for our pace bowlers and more overs for the spinners was our plan to combat the heat.

Our opening bowlers Salvatore and Thomas Cardillo were bowling fast and accurate and letting the new ball and turf pitch work for them. Thomas got the breakthrough with his second ball of his first over to get their opener snicking through to our keeper Jonty Furnell, they were 1 for 1. Thomas got the next one trapped in front in his last over of his spell, now they were 2 for 15 and looking a little shaky. It was now our spinners turn to build on the great position our openers had got us to.

Corey Heidke’s first ball skittled the batter’s wickets for a duck and had him taking the long walk back to the sheds. Two dot balls followed then another ball got through the defence for another duck. The next ball to the new batter had the same result, Corey was on figures of 3 for 0 and on a hattrick. All the fielders were brought in for the hattrick and final ball of the over which the batter squeezed past for a lucky single. Corey bowled the next batter a few overs later and could have got two more but for dropped catches and finished with 4 for 21 off 6 overs. Leo Olditch took the last wicket which was caught behind by Corey who was standing in for Jonty as he got a thumb injury and had to go off the field.

We had to get 93 to win but as Jonty was unable to bat, we only had 5 wickets in hand and not off to a good start as we were 1 wicket down for only 7 runs. That brought Harry Pickering and Salvatore together at the crease which resulted in a 63 run partnership until Harry was caught for 23 off 23 balls. Salvatore with the help of Thomas, Leo and Johnny Southwell reached the score just before drinks. Salvatore had smashed his way to 58 runs off 41 balls with 7 fours for a great win.

Contributed by Scott Heidke

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Oscar Mahoney and Aarnav Desai

Corey Heidke

Salvatore Cardillo

Photos supplied