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Nate Ryder received the “MacDonald Sports Award” for his incredible bowling spell in the Blue Group Photos supplied
Contributed with thanks by HHCA
Last Friday afternoon, the Nutrien Ag. Solutions Cricket Complex was again filled with excited children playing cricket.
This was the first week of the 2026/27 season for the “Hardball” cricketers after the winter break. The younger players will start their season this week. The “Blasters”, for 5–8-year-olds, will play at East Ayr State School at 3.30pm on Thursday, 15th October, while the “Junior Smash Series”, for 8–10-year-olds, will be held at 5pm on Friday, 16th October, at the Nutrien Ag. Solutions Cricket Complex.
The “Blue Group” has a few new players joining them this season, with some moving up from last season’s Challengers and others new to cricket. Lane Nicolson, one of the new players, was the top scorer with 23 runs, followed by another newcomer, Broly Colls, with 19 runs. Stirling Williams also scored 19, while Mitchell Patti was unbeaten on 15 runs.
Last season’s Challenger, Nate Ryder, made “Hardball” bowling look easy with four wickets for seven runs, including a wicket maiden. The other wicket-takers were Logan McKeough (2/13), Stirling Williams and Mitchell Patti, who took one wicket each. Nate received the “MacDonald Sports Award” for his incredible bowling spell.
The “Gold Group” had a couple of players trialling from the “Blue Group”, and they were not at all outplayed. Jardii Russell looked at home in the group, finishing unbeaten on 14 runs, taking two wickets for four runs and bowling a maiden. This all-round performance earned him the “MacDonalds Sports Award”.
Jude Shannon was another trialling player and snared two wickets for just two runs, including two maidens. Other bowlers to take maidens were Kip Nicholas, Jardii Russell, Tait Parker and Ben Watkins. Xavier Cross took two wickets for 12 runs, which was a little expensive compared with the other bowlers.
Tait Parker bowled well (1/7) and took two catches. Marshall Parker and Mazlyn Smith also took catches and combined to get a run-out.
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