Sport
4 December, 2023
Runs pouring in for 2023/24
Many around the Maryborough District Cricket Association A grade competition have believed the league to be a bowlers’ league. But is the tide turning this year? A quick look at the stats as the competition approaches the final round of the...
Many around the Maryborough District Cricket Association A grade competition have believed the league to be a bowlers’ league. But is the tide turning this year?
A quick look at the stats as the competition approaches the final round of the one-day competition shows that there are plenty of players pushing towards — and above — an average of 40, with a galaxy of high scores making the competition stand up and take notice.
Seven cricketers — Laane quartet Luke Smith, Tom Hannett, Sam Bartlett and captain Matt Smith, Beaufort’s Lachlan Oddie, Carisbrook’s Dean Nalder and Maryborough’s Tom Hart, are currently averaging above 40 of those which have played five or more innings, while Carisbrook opener Martin Mark, Clunes captain Mitch Coppick and Maryborough’s Ben Hoban are in the 30s and are well positioned to continue the uptick of batting in this season’s edition.
So, what’s behind the shift?
Certainly, more exposure to T20 cricket has helped this season. Of course, last year, the competition — save for three games — was completely wiped out.
The battle between bat and ball is fascinating in the shorter grades, and there’s certainly been plenty of aggressive innings as a result.
Incredibly, there has been 25 scores of 50 or more in just eight rounds in the A grade competition, while there have also been three 100s to savour.
Oddie’s unbeaten 101 for Beaufort against Colts Phelans was perhaps the best, with it being the first ever T20 century in the competition’s short history.
It was part of a weekend where Oddie hit 176 of his 258 runs for the season, as the Crows have emerged as a competition threat after a winless season in 2022/23.
Maryborough’s Hart has scored the highest A grade total of the season so far, racking up 115 runs, also against Colts. Hart’s extremely aggressive style of play has also yielded a half-century, scoring 63 against Laane in quick time.
Rhys Wagstaff was also among the runs, scoring 108 against Beaufort as he carried his bat throughout the entirety of Colts innings in a losing effort against the Crows in their first one-day encounter.
Laane’s Luke Smith leads all-comers throughout the season so far, immediately filling in the role vacated by Samit Gohil to score 325 runs at an average of 81.3 in seven innings, which has included four half-centuries, including an important 51 in the T20 final against Clunes. It appears that a century is just a matter of time.
There are others who are in the runs who are looking like scoring big as the competition goes into the technical two-day period of the season.
Nalder currently has the third-most runs in the competition, despite not scoring more than 59 in any innings. Instead, keeping his wicket has been the important factor as he has used his experience to finish unbeaten on three occasions, which has boosted his average to 45.6.
Carisbrook teammate Martin Mark currently averages 36, and has also scored two 50s, guiding Brook to a win in round two against Maryborough, while repeating the dose in their last game against the Owls.
While Hannett, Bartlett and Matt are sixth, 13th and 16th in runs throughout the competition, they boast averages which place them in the top 10, with Bartlett’s average of 70 second behind Luke, while Matt’s average of 63 places him fourth. Hannett’s average of 40, meanwhile, is good enough for the eighth best in the competition at this stage.
Maryborough captain Mitch McClure had a slower start to the season, but found his rhythm against Colts Phelans for his 88 in round seven. McClure was one who shone in the two-day format last season, scoring memorable hundreds against Clunes and Colts.
Hoban gives the Owls an excellent batting triumvirate across their top order alongside McClure and Hart, averaging 34.8 in his five innings at the crease.
At Beaufort, alongside Oddie, recruit Jack Smith, as well as opener Kriss Ellis, have stood up enormously to give the Crows some further support.
It was an area of the game they struggled greatly in last season, but with Oddie scoring runs for fun, Smith averaging 29.2 and Ellis scoring two half centuries this season, the Crows have transformed into one of the better batting teams in the competition.
Clunes have been led admirably by Coppick, who has stood into the role and delivered with 186 runs, sitting seventh in the competition and averaging 31, including two 50s.
Lachlan Morganti has had a solid enough start to life at the club, ahead of the two-day competition where he was in exceptional form last season for the Owls, scoring 142 runs so far.
Colts Phelans are the only team in the competition to not have a batter average more than 30, but they still have some excellent options, with Wagstaff leading the way with 201 runs, enough for fifth in the comeptition.
Dave Robinson has shown his worth as an all-rounder, scoring 183, while Luke Tatchell has been in very good form, scoring 90 runs in his last two outings. Dayne Baker has also scored 103 runs for the season to give them another scoring option in the middle order.