A big win for Ballina Under-15s
Ballina’s Under-15 cricket team scored a major victory with a win in last week’s Walter Taylor Shield carnival at Armidale.
Ballina finished unbeaten and beat the strong Sydney side, Hornsby, in the final.
Game 1 v Hunter Valley
Ballina bowled first and got on top early with Tom Watkins dismissing 3 of the first 4 batsmen for ducks to have Hunter Valley reeling at 5 for 32. They were dismissed for 89 with Tom Watkins (3/12) and Jack O’Sullivan (2/14) starring and the rest of the bowlers getting 1 each. The batters made light work of the total with a solid start by the openers Sam Lucas (18) and Josh Pearce (12) and an unbeaten 40 run partnership by Tobyn Burvill (22 no) and Callum Carmont (20no) to get to 2/92 at the 25th over.
Man of the match: Callum Carmont.
Game 2 v Armidale
Ballina batted first and looked in a little trouble at 2 for 43 in the 19th over however from that point the match changed. Tobyn Burvill (29) and Callum Carmont put on 61 runs to steady the ship and then Ryan Jenkins (32) and Carmont put on 104 runs in quick time to get right on top of the Armidale attack. With 3 overs to go Carmont was on 82 and getting to 100 looked tough. However in the 48th over he hit 3 consecutive sixers to bring up his hundered and then a further four and six to take 28 off the over. He was eventually out for 115 (104 balls) in an innings that included 6 sixers and 9 fours. The total after 50 overs was 7/235. Armidale batted steadily however Ballina was always in control and dismissed them for 152. Tobyn Burvill took the honours with the ball with 3/22 backed by the ever reliable Tom Watkins who took 2/28.
Man of the match: Callum Carmont.
Game 3 v Penrith
There was little doubt the men from the mountains were the pre tournament favourates and with both teams undefeated a place in the final was at stake. Ballina batted first and were in early trouble at 2/5 but Sam Lucas (23) and Callum Carmont (27) took the score past 50. At 5/83 things looked grim however Ryan Jenkins then produced his innings of the tournament smashing 58 and with late contributions from Tom Watkins (10) and Baille Shirvill (10no) the final score was 9/176. The opening bowling attack of Tom Watkins (3/14) and Callum Carmont (5/9) smashed through the Penrith batting lineup to have them 5 for 18 after 11 overs and they never recovered to be bowled out for 97.
Man of the match: Callum Carmont.
The Final v Hornsby
With both teams undefeated the final was sure to be a cracker with the local papers billing it as ‘City v Country’. Hornsby won the toss and sent Ballina into bat. Ballina made a fantastic start with the opening batting combination of Tobyn Burvill and Josh Pearce being 0/115 after 25 overs with a massive total on the cards. Then the match changed with several wickets. Tobyn Burvill was out for a wonderful captains knock of 71 which included 8 fours and Josh Pearce a great hand of 31. Several run outs caused some panic but middle order contributions from Matt Earl (12), Ryan Jenkins (17) and Mitchell Pearce (12) got the total to 173 which seemed a bit light on a good batting track. Hornsby looked in control at 1/80 in the 28th over but the introduction of Jack O’Sullivan changed the match taking 3/9 in 3 overs to have Hornsby 4/95. Hornsby batsman then panicked as the required run rate rose and with great bowling from Mitchell Pearce (2/10) and Ryan Jenkins (2/28) and superb fielding by the team to get 3 run outs they were dismissed for 130 with 10 overs remaining.
Man of the match: Tobyn Burvill.
Player of the tournament: Callum Carmont.
PICTURE: The Ballina Under-15 team, back row from left: Peter Carmont (Manager), Joshua Pearce, Ryan Jenkins, Tobyn Burvill, Jack O’Sullivan, Callum Carmont, Russell Pearce (Coach); front row from left: Jamieson McDonald, Matthew Earl, Jasper Bala, Tom Watkins, Mitchell Pearce, Baille Shirvill.
