Up next is our B’s mid-season review.
Comprised of a good combination of players from each of last season’s A2’s & C’s premiership sides together with a sprinkling of new players, the B’s have gone from strength to strength & head into the break with a strong 7-2 record. They have set their season up beautifully & find themselves a game & a half plus percentage clear of 2nd & a whopping 4 games & percentage clear of 5th place.
As a result there have been many, many highlights, particularly:-
• The wide array of contributors, noting the B’s have not produced any centuries or five wicket hauls but have four (4) batters in the Top 10 runscorers in the Association & four (4) bowlers in the Top 7 wickettakers;
• An example of that point, in the opening round the B’s spluttered to 6/98 before making 207 (with 5 overs still available) courtesy of the veteran trio of vice-captain Hayden Bolto, skipper Hayden Biddle & the returning Craig Bell batting at 7, 8 & 9 & all making 28 or more;
• Matthew Cummins emerging as a significantly improved player from last season’s experience in A2’s. A true allrounder, Matty has already made three (3) half centuries (two of them unbeaten) & has taken at least one wicket in all but one match, with five (5) multiple wicket hauls;
• The star turn from 16 yo Declan Bell. After playing Rd 1 in C’s (where he made 73 from 84 balls & took 3/7 from 4 overs), Declan took to B’s like a duck to water, making scores of 7 (11), 54 (62), 34 (32), 65 (61) & 53* (29) before being promoted again to A2’s;
• The continued development of Oscar Chapman, who heads to the break with 213 runs @ 70 including three (3) half centuries (in only five (5) innings). We’ve still seen the dominance he is capable of such as his 77* from just 33 balls early in the season but he’s also showed the ability to bat more patiently when the bowling & conditions have required it, such as his 53 from 88 on the turf at Langhorne Creek. Oggy has also held his own in two A2’s matches, with scores of 24 & 17;
• The opposites opening combo of Matt & Oscar, who have put on opening stands of 99 & 135* heading into the break;
• The reliable middle order presences of Oliver Lukins (168 runs @ 28, four (4) scores of 29 or more in only six (6) innings) & Inder Singh (150 runs @ 30, three (3) scores of over 30, including 59 against Mt Barker at the Showgrounds (Inder’s 1st WCC half century)) with Oli also having the opportunity to both keep & captain for the 1st time after more than 150 senior appearances;
• From a bowling perspective, we also need to mention new player Samuel Ritchie, who bowls a heavy ball & has established himself as one of the best bowlers in the comp with 12 wickets @ 10.92 in only six (6) matches and skipper Bids, with 13 wickets @ 12.08 also in only six (6) matches;
• The incredible fightback against Strath at Strath, when the B’s successfully defended 156 despite the Stallions being 0/75 inside 10 overs, with a direct hit run out by Hayden Bolto & then a phenomenal catch from 15 yo Corey Bell triggering a 9/30 collapse by the Stallions;
• The whopping total of 4/241 against the Creek on the Turf, set up by the 99 run opening stand between Oscar (53) & Matt (74) & the 61 run 2nd wicket stand by Matt with Oli (29 from 22) before Declan tore away with 53* from 29;
• Mark, Declan & Corey Bell all taking the field together for several matches;
• Craig & Lucas Bell playing together for the 1st time; and
• In addition to Corey, the blooding of several other U16’s including Jesse Nunan, Noah Murphy & Holly Paech, with Jesse notably taking 3/7 from 5 overs against the Creek in only his 2nd seniors match.
FIRST HALF MVP(s)
With honourable mentions to numerous players, the two standouts to date have been Matt Cummins & Declan Bell. As referred to above, Matty has emerged as a true allrounder & arguably the best one in the B’s comp, with 242 runs @ 34.57 (3rd most in the Assoc) and 13 wickets @ 14.08 (T-4th most in the Assoc).
Declan, meanwhile, across all senior grades heads to the break with 314 runs @ 44.86 with a strike rate of 103, including ten (10) sixes. Declan has also chipped in with 6 wickets @ 8.67 with an economy of 2.81 when given the opportunity to bowl.
