WITH the mid-season break upon the Sunraysia Cricket Association, MITCH RODD takes a look at the top 10 run scorers and wicket takers across the opening seven rounds of First Division action.
LEADING RUN SCORERS
Wade Hancock (Gol Gol)
Runs: 510 Ave: 127.5 100s: 2 50s: 2
ANOTHER magnificent season lies ahead for arguably the premier batsmen in the Sunraysia Cricket Association as Gol Gol look to go back-to-back.
Two unbeaten centuries and another score in the 90s underlines Hancock’s quality, and take away a duck from his eight innings and his average would be at 170.
Jason Morrison (Mildura Settlers)
Runs: 388 Ave: 55.43 100s: 1 50s: 2
MORRISON still ranks amongst the most destructive batsmen in the competition as evidenced by his second innings 228 not out against Merbein, the highest score in recent memory.
While the explosive opener also has three ducks he has two half centuries which push him up to second in the runs totals.
Shannon Bowen (Nichols Point)
Runs: 384 Ave: 64 100s: 1 50s: 3
ANOTHER consistent season from the middle order run machine as Nichols Point find themselves on top of the ladder heading into the break.
With a top score 105 not out plus another 93, Bowen picked up where he left off last season and will be a vital player as his side look for consecutive finals appearances.
Shac Thomas (Gol Gol)
Runs: 300 Ave: 50 100s: 1 50s: 1
PERHAPS not quite the dominant start to the season with the bat we’re accustomed to from Thomas, however a delayed start after recovering from a serious knee injury to be expected.
However, a century and a well constructed 74 has pushed him into the top five for runs, a position you would expect him to remain in.
Kian Burns (Mildura West)
Runs: 294 Ave: 42 100s: 1 50s: 0
IN his second season at John Hall Oval the Englishman has been West’s most consistent batsman to start the campaign, especially in the absence of the injured Chris Williams.
While only raising the bat once, Burns also has three scores in the 40s and with a strong 42 average, he’ll be important as West aim for finals.
Brad Thomas (Mildura East)
Runs: 283 Ave 47.17 4.2 100s: 1 50s: 1
A STRONG run of form before the break has yielded the Mildura East co-captain 227 of his runs in the past three innings.
Thomas struck a superb unbeaten 123 against Mildura West which helped pry East out of early trouble at 4/14 to go on and win, proving he is the man to help when the chips are down.
Shaun Mathews (Nichols Point)
Runs: 282 Ave 47 100s: 0 50s: 3
AS consistent as they came, the Nichols Point captain has been impressive once again with the bat as his side has made a flying start to the season.
The all-rounder has led from the front at the top of the order and one feels a triple figure score could be on the horizon in 2024.
Tom Vadlja (Mildura East)
Runs: 273 Ave: 68.25 100s: 0 50s: 3
POSSESSING the best average in the top 10 of any player not named Wade Hancock, the seven-time Innes Medal winner continues to be a strong presence for Mildura East.
Vadlja finished 2023 with consecutive half-centuries, sharing in partnerships of 151 and 99 with Thomas to put their side in a solid position for the final seven games.
Mark Thomson (Irymple)
Runs: 251 Ave: 41.83 100s: 1 50s: 1
THE reigning Innes Medal winner finally broke through for his maiden First Division century as he put together another solid campaign for the Swallows.
The Irymple skipper could have reached triple figures twice after scoring an impressive 93 during their win over Gol Gol.
Tony Trinick (Merbein)
Runs: 235 Ave: 26.11 100s: 0 50s: 2
A SOLID season from the Merbein all-rounder who has mainly taken strike at the top of the order for the Magpies.
‘Scooter’ Trinick can hang his helmet on a solid high score of 80 against Gol Gol, while his 63 in the impressive win over Mildura Settlers was important.LEADING WICKET TAKERS
Billy Phelan (Irymple)
Wickets: 21 Ave: 12.33 BB: 6/35
IRYMPLE COACH Bryson Lush called Phelan a smoky for the Innes medal, and his bowling form suggests the call could be right on the money.
The pace bowler has gone wicketless in just one game so far as he tops the table, his season best 6/35 impressive against Settlers as he initially had 4/1 during the innings.
Locke Thornton (Mildura West)
Wickets: 18 Ave: 13.94 BB: 6/37
TWO five-wicket hauls proves Thornton’s potency, but he has also taken a wicket in every game so far showing his consistency.
The Mildura West bowler was one identified as playing an important role for the season and that will certainly be the case in the remaining fixtures.
Shac Thomas (Gol Gol)
Wickets: 17 Ave: 14.41 BB: 5/35
LAST season’s leading wicket-taker picked up where he left off and despite a delayed start, he is the only all-rounder to feature in both top 10 categories.
Thomas has two five-wicket hauls so far this season and could add more to the tally before the end of the season.
Justin Freeman (Coomealla Wentworth)
Wickets: 16 Ave: 12.62 BB: 6/21
THE early clubhouse leader in the wickets category, Freeman is performing towards his best so far this season for the Blues.
A brilliant 6/21 against Merbein has been his best haul so far but the pace bowler has been consistent across the campaign.
Shane Trinick (Merbein)
Wickets: 16 Ave: 17.88 BB: 4/10
IF anyone in the competition knows about taking wickets, it’s Merbein stalwart Shane Trinick who has been important again with the ball for his side.
Helping lead a younger Magpies outfit ‘Maxi’ has only gone wicketless in one game so far leading the line.
Ben Green (Merbein)
Wickets: 16 Ave: 20.31 BB: 6/19
THE tall 21-year-old import from Stoke has taken the new ball for the Magpies and has put his pace to good use for his new side.
Green wasn’t getting the desired wicket in his first few efforts but back-to-back hauls of six and four wickets proved his potency when on track.
Liam Freeman (Coomealla Wentworth)
Wickets: 15 Ave: 15.8 BB: 5/32
A WORKHORSE who isn’t afraid to put in the hard yards, Freeman features regularly inside the top 10 wicket takers each campaign.
The Blues star has been both the frontline wicket taker and the bowler who build pressure at varying times through the season so far.
Andrew Ross (Mildura East)
Wickets: 15 Ave: 17.6 BB: 6/61
A LOT of Mildura East’s early success can come down to co-captain Ross who has been outstanding with the ball.
Often taking the new ball, the all-rounder’s form in recent weeks has been brilliant, with 13 of his 15 scalps coming in the past four innings.
Tauseef Kataria (Coomealla Wentworth)
Wickets: 13 Ave: 12.15 BB: 4/13
THE 19-year-old from Nottingham isn’t afraid to show aggression to opposing batsmen, and consequently the import has been a handy pick-up for the Blues.
Despite not arriving until round 4, Kataria has two hauls of four wickets, including 4/13 against Merbein, and could be one to watch in the second half of the season.
Angus Smith (Merbein)
Wickets: 12 Ave: 18.42 BB: 4/14
ONE of Merbein’s emerging junior talents, Smith has impressed with bat and ball so far, including seven wickets across two innings against Coomealla Wentworth.
Still eligible for under-16s, the youngster has played in the Cricket Victoria Cup for Mallee Murray Suns and will play for Sunraysia’s under-17 side next year.
