Hicks snags a bag after thrashing his way to a big century
MARK it down as one of the brilliant individual displays in Geelong Cricket Association history.
Thomson allrounder Jayden Hicks completed the double of a century and a five-wicket haul in Saturday’s 119-run win over Guild-St Mary’s.
Hicks dispatched 16 fours and seven sixes in his 140 of the Tigers’ 7-234.
He then claimed 6-12 off 7.2 overs to bowl the home side out for 105.
Thomson captain Adam Petterwood rated it as the best individual effort he had seen.
“It’s great to be involved in a game with one of your best mates and just to witness it and see someone enjoy it so much. He enjoyed winning the game for us,” Petterwood said.
“It was great to be out there and involved in it.”
Hicks arrived in the middle with the score at 3-38, sharing partnerships with Josh Hartshorne (28) and Nick Earl (23) to lead the recovery.
Thomson needed to win to be any chance of making GCA3 finals but St Albans Breakwater’s upset over Lethbridge ended its slim top-four hopes.
“The hundred was chanceless,” Petterwood said.
“We were three (down) for not many, he walked out to bat and he just assessed the situation. He got himself in — and it was a really good wicket — and made the most of it.
“He took control of both partnerships. Those two guys did really well to bat with him, get him on strike, run hard between the wickets but Jayden just took control of the game.
“When he bowled, he just bowls on a 20c piece. (He) gave the batsmen nothing so they had to create.”
Hicks claimed six of the final seven wickets with his medium pace as Guild-St Mary’s lost its final four wickets for three runs.
His haul included three LBWs and one bowled, completing a brilliant individual display.
“He was just dominant,” Petterwood said.
“I said during the week he was, in my opinion, the best player in the comp and he proved it yesterday.”