GRAMMAR LAYS DOWN HAMMER
Doolan’s ton boosts TGS
CRICKET: Toowoomba Grammar has sounded a warning to the rest of the GPS cricket competition with a dominant weekend outing.
At Mills Oval on Saturday, TGS gave the previously unbeaten Nudgee College a warm welcome to the Garden City, destroying the top side by 128 runs.
After losing the toss, Grammar was sent in to bat, something the team was planning on doing, and they wasted no time in putting early runs on the board.
Jacob Gross and Mitch Doolan put on 75 for the first wicket, before Daniel Brown’s 17 helped them to a strong position at 2-123.
Doolan then went on to blast his century, the first for any TGS player this season, with 13 fours and a six to boot.
He was eventually dismissed for 109 from 104 deliveries, however the damage had been done for the visitors, as Grammar powered to a total of 6-228 from a rain-reduced 39 overs.
TGS coach Steve Fryer said the composure and ability of Doolan to occupy the crease was on full display.
“He had to face some tough conditions. They came off four times for rain, so it was a case of starting, and stopping, and starting again,” Fryer said.
“Mitch was able to keep his momentum going though and remained nice and positive.
“He was our set batsman, and others were able to establish partnerships around him. He was going at over a run a ball, so the run rate was nice and healthy, and could take some rest at the other end with partners batting well.
“It was the batting effort we’ve been trying to have for the past four weeks.”
It was the Elijah McRae show with the ball for TGS as Nudgee battled to chase down the large total.
McRae (3-18) knocked over the top three batsmen for the visitors for just 18 runs, getting his side well on top.
The rest of the Nudgee middle order laboured through the innings without being able to turn their starts into substantial runs.
With the writing on the wall at 7-94, Ben Potter was able to make light work of the tail, finishing with figures of 3-12.
Fryer said it was a group effort to help keep Nudgee to just 100 runs for the afternoon, claiming two bonus points in the process.
“Elijah got the first three wickets which were crucial, and Ben got three at the back end,” he said.
“Everyone was able to chip in and everyone played their role.”
Grammar now sits in fifth, and will face Brisbane State High School on Saturday.