COUSINS SCORE CENTURIES
Johnston teens belt twin centuries in Brisbane
CRICKET: They might still be in high school, but the Johnston girls left a memorable impression on Brisbane’s premier competition at the weekend.
Cousins Ellie and Ruth Johnston were simply unstoppable for the Ipswich/ Logan Hornets at the weekend, each belting a century and forming a huge third-wicket partnership in the process.
Captaining the Katherine Raymont Shield side at just 17 years of age, Ellie opened the batting on her way to a knock of 108.
Coming into the middle with the Hornets at 2/35, Ruth, 17, linked with her cousin to turn the game on its head, scoring 128 runs as the two combined for a 189run partnership.
Growing up in Dalby, the pair have enjoyed success in Toowoomba cricket, the Girls Hub and at Fairholme College before making the step up to first grade in Brisbane.
Hornets coach Wayne Bichel was left mesmerised by the display, which saw Ellie blast her maiden ton, and Ruth add her second.
“It was great to watch. The two girls have a lot of talent, and for all the cricket they’ve played together, it was pretty special for Ruth to be there for Ellie’s 100,” Bichel said.
“You almost forget how young they are. Ellie has been our skipper for three years now. She’s level-headed and the girls respond to her.
“Ruth has a lot of potential. She scored a century at the back end of last season, and she’s really learning the
craft.
“They started patiently, got their singles away before opening up. They were two wellconstructed innings.”
Such was the dominance of the Johnston cousins, the pair combined for 236 of Ipswich/ Logan’s 310-run total.
“Ellie, on the back of securing a Queensland Fire contract, had scored a lot of 50s, so it was good to get the monkey off the back,” Bichel said.
“Ruth has really built off the century she scored from the year before.
“They were a bit dirty that they didn’t get to 200 (run partnership). It’s the right attitude, because as good as it was, they’re still pushing themselves to go further.
“The innings has ebbs and flows, and the best place to learn about that is in the middle. They’re learning the different stages of their innings.”