Marist Sion almost take all before them
Marist Sion College almost took all before them at the 44th Australian Marist Cricket Carnival in Bunbury, Western Australia, finishing runner up.
Having won their first four games, Marist Sion were beaten in the final game by Notre Dame College Shepparton, who went back-to-back after winning the 2015 carnival.
Day 1 v Bunbury Catholic College Bunbury got 9-177 off 50 overs. Davis McConnell (3-21) took 3-3 off his last three overs, while Harry Wans and Angus Emery were outstanding with 1-25 each off 10 overs. Aidan Phillips took two wickets. Marist Sion had to work hard for runs in reply.
Joel Batson’s 28 got the team past 50 before they lost four quick wickets.
Harry Wans with 47 played a great knock.
Things got tight at 6-151, but Jarred Carroll (34 not out) and Ed McGillivray (10 not out) had a 29run partnership to steer Marist Sion home with 13 balls and four wickets in hand. Day 2 v Marcellin College Batting first, Joel Batson (28) and Rhys George 47 got Marist Sion off to a good start.
Things really tightened up as Marist Sion lost wickets through the middle but James Fowler (11) and Alex McMillan 40 off 33 balls (including two sixes on a ground that big, boundaries were hard to come by) put on 57 in the last seven overs to finish 7-181 off 50.
Davis McConnell (10 overs 1-12), Aidan Phillips (2-30 off 10) and Alex McMillan (3-26 off seven) were outstanding but fielding at crucial stages let Marist Sion down.
Matt Kelliher bowled a great first spell of eight overs 0-16 but couldn’t nail the 47th over and the Marcellin batters took full advantage, taking him for 15 which brought Marcellin back into the game.
Aidan Phillips and Joel Batson were great at the death.
Marcellin needed four off the last ball. Aidan Phillips got a yorker through the batsman only for keeper Rhys George (after two great diving catches) to fumble and the batters got two runs, leaving Marist-Sion victor by one run. Day 3 v Newman College Perth Marist-Sion won the toss and batted first at the picturesque Donnybrook Oval, making 8-220 with Rhys George 71, Joel Batson 33 and Matt Bow 26 being the major contributors.
The openers (Batson and George) put on more than 50 for the third day in a row.
With Aidan Phillips breaking through early, a steady stream of wickets fell.
Eventually Newman College were bowled out for 95, giving Marist-Sion a 125-run win. Aidan Phillips, Matt Kelliher and Angus Emery each took two wickets.
Day 4 v St John’s Woodlawn (NSW)
Winning the toss and batting first on a very uneven wicket, skipper Joel Batson with 57 was the only Marist-Sion bat to get in and score as they were bowled out for 115.
Even that total was going to be tough to chase on that wicket as proved to be the case as MaristSion were all over St John’s Woodlawn.
Davis McConnell was steaming in and proved to be a menacing prospect for St John’s as his first and second spells blew the game apart.
Aidan Phillips took two early wickets as Marist Sion had St Johns 6-17.
Not before a big number eight bat came in belting everything threatened to win the game for St John’s before McConnell took the big final wicket, lbw. St John’s all out 109, Marist-Sion by six runs.
In such a low scoring game it’s important to highlight the outstanding Marist-Sion bowling figures.
Aidan Phillips six overs three maidens 2-8, Harry Wans 5-0-1-18, Davis McConnell 9.3-2-5-22 and Joel Batson 5-1-1-14.
The last game would see MaristSion play Notre Dame Shepparton who were 3-1. Marist Sion had a better run-rate/wickets quotient than them, so it was winner take all for the Marist Carnival on the final day.
Day 5 Grand Final v Notre Dame Shepparton.
Marist-Sion won the toss and batted.
A solid start was made until Rhys George (18) was out with the score on 49.
Year nine debutant Matt Bow was promoted to number three and looked composed against excellent bowling but was out for 12.
This however was the beginning of a mini collapse that saw MaristSion lose 4-10.
Eddie McGillivray (15) and Alex McMillan (15) supported James Fowler who made an outstanding 53 not out including two sixes and then 10 off the last over.
This saw Marist-Sion 8-192 after 50 overs.
Will Cole took a screamer at second slip to get an early break through off Davis McConnell’s bowling, but the Notre Dame bats, as they had over the past four days of the Carnival, proved too strong getting the 193 with three wickets down.
Davis McConnell took two wickets.
Finishing runner-up at the 44th Australian Marist Cricket Carnival was a huge achievement for the Marist-Sion boys, their coach Jacques Augustin who did an outstanding job, and team manager Dean Hendrikse.
At the presentation evening, Marist-Sion had three boys recognised as All Australian Marist XI players.
Joel Batson, Rhys George (batsmen) and new Marist Cricket cult hero Davis McConnell (bowling) all won Marist XI caps.
Joel Batson won the Brother Crispin O’Sullivan Trophy as captain of the All-Marist XI.
Harry Wans was awarded the Champagnat Spirit of Cricket award for his contributions to the team as a leader, middle order bat and off-spin bowler throughout the carnival.
With nine top age players, a large turnover will present great opportunities for young Marist-Sion Cricketers at the 2017 Marist Cricket Carnival hosted by St Gregory’s Campbelltown, Sydney.