Jack’s trumps as TSS run machine shines in head-to-head battle
THE Southport School all-rounder Jack Sinfield has led the First XI another step closer to the GPS cricket title with a 72-run victory over Ipswich Grammar School at Brassall.
In a match that pitted two of the state’s top run-scorers against each other it was Sinfield who emerged triumphant, outscoring highly regarded Ipswich Grammar No.3 Harry Sheppard to pilot his school to victory.
Sinfield arrived at the crease with the Gold Coast school 2-75 in the first innings and never left, posting 69 not out from 73 balls to steer his side to 6-216 at the conclusion of its 50 overs.
Sinfield’s 166 competition runs have inspired TSS’ undefeated start to the 2021 campaign, with his batting average of 83 the best in Queensland at First XI level.
Only Saturday’s opponent Sheppard has outscored the TSS product outright, with the help of an extra innings through Southport’s bye round the previous weekend.
Sheppard (186 runs) could only manage 37 before he was caught from the bowling of skipper Lachie Crump, who was a standout with the bat as well with a strong 56 from 88 deliveries at No.3.
In Sinfield and Crump TSS has unearthed two of the top five performing batsmen in the competition with Crump’s 136 runs good for fifth overall in the season run tally despite playing one game fewer than Brisbane Boys’ College’s Taj Annan (163) and Gregory Terrace’s Mitch Bodimeade (143).
Southport is three-from-three and building momentum with decisive matches against BBC, Terrace and Nudgee College on the horizon to close out the 2021 season.
TSS is on the cusp of history with seven GPS premierships in the past 11 seasons.
An eighth would equal Southport’s golden era of success from 1970-1982.