Victoria well placed in Junior Indoor Championships

The under-16 boys are currently undefeated while the under-18 girls (Blue) have been the surprise packet of the tournament.

The under-14 boys currently sit fourth with three wins and one loss with one game in hand on the top three teams, and just six points separating the top four in total.

The wicketkeeping of Connor Phillips has been exceptional, as has the leg spin bowling of Jake Fraser-McGurk.

Fraser-McGurk, the captain, is bowling with real spin, drift, and bounce and has caused problems for all batsmen.

The game against Western Australia tomorrow, who currently sitting top, may decide the vital top two and double chance berths.

The under-16 boys are undefeated after six matches and sit at the top of the ladder.

On Tuesday they overcame a strong WA outfit to win on the last ball.

The Victorians were trailing 99 to 98, with WA batting, before the WA batsman did not offer a shot on the last ball and was dismissed LBW.

Later in the day, Victoria overcame the highly-ranked SA team, defending 109, with the contest going down to the wire in the last over.

Four standouts for the Victorians so far have been Hugo Ferdinand, Sashin Garber, Ryan Peter-Budge, and Daniel Scholz.

Scholz has fantastic hands at the back of the court, never fumbling and effecting crucial run outs.

Ferdinand’s pace and athleticism has been a factor, and the batting pair of Garber and Peter-Budge are calm and reliable pushing scores beyond the reach of the opposition.

At this point they look certain of gaining the double chance going into finals on Friday.

The under-18 boys sit fifth on the ladder with two wins and three losses and are in a battle for fourth spot with ACT.

Their form has fluctuated with some big wins and some big losses and hopefully their best is yet to come as we head into the business end of the week.

The surprise packets of the tournament are the Victorian under-18 girls (Blue) team, currently sitting on top of the ladder with four wins and one loss, just ahead of QLD and NSW, who are on the same points.

This competition has been very close and it’s hard to predict what will happen in the second half of the week.

The Victorian girls have improved enormously and are in with a big chance.

Cricket Victoria Indoor Cricket Manager Ross Gregory, who is in Brisbane watching proceedings, said that he is particularly pleased with the form of the under-18 girls side.

“I am so proud of the girls, not just because they’re winning but the way they are playing such strong competitive cricket, it’s great to see,” Gregory said.

“It would be a massive upset but I think the girls can do it.”

Isabelle Weber has been consistent with bat and ball, Maddie Wright behind the stumps and with the bat, and Chloe Rafferty also with the bat have been very strong and damaging.

For all the results and to watch live streaming of the tournament from 9am Friday and 8.30am Saturday, go to www.indoor.cricket.com.au