The BGS side was made up of 14 & 15 year old players who were physically much bigger & stronger than our predominantly 12 & 13 year old squad.  The tour opener was an opportunity for HPCC to play all 14 players to get the whole squad into the tour and out on the park after a long winter of training indoors.  The fantastic Oval at BGS was first class and a real thrill for the squad to play at –the pitch was hard and flat and the boys couldn’t believe the pristine nature of the pitch.
BGS batted first which gave HPCC a chance to be a team unit together which settled the nerves a wee bit but it was obvious there were a few anxious faces walking out to field.

These nerves were used extremely well by the entire squad and a very clinical and well executed 17overs in the field followed restricting BGS to 55/2 at the 17 over mark.  The next 17 overs saw the BGS side flex their muscle and HPCC found themselves under pressure and felt not only Queensland heat along with a stiff breeze but also the increasing run rate which saw the total racing to 160/5 after 34 overs.  After some constructive encouraging words from coaches Bryan Young & Alistair Jolley, HPCC fought back with a fantastic finishing 16 overs to pull things back to 229/8 after 50 hard overs in temperatures over 25 degrees with a stiff breeze.  Stand out performers were opening bowlers Brendan Lee (1-20 off 8 overs) and Bradley Milne (1-29 off 8 overs) who bowled well as a partnership and very well supported by Liam Hill (1-14 off 6 overs), Alex Francis-Dittmer (2-33 off 6 overs) and Chad Crenfeldt-Smith (2-32 off 7 overs) plus both wicketkeepers Glenn Phillips & Daniel Young kept wickets very well leading a sharp and efficient fielding effort which is a feature of the squad for the whole tour.

The run-chase by HPCC started promisingly with the loss of 1 wicket for 41 off 12 overs but unfortunately then lost wickets at regular intervals stifling the run-rate.  The BGS bowlers provided a real test especially with extra pace and bounce but the HPCC batsmen never flinched and showed true grit and excellent technique throughout. An excellent 80 run partnership between Taine Jolley (34 off 75 balls) and Glenn Phillips (42 off 65 balls) was the highlight but unfortunately both were dismissed within 4 runs of each other virtually putting an end to HPCC’s chances.  A nice ‘cameo’ from Dale Phillips (25 off 36 balls) helped HPCC to a respectable 177/9 off 50 overs.

HPCC vs Sunshine Coast, Tewantin Oval, Noosa

Again, the opposition were a good 2 years older than HPCC and they ‘dwarfed’ the HPCC players physically.  HPCC fielded first on a wicket that had a little bit of movement in it and a fantastic bowling performance followed. Lee (1-27 off 7 overs) and Milne (2-20 off 8 overs) started the trend and then Sebastian McCole (2-14 off 7 overs) and Alex Francis-Dittmer (3-20 off 10 straight overs) kept the batsmen in check and restricted them to 157 all out in 45 overs.  The fielding was again sharp and a satisfying effort in the field in 32-34 degrees of heat!!

The run chase began cautiously and the SC opening bowlers provided the most pace and hostility the HPCC had ever faced – coaches Young & Jolley were very proud of the way the top order did not shirk their responsibility by showing excellent technique to try and blunt the onslaught.  3-29 after 16 overs was not a true reflection of the hard work completed by Dominic Blake and Daniel Young.  It was Glenn Phillips (54 off 61 balls) and Taine Jolley (13 off 52 balls) who again benefited from the semi-foundation and shared another useful partnership of 62.  The equation for HPCC was only 34 runs off 11 overs with 6 wickets in hand and Phillips & Jolley still at the wicket – unfortunately a lack of composure saw HPCC stumble to 145 all out in 46 overs.  This was the lowest moment of the tour and the boys knew they had let a royal chance to win their first game on tour against the odds and learnt a lot about ‘closing a game out’.

HPCC vs Sunshine Coast Grammar School

A fantastic ground greeted HPCC and probably the hottest day so far in a sheltered oval.  This game saw the opposition be of a more even age predominantly only 1 year older.   HPCC elected to bat and a chance for the other top order batsman to prove themselves on tour. A very even paced innings followed with Abrar Alam (22 off 50 balls) showing the improvement in his game opening the innings in fine style.  Daniel Young (54 retired off 86 balls) and Dale Phillips (52 retired off 79 balls) stepped up to the mark with a terrific 105 run partnership to set up a total which should have seen HPCC exceed 260 but another lack of composure from the middle to lower order saw HPCC lose 5-27 between overs 34 to 42 finishing at 230 all out off 42 overs.  Another harsh lesson learnt!

Coaches Young & Jolley stressed to HPCC that they were 20-30 runs short and that nothing short of an aggressive and clinical display in the field would be required.  HPCC rose to the challenge with an excellent bowling & fielding display.  With Lee & Milne resting for this match it was McCole (1-34 off 9 overs) & Hill (1-31 off 9 overs) opening up and then Crenfeldt-Smith (3-25 off 8 overs) and Kanav Dogra (2-37 off 8 overs) really put the brakes on SCGS.  HPCC strangled the run chase and were thrilled to post their first win of the tour by dismissing SCGS for 183 in the 43^rd over.

HPCC vs Caloundra, Caloundra Oval

Caloundra elected to bat on a beautiful Caloundra Oval in very hot conditions and a wicket made for scoring runs.

The Lee (0-17 off 9 overs) & Milne (1-32 off 8 overs) opening show was back in action setting the tone for the HPCC effort in the field.  But it was Francis-Dittmer (0-11 off 6 overs), Hill (0-23 off 6overs), Crenfeldt-Smith (0-15 off 5 overs) and spinners Liam Winn (2-23 off 6 overs) & Kanav Dogra (0-28 off 7 overs) who shared an excellent bowling performance restricting Caloundra to 166 in 50 overs.

The total was always very short of HPCC’s capabilities with Alam (50 retired off 67 balls), Young (33 retired off 49 balls) and Winn (25 off 50 balls) getting HPCC home in the 41^st over.

HPCC vs St Columbians College

The last game of the tour and the squad was fired up to make it 3 wins in a row and to finish the tour on a high note.

The wicket was hard to read and looked a little ‘up and down’ so HPCC decided to take first use of the batting conditions.  Glenn Phillips (50 off 90 balls) was given an opportunity to open the innings and responded with his second 50 of the tour but unfortunately suffered the same mistake of ‘not going on’ and getting out soon after – a fine innings nonetheless in not ideal conditions.  Milne (16 off 50 balls) was provided with a batting opportunity at 4 and he took it enjoying the chance to bat for a period of time.  Some useful contributions from Winn and Crenfeldt-Smith saw HPCC post 183/8 off 50 overs.

HPCC continued their excellent form and showed great professionalism in maintaining their standards in the field and with the ball in hand.  St Columbians were bundled out for 79 in the 36th over in what was a sub-standard display by them.

However, nothing could be taken away from HPCC who were merciless in their destruction of St Columbians.  Milne (2-9 off 5 overs), Lee (2-2 off 5 overs), Francis- Dittmer (1-13 off 4 overs), Crenfeldt-Smith (1-0 off 3 overs), Dogra (2-11 off 4 overs) and Jolley (2-7 off 5 overs) created the demise of St Columbians.

Result: Win to HPCC by 104 runs.