GIVEN Ben Mitchell’s success at open representative level you would imagine there’s a level of expectation on his shoulders when he comes back to play cricket in his own age group.
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Well, if there’s any pressure then he’s not showing it.
Mitchell’s standout all-round performance, consisting of an unbeaten 104 and five wicket haul, helped St Stanislaus’ College keep its unbeaten start to the division one ISA Cricket season going strong.
The Stannies captain took all five wickets as opponents St Pius X College ended their 50 overs at 5-203.
His opposing leader Tom Colgan hit 100 runs of his own to keep the visiting Stannies boys under pressure.
With the score at 2-44 Mitchell and Lachlan Yates (45) took the game away from Pius with a 119-run stand.
“Ben batted incredibly well and had a really good partnership with Lachie. That partnership was very impressive,” Stannies coach Tony Fisher said.
“Towards the end I thought they were going to get 250. They were 157 at the 40 over mark with eight wickets in hand, but they just didn’t accelerate as much as we thought they would.”
The Chaplin Oval pitch at St Pius X College was once again offering little for bowlers but the Stannies side continued to create chances through their accuracy.
Mitchell’s teammates were unlucky not to add wickets next to their names as well.
Luke Mutton (0-13 from six overs), Sam Hall (0-24 from seven) and Ryan Cooke (0-18 from five) were among a long list of Stannies bowlers piling on the pressure.
“We had some good bowling at the end. Aiden Macauley came back on bowled great. Ryan Cooke bowled some useful overs and Luke Mutton slowed their scoring down,” Fisher said.
“Their captain had a great partnership with his number three but we batted well in response.
"Sam and Bailey [Brien] batted well and got us off to a good start. When Ben and Lachie were in together they just took control and didn’t give them many chances.
“Ben played superbly for his 109 with a nice patient innings and we got ourselves a bonus point because we chased them down in 37 overs.”
Mitchell has notched up centuries in back-to-back ISA first division seasons following his 169 against St Patrick’s College in February.
Stannies are now three wins from as many games to start the season, and sit on top of the table.
The school have a trip to face Oakhill College this Saturday, a team who have dropped just one game so far this season.
Scots All Saints College created a piece of history when they picked up their first division one win as the newly formed school.
The team beat Central Coast at The Scots School by 83 runs.
Ben Cant produced a strong all-round performance of his own with 67 runs and bowling figures of 4-15.
Andrew Knox (43) got the Bathurst team off to a strong start at opener. Hugh Parsons (3-25) and Will Mitchell (2-28) had good days with the ball.
Izaac Chirgwin (1-9) was an economical menace for Central Coast.
Scots All Saints College and St Stanislaus’ College will play each other for the first time on December 1.
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