Elworthy makes his pitch
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MITCHELTON: As Queensland Cricket starts its search for the man to replace retiring Michael Kasprowicz, Mitchelton teenager Matthew Elworthy has produced a spell that would make the former Australian Test player proud.
The 17-year-old was playing for Norths' fifth grade team against Souths last month when he claimed a hat-trick of lbws in a devastating spell of six wickets for just four runs.
Elworthy eventually finished with 7-14 on a memorable afternoon that also won him Queensland Cricket's first grade player of the week award for 2008.
``It was really good, we didn't get the biggest total so it was important to get some wickets,'' Elworthy said.
``I just tried to bowl nice and full and it was just one of those days where I felt really good.''
Elworthy was successful in his opening over, and then was on a hat-trick in his second over.
However, an attempted yorker was successfully blocked.
Runs were at a premium as the constant volley of fast, accurate, full pitched deliveries kept the top order on their toes.
Elworthy's sixth and final over of his opening spell brought the ultimate success.
His second, third and fourth deliveries each produced big lbw shouts, and the umpire raised his finger on each occasion.
It was a rare outing for Elworthy in the Vikings' fifth grade, with the youngster having spent most of the year lining up for the fourth grade and under-17s.
And it's not just with the ball that Elworthy is handy, averaging 44 in the under-17s this summer including a half-century.
A lot of Elworthy's success can be attributed to his work with former Queensland paceman Shane Jurgensen, who is a mentor to the former Mackay resident.
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