CRICKET: Jeremy Ralph might live in Warwick but you can never take the Inglewood out of the boy.

He hit the highest score of his career, 98 not out, as Inglewood beat Sovereign Animals in the qualifying final on Sunday in Warwick reserve-grade cricket.

“I hit a four and two singles in the last over and was aiming to remain unbeaten and wasn’t worried about my score,” Ralph said.

“Michael Jones ran the water out with four overs to go and told me I was 80.

“Tyler Wolff and I decided we weren’t worried about him scoring 50 or me 100, we just wanted to keep our partnership going which reached 98.”

Wolff made 38 not out.

As for scoring two more for his first century in the future, Ralph said he would never say never.

“I was pretty excited just to get to 50, it was my first half century. My previous highest was 46,” he said.

Ralph is one of the team co-ordinators and said his side would be underdogs for the grand final against Warwick Hotel Colts on Saturday at Mayhew Oval.

“We haven’t strung the wins together this season and Colts has a class side,” he said.

“Lachlan Gross, Geoff Thorley, Maugan Benn and Cameron Peterson are all in form for Colts and will be hurting they missed the A-grade play offs.

“We are hoping to field the same side as last weekend. The team isn’t overloaded with players as some didn’t qualify for the finals.”

Ralph played rugby league for the Inglewood Roosters and won a premiership and then travelled to Warwick to play for the Cowboys when the Roosters went into recess for a time. He moved to Warwick at age 21 to work at Cassels Automotive. Ralph first played cricket for Inglewood as a schoolboy and joined again years later.

He was part of the inaugural Inglewood Roos cricket team to play in the Warwick competition and has played for the club during two premiership winning seasons, one in A grade and one in reserve grade.