One weekend down, only one to go for season22-23! And the return of Test star Marnus Labuschagne will add to the air of anticipation this weekend at Allan Border Field after University of Queensland agreed to the inclusion of the Australian and Queensland batsman in the Redlands side for the second week of the match.
Last Saturday and Sunday brought all you could ask for - positive cricket and weather which allowed full days' play. At the newly refurbished Allan Border Field, Redlands won the toss and elected to bowl on what had the appearance of a green monster.
University batting trumps Bryce Street and Angus Lovell looked to settle in, with Uni hoping they would both continue their stellar seasons with the willow. However, after half an hour of play Lovell chased a wide one from Jon Stimpson which managed to first find his outside edge, and then the hands of Liam Smith at second slip.
While the ball was moving around for the seamers as you would expect in the first hour of play, it did not stop Redlands from turning to the off spin of Jack Sinfield after only 11 overs. The plan worked, with Sinfield claiming Clayton’s wicket in his second over. James Bazley took a sharp catch in the process, diving to his left at first slip.
Uni went to lunch 2/80. The game on a relatively even keel, Redlands would’ve been quietly happy knowing they had the two huge wickets of Angus Lovell and Jack Clayton. Bryce Street was still at the crease however, and Uni had plenty of batting to come.
After lunch, Street and Max Clayton saw through the first half an hour and took their side within two of a century. Sinfield then switched ends, coming from the newly named Katherine Raymont End, formerly known as the Albion Park Dog Raceway End. Around the wicket into the left handed Street, Sinfield’s third ball of his 11th over drifted in before ripping away. Pitching well wide of the stumps, Street looked to cut hard, however the turn and bounce proved to much. A top edge and a terrific catch by Jimmy Peirson had the stonewall Street removed for 44 (120), Uni 3/98.
With their tails up, Redlands mounted pressure from both ends. Tom Kelaart faced 13 balls for nought before nicking a full outswinger from Jon Stimpson, 4/103. Sinfield had a man under the lid and a leg slip bowling around the wicket and into the body of the right handed Max Clayton. The plan worked, Sinfield claiming Max Clayton caught at leg slip for his third wicket, Uni 5/108. James Grady came to the crease and stoked an elegant boundary from his first ball. However, his second ball went on with the arm and straight through his defense, crashing into the stumps. Uni 6/112.
The pressure Sinfield and Redlands applied was immense. Uni veteran Nick Sale looked to counter with his 11 off 19, however Sinfield was again the undoing. Sinfield had Sale caught under the lid on the leg side, Uni 7/126, Sinfield 5/36.
Uni keeper Hugo Walker and Queensland contracted bowler Matt Willians withstood the momentum of the Tigers, putting on a 52 run partnership. Walker’s 58 not out was crucial to giving the Uni bowlers a target to defend. Willans’ 32 runs were also vital for his side. Willans eventually fell to the bowling of Sinfield, caught at long on.
Will Crook added an important 11 runs before being dismissed, while Callum Henderson was able to find the non-strikers end and let Hugo Walker do the scoring. Henderson added 3 of the last 23 runs before falling to Biggs. Uni eventually dismissed all out for 228, Sinfield claiming 7/83 off 32 overs.
Redlands needed to face 13 overs before stumps on day 1, a tough ask for the batters. Stephan Muller fell to the bowling of Will Crook in the fourth over of the innings, edging to first slip. The big wicket of Sam Heazlett then came courtesy of a classic third slip catch. Crook again was the wicket taker, willing his team towards a positive result. Jimmy Peirson and Liam Smith saw out the remaining 5 overs before stumps.
On Sunday morning, Peirson and Smith batted through the first three hours (which included a rain delay and early lunch). The Tigers were travelling well at 2/127, before tall left armer Willans took what has been one of the prized wickets in the country across the summer, Jimmy Peirson (58). Callum Henderson then dismissed Smith caught behind for 56, two quick wickets having Redlands vulnerable at 4/131.
The experienced James Bazley and captain Leigh Drennan put on 60 runs together in the middle, before Drennan was adjudged leg before to the bowling of Street. Callum McBride was caught behind again off Street’s bowling, Redlands 6/219 needing a further 10 runs for first innings.
Bazley was able to get the Tigers across the first innings target by carving one behind point. Bazley was brutal in his innings of 91 (100), hitting 11 boundaries and 2 maximums. Bazley and Sinfield (43 not out) batted strongly to put Redlands in a dominant position of 9/319.
With a first innings lead of 91, it will take something extraordinary from Uni to claim the match back in an outright result. Strange things happen in finals though, and nothing is off the table. It should produce some thrilling cricket!
Around the grounds in the KFC Queensland Premier Cricket competition, South Brisbane have claimed a first innings result over the Gold Coast in Second Grade to continue a sound season for the Magpies. Souths are 5/186 in their second dig, and as it stands Gold Coast would need to chase 335 runs for an outright win.
The middle three grades have an unusual home weekend feeling, with Norths qualifying on top in Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade to host their respective Finals at Shaw Road.
In Third Grade, Uni were dismissed for 250, Norths are 3/125 in reply.
Norths Fourth Grade have claimed a first innings result against Valley, chasing the target of 112 for the loss of 8 wickets. Norths 4s are 8/146 overnight, with a lead of 34.
Norths Fifth Grade were dismissed by Souths for 273, ex-Bulls skipper Jimmy Maher again showing form is temporary, class is permanent. Souths are 1/11 in reply.
In Sixth Grade at Peter Burge Oval, defending premiers Redlands dismissed Valley for 182 and are 3/51.