The final regular season Kookaburra One Day matches in the KFC Queensland Premier Cricket competition saw a string of lower scoring games than the previous weekend as the race for the Finals hotted up. CAM VELLACOTT reports on the action, while the first Team of the Round has been named!
Premier One Day Finals Loom
Bowlers Dominate, Lovell’s Form Continues
All eyes were on the Redlands v Wests and University v Gold Coast matches, with each of the four teams gunning for a spot in the finals. Norths secured a big win against Wynnum-Manly to claim top spot, while Valley's bonus points from the previous weekend saw them hang on to a spot in the four despite their loss to Toombul.
In a traditional battle of East vs West, Redlands took the trip to Jack McLaughlin Oval hoping to extend their One Day season by at least another weekend.
Winning the toss and bowling, Wests firebrand and Queensland Rookie Tom Whitney struck twice early to leave Redlands 2/5.
Despite Stephan Muller (66 off 96) anchoring the innings from no 3, the Wests bowlers were able to maintain the ascendancy throughout. Whitney (3/18 off 7) and fellow QLD Bull Blake Edwards (3/32 off 8) led the Bulldogs from the front with the ball.
Wests batters Tom Campbell (52* off 66) and Josh del Simone (46* off 35) saw their side chase the Redlands' total of 141. Most importantly, Wests swift chase (25 overs) saw their net run rate climb past Redlands and book a spot in the four.
The Gold Coast elected to bowl first against the home side University of Queensland. The Dolphins struck early in their do-or-die clash, trapping Bryce Street in front for 18.
However, the prolific Angus Lovell (81 off 124) and Jack Clayton (74 off 77) formed an excellent partnership and platform for new recruit Alecz Day (68* off 45) to launch from. Uni finished their innings 6/290.
Despite some brutal batting from Josh Kann (45 off 34), the left-arm pace and variety of Matt Willans (3/34 off 7 overs) led Uni to a dominant position early. Lachlan Crump (67 off 88) tried his best for the Dolphins, however the early damage caused by Willans and the students proved too much to come back from, Gold Coast all out 210. The win locked in second spot for Uni.
At Wynnum-Manly, Norths registered a thumping victory to lock in top spot. The rapid duo of Will Prestwidge (2/20 off 4) and Connor Sully (3/33 off 7) (pictured above) decimated the Sea Eagles top order, Prestwidge taking both of his wickets in the third over of the match.
Sam Neale (2/20 off 5) and Blake Maher (2/2 off 3) then quickly wrapped up the tail, Wynnum all out 108. Chasing maximum points, Scott Palombo (59* off 37) made light work of the run chase. One of the form players in the competition across both the One Day competition and KFC T20 Max, Palombo continues to rise to the occasion in his new colours this season.
The Sunshine Coast finished their white ball season with a strong victory against South Brisbane. Bowling first, Scorchers seamer Chad Soper (5/15) tore through the Magpies top order. Reduced to 8/70, Souths number 7 and 10 batters, Matthew Love (41 off 99) and fellow teenager Edward Leslie (54* off 73), managed to drag their side to 9/179 off their 50 overs. The match was all about the Scorchers though, with Melbourne Renegades bat Mackenzie Harvey (102 off 86) continuing his strong early season form and Sam Truloff (47 off 53) pairing for a big partnership to secure the win by 7 wickets.
Toombul finished their white ball season with a hard fought win against Valley. Valley fast bowlers Benji Floros (3/30), Don Whyte (2/24 off 5) and Joseph Pratt (2/41 off 9) did well to restrict the home side to 198 all out. Jack Webster (38 off 42) top scored for Toombul, however none of the seven batters who made double digits were able to convert their starts. Tom Balkin (4/58) bowled with serious pace early, upsetting Valley opener Dylan McLachlan with a ferocious bouncer first ball. Balkin removed the dangerous Valley trio of McLachlan, Jack Beath and Jack Wildermuth to help have Valley 5/32. Paddy Cotter (50 off 62) top scored for his side, however it wasn’t enough as they fell short by 22 runs.
A pair of half centuries to a pair of Harrys set up Ipswich for a strong win against Sandgate-Redcliffe. Young opener Harry Sheppard (66 off 95) and Harry Austin (52 off 84) helped the Hornets to 9/218. Kabua Vagi-Morea (3/29) and Ben Skinner (3/59) led the wicket takers for the Gators. After a strong partnership between Jake Winter (60 off 57) and Harry Sweeney (32 off 67), Ipswich young guns Jem Ryan (3/25 off 7), Bryn Llewellyn (3/22) and Noah Emmerson (2/17 off 4) caused carnage. Sandgate-Redcliffe quickly fell from 3/107 to all out 153.
The Kookaburra One Day Finals will be held on Sunday, with Northern Suburbs hosting Western Suburbs at Ian Healy Oval at Kalinga and University of Queensland doing likewise for Valley at WEP Harris Oval at St Lucia.
The Katherine Raymont Shield featured some strong efforts as the balance of power shifted with Queensland Fire players missing the round due to their opening Women's National Cricket League committments.
Ipswich bounced back from a tough KFC T20 Max campaign to claim an impressive win over the Sunshine Coast, while Wynnum-Manly were composed in defeating Gold Coast.
Competition front-runners Western Suburbs overcame Valley while T20 Max champions Sandgate-Redcliffe clinched a high-scoring affair against University of Queensland.
The Gators mustered 7-263 courtesy of a 115-run stand between wicket-keeper Caitlin Mair (73) and Mia Croucamp (83), before a classy effort in the field held UQ to 254. The Students had half centuries to Emma Jackson (75) and Anlo van Deventer (56) while the ever-consistent Charni Bloxsom (4-49) and 35no did her best to produce a win for her team.
Wests took a low-scoring win over Valley, with Naiya Varidel snapping up 4-27 from her 10 overs to keep Valley to 103, which was bolstered by a quickfire 21 from former Queensland player and current Valley coach Leteysha Randall. Wests strode to 6-104 with captain Ruby Strange (35no) ensuring the win.
The Scorchers made 142, with evergreen Margit Cruice top-scoring with a patient 32 as the Hornets turned to new ball bowler Keely Freiberg (two wickets and a pair of run-outs) and Lucy Williams (3-25).
Ipswich then chased down the target for the loss of six wickets, with opener Rebecca Burns (63) the mainstay of the chase.
Wynnum-Manly held firm to account for Gold Coast, with captain Clodagh Ryall (3-19 from 10 overs) and rising leg-spinner Amreen Kahlon (1-11 from 10 overs) restricting the Dolphins to 120. The Sea Eagles had a few wobbles after a sound opening from Ellie Johnston (26) and Rebecca Riddell (25), before Ryall (15no) ensured the victory.
KFC QUEENSLAND PREMIER CRICKET TEAM OF THE ROUND
(23 & 24 Sept)
- Angus Lovell 81 (124) – University of Queensland
- Mackenzie Harvey 102 (86) & 3/36 (10) – Sunshine Coast
- Caitlin Mair 73 (85) – Sandgate-Redcliffe
- Scott Palombo 59* (37) – Northern Suburbs
- Alecz Day 68* (45) – University of Queensland
- Mia Croucamp 83 (91) – Sandgate-Redcliffe
- Thomas Balkin 29 (64) & 4/58 (10) – Toombul
- Chad Soper 5/15 – Sunshine Coast
- Charni Bloxsom 4/49 (10) – University of Queensland
- Edward Leslie 54* (73) & 3/40 (10) – South Brisbane
- Naiya Varidel 4/27 (10) – Western Suburbs
Each week The Courier-Mail covers the Premier Cricket round with 3-2-1 points from matches. Their latest reports are available here (note subscription required):
https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/sport/bulls-fast-bowling-young-guns-fire-scorchers-sensational-and-bats-healy-sharma-star/news-story/0ac4b2a4d5b0f000e2be87dbeefe9996