As the WBBL ends and the BBL starts, Queensland Premier Cricket players are showcasing their skills at the right time. As the action heats up, CAM VELLACOTT highlights the latest efforts to catch the eye.
Premier Cricket Heats Up
The penultimate fixture before the Christmas break saw some breathtaking cricket played around the grounds. Men’s First Grade was highlighted by a thrilling victory saw Ipswich keep their unbeaten streak alive, setting up an undefeated top of the table clash this weekend against Valley. In the women’s First Grade competition, Wests also continued their unbeaten run in a clinical display against Ipswich.
At Ivor Marsden Oval, Toombul slumped to 4/26 in pursuit of Ipswich’s 246. After resuming play 2/13, Toombul lost their first wicket, recent Heat signing Lachlan Hearne, in extraordinary circumstances. Hornets bowler Adam Smith bowled the first delivery of the day from the northern end, to which the unsteady landing zone proved troublesome. Off spinner Noah Emmerson (3/71) then replaced Smith to see through the over, dismissing Hearne to a fine catch at first slip off the second ball of his spell – third ball of the over. Preston White (69 off 149) settled in for Toombul and showed his class as one of the top players in the competition. Toombul’s batters scrapped on a tricky wicket which took to turn. However, Ipswich bowlers Bryn Llewellyn (2/54), Sean Lutter (2/25) and Emmerson persisted to have Toombul 9/165. Number 9 Jordan Cabot (36 off 84) and number 11 Jeremy White (38* off 82) then grafted slowly towards the target score. At 9/245, Toombul were within 2 runs of a miraculous run chase. It wasn’t to be for Toombul, as Cabot looked to loft Llewellyn over mid on and chipped it straight to Harry Wood.
For the fourth time this two day season, a match has come down to either a single run or tied result – a glowing endorsement for the strength of competition.
At Sandgate-Redcliffe, the batting firepower of Norths proved too much for the Gators. Norths batters Mitch Doolan (68 off 159) and Rav Srivastava (60 off 56) helped guide their side from 2/110 to 4/233, chasing Sandgate-Redcliffe’s 334. With an even hundred left to chase, hard hitting allrounder Blake Maher blasted a sublime century off a mere 59 balls. The crescendo of his innings coming as he hit 5 maximums in his last 7 balls to surge Norths to 5/376d. Maher finished 111* off 61 balls and hit a dozen maximums in his innings. In the second innings, Norths’ Noah McFayden (2/43) added to his first innings wicket tally, while Steve Cawood (61 off 58) helped see Sandgate to 3/130 at close of play.
Wynnum-Manly secured their second win of the season against Wests at Bill Albury Oval. Defending 304, Wynnum bowlers Liam Guthrie (4/40) and Harmon Sandhu (3/54) were relentless as the spearheads of their side’s bowling attack. West’s captain Steve McGiffin (69 off 95) led from the front, however no other Wests player was able to pass 30 as regular wickets fell. Wynnum dismissed Wests all out 190 to claim first innings points. In the second innings, Wynnum opener Dakota Rodgers (103* off 90) and Jed Wilson (52* off 27) put on a show as they chased points. They finished 2/202 off the remaining 31 overs in the day.
Ladder leaders Valley took on Souths in what was set up as a second week’s one day style match. With first innings points already secured for Valley and a 68 run lead, an outright victory was the clear target. Valley’s batters wasted minimal time, Dylan McLachlan (58 off 70), Connor Nowlan (49 off 96) and Max Bryant (82 off 58) amassing the bulk of their runs. After Valley were 3/202, Souths bowlers James Ward (2/46), James Rosewarne (3/47) and Jacob Dunne (2/27) did well to restrict Valley to be all out 230. With 42 overs remaining in the day, Valley bowlers went hard at Souths and went within a wicket of winning outright. Souths batters did just enough to hand onto not losing, finishing 9/95. Zanden Jeh continued to impress with his left arm orthodox, taking 6/24 off 15 overs. Jeh’s impressive performance continues to solidify his place as one of premier spinners in the competition.
University of Queensland headed down the M1 to Bill Pippen Oval with the tough ask of chasing 357 against the Dolphins. Seeking to ignite their season, last year’s grand finalists saw hope through Angus Lovell (84 off 150), Max Clayton (77 off 178) and Harry Walker (41 off 74). After reaching 3/240, Gold Coast allrounder Caleb Ziebell (3/36) dismissed both Clayton and Walker in quick succession to have the Uni run chase faltering. Former Queensland U19 representative Lachlan Crump (2/18) then continued to Coast’s momentum, taking two wickets to reduce Uni to 8/289. After a small flurry of runs, the Gold Coast claimed the last two wickets to have Uni all out 321 and claim first innings. Opening bowlers Xavier Bartlett (2/64) and Matt Revis (2/67) both bowled 20 overs and led from the front.
After claiming a first innings win last week, the Sunshine Coast returned to Redlands with their eyes on an outright. The Scorchers declared before the start of play with an 83 run lead. It was groundhog day for Redlands, Selman taking another catch at first slip as Lleyton Chick (3/43) removed Brian Sanders without troubling the scorers. Chick and Chad Soper (1/42) took another wicket each to have Redlands in big trouble at 3/45. Fortunately for the home side, captain Leigh Drennan (104* off 152) paired with Cameron French (49 off 72) to pass the deficit score and chip away at a lead. Redlands managed to bury any chance of losing outright and eventually declared 7/262, leaving the Scorchers with a target of 179 off 10 overs. The Sunshine Coast score 3/57 when stumps were drawn.
In women’s First Grade, Wests bowlers Ayaka Stafford (4/26), Naiya Varidel (3/32) and Lilli Hamilton (2/22) proved too strong for Ipswich, who were dismissed for 173 chasing Wests’ 7/217. Keyra Smith (44 off 55) top scored for the Bulldogs. Jessica Cremin (5/19) and Melanie Vernyik (4/23) were unstoppable for Sandgate in their strong win against the Gold Coast. After posting 176, Sandgate dismissed the Gold Coast for 118.
Reigning Kath Smith Medalist Mikayla Wrigley (71* off 87) led the Sunshine Coast’s run chase against Valley. Wrigley and Tarah Staines (46 off 69) were clinical in their performance, the Scorchers only losing 4 wickets as they chased 166. Abby Harris top scored for Valley with 58 . Ruby Orchard (3/22) and Shari Anderson (2/26) led the Sunshine Coast’s bowlers. University successfully defended 147 against Wynnum-Manly after Tara Wheeler (91 off 124) batted superbly on a difficult wicket. Opening the batting, Wheeler managed to continue scoring and lead her side to a strong total. Wynnum bowlers Clodagh Ryall (4/26) and Zoe Cooke (3/33) led the wicket takers. Cooke (28 off 29) also top scored for her side, however Uni’s Charni Bloxsom (4/29), Olivia Clark (2/19) and Bree Craven (2/23) proved too strong in bowling Wynnum out for 113.
In youth cricket, University of Queensland are the Taverners Queensland Under-17 competition champions, defeating Gold Coast at Bill Pippen Oval in an exciting clash.
UQ dismissed Gold Coast for 163 and then fought hard to chase down the target for the loss of six wickets.
It made it two titles in as many week's for UQ after their claimed the Katherine Raymont Shield last week as T20 women's premiers.
KFC Queensland Premier Cricket TOTW
- Dakota Rodgers 103* (90) Wynnum-Manly
- Max Bryant 82 (58) Valley
- Angus Lovell 84 (150) University of Queensland
- Mikayla Wrigley 71* (87) Sunshine Coast
- Leigh Drennan 104* (152) Redlands
- Blake Maher 111* (61) Northern Suburbs
- Abby Harris 58 (95) Valley
- Jessica Cremin 5/19 (6.2) Sandgate-Redcliffe
- Liam Guthrie 4/40 (12.4) Wynnum-Manly
- Ruby Orchard 3/22 (7.2) Sunshine Coast
- Ayaka Stafford 4/26 (10) Western Suburbs
Each week The Courier-Mail covers the Premier Cricket round with 3-2-1 points from matches. Their latest reports, including an in-depth appraisal of the Taverners Queensland competition are available here (note subscription required):