As the KFC Queensland Premier Cricket heads into the Christmas-New Year Break, the final round of play before the festive season hiatus has hit the hgh notes, as CAM VELLACOTT reports.
Premier Cricket Hits High Notes
The last weekend of the year provided plenty of action, with wild weather and thrilling finishes headlining the weekend.
The top of the table first grade men's clash between Ipswich and Valley was as good a match as there’s been all season. Both sides showed their capabilities and also why they’ll be on the hunt for silverware in March.
Valley resumed the day 5/75, needing a further 130 runs for victory. While the home side might have lost 5 wickets, they did receive a huge boost during the week when Brisbane Heat batter Max Bryant was injected back into the side. Unfortunately for Valley, Bryant (17 off 13) couldn’t continue his Big Bash form as Jem Ryan (3/38) snared the big wicket.
The match, seemingly now in Ipswich’s favour, see-sawed back the way of the Valley as Benji Floros (35 off 42) and Zanden Jeh (10 off 60) partnered at the crease for nearly two hours. That was until Ryan again broke through for Ipswich, Bryn Llewellyn taking a neat catch at mid off running back and across, Floros out and Valley 7/151.
A false stroke from Zanden Jeh shortly after had Valley 8/155. Young fast bowlers Saxon Jeh (20* off 115) and Callum Vidler (16 off 111) showed maturity well beyond their years to bunker down in pursuit of the remaining 50 runs.
Steadily approaching the score, it took arguably the competitions most valuable player in Harry Wood (4/33) to break the partnership. Wood dismissed Vidler, before icing the game by bowling Joey Pratt for the last wicket. Valley all out 189. It was a hard fought contest right through and a match that very much resembled finals cricket. Expect both sides to again be up for the fight if they face off in March.
Wynnum-Manly finished their two day cricket in 2023 with two brilliant wins in a row after knocking over the powerhouse Gold Coast side on Saturday. Wynnum seamer Harmon Sandhu (5/37) was unstoppable throughout his 17 overs, sending down 7 maidens in addition to claiming a five-for.
It all went the way of Wynnum after medium pacer Chris Lloyd (2/18) took the prized scalp of Hugo Burdon (14 off 19) with the first ball of his spell and then top scorer Brad Munro (48 off 72).
Grayson Jones (2/39) also picked up a pair of wickets in his side’s victory. The win sees Wynnum ascend to fifth on the ladder, now only a win behind the fourth placed Gold Coast.
Toombul managed to register a strong victory against Souths to be in sixth position at the break. The irrespresible Preston White (pictured) (147 off 177) continued his remarkable summer in hitting his third century for the Bulls.
White and Addy Grewal (65 off 150) saw Toombul from 2/6 to 3/141 chasing Souths 219. Grewal’s dismissal brought on Sam Wilson (100* off 90), who hit 6 maximums and 8 boundaries in his whirlwind display.
Wilson and White took Toombul past Souths score and to 307, before Wilson brought up his century and Toombul declared 4/363 and the match ended.
Sandgate-Redcliffe showed great fight to hold off a Sunshine Coast side searching hard for an outright win. Young star Steve Hogan (49* off 96) had his best return with the bat since debuting in First Grade.
The prodigious talent was crucial for his side, who were able to hang on at 8/183 before the storm halted the fixture. Lleyton Chick (5/39) was again tremendous for the Scorchers.
Chick finished with 8 wickets for the match, taking his tally from the past two games to 15.
At Peter Burge Oval, Redlands managed to navigate a tricky run chase against Wests.
Resuming 3/65, Redlands were in tussle as Wests fought hard to claim two set batters in Cameron French (22 off 56) and Jack Sinfield (29 off 45).
However, Liam Smith (84 off 225) and Bailey Stewart (70 off 83) were able to see their side past the target score of 183.
Wests Darcy Murphy (3/43) and Hassan Ibrahim (2/43) led the wicket takers, along with Blake Edwards who took 3 the week prior. Redlands reached 276 all out and no further play was had.
Third placed Northern Suburbs were saved by the rain in a fixture dominated by the University of Queensland.
Following their 402 posted last week, University bowler James Lindsay (3/29) dismissed both Norths openers early. James Grady (1/11) then dismissed Norths captain Kendel Fleming (17 off 33) to have Norths reeling at 3/72.
Uni’s very own Rockhampton Rocket Callum Henderson (2/40) then dismissed Scott Palombo (25 off 39) and the in form Blake Maher (19 off 33). Two further wickets fell to have Norths in real trouble at 7/138.
Fortunately/unfortunately (depending on who you support), the storm then rolled across Brisbane and no further play was had.
At the break, only Ipswich and Norths remain unbeaten. However, both sides have had multiple matches which could have easily fallen the other way.
While Ipswich, Valley and Norths sit at least two wins ahead of fifth place, the rest of the competition will certainly feel like they are within reach in the five remaining two day matches.
With plenty of cricket left to play, the back end of this season promises plenty more fantastic cricket to be played!
There were similar fireworks in the Katherine Raymont Shield, including a typically high-powered 71 from 26 balls by Laura Harrs for University of Queensland, and telling contributions from former NZ White Ferns player Rachel Priest for Sunshine Coast and Tara Wheeler for UQ.
Nic Hancock, a leading light for the WBBL Brisbane Heat last month, snapped up 3-9 as well for UQ as they comfortably overcame Ipswich.
With a host of players involved in the National Under-19 women's championshps leading into Christmas, the majoirty of Katherine Raymont Shield clubs will enjoy the chance to refresh and regroup over the next few weeks.
The KFC Queensland Premier Cricket TOTW is:
TOTW 16th & 17th December
- Liam Smith, 84 (225), Redlands, Mens 1st Grade
- Rachel Priest, 56 (37), Sunshine Coast, Womens 1st Grade
- Laura Harris, 71 (26), University of Queensland, Womens 1st Grade
- Preston White, 147 (177), Toombul, Mens 1st Grade
- Sam Wilson, 100* (90), Toombul, Mens 1st Grade
- Tara Wheeler, 54 (70), University of Queensland, Womens 1st Grade
- Harrison Wood, 4/33 (14.3), Ipswich, Mens 1st Grade
- Lleyton Chick, 5/39 (13), Sunshine Coast, Mens 1st Grade
- Nicola Hancock, 3/9 (6), University of Queensland, Womens 1st Grade
- Filippa Suesee, 3/10 (7.4), Western Suburbs, Womens 1st Grade
- Harmon Sandhu, 5/37 (17), Wynnum-Manly, Mens 1st Grade
Each week The Courier-Mail covers the Premier Cricket round in depth with 3-2-1 points from matches. Their latest report is available here, (note subscription required):