The action was heating up last weekend as sunny days produced runs and wickets across the KFC Queensland Premier Cricket competitions. CAM VELLACOTT notes a hat-trick to Toombul quick Daniel Cranitch was a prime example of pace bowling in his match day summary.
Premier Hat-Trick On Show
Hat tricks and Heartache
The first weekend of the final round of the men’s two day season saw some of the most thrilling cricket of the summer so far. Highlighted by a hat trick from Toombul’s Dan Cranitch (pictured), the rain reduced matches were all highly competitive and fiercely contested as everyone aims to finish their season with a win.
Toombul took a visit to northside rivals Valley and elected to bowl first. The match was idling along uneventfully as Valley saw through the first 24 overs unscathed and passing 50. Then, as most players looked towards the nearing lunch break, chaos ensued.
Toombul fast bowler Dan Cranitch first removed Jack Beath, edging to gully. The very recent U19 World Cup winning captain Hugh Weibgen then strode to the crease before having his stumps rattled first ball to depart as quickly as he came.
The competitions leading run scorer, Brisbane Heat and Queensland Bull big hitter Max Bryant then came in to face the hat trick ball. Crantich pitched it full and swining away for Bryant to follow, catching his outside edge as Addy Grewal safetly accepted the catch at third slip. Cranitch is off to the races! He’s got a hat trick!
He eventually returned from his 60 yard dash celebration (rightly celebrated) to bowl the remaining three balls of the over to yet another state player in Dylan McLachlan. McLachlan managed to hit his first ball for four and leave the next. Final ball of the over, Cranitch again went full and managed an edge, this time to first slip. Four wickets in an over, quickly turning the match in Toombu’s favour as Valley were reeling 4/55.
Fortunately for Valley, Zanden Jeh (68 off 166) and Paddy Cotter (94* off 119) were able to halt the momentum and see their side through to 5/164 before Jeh was dismissed. Cotter then held a lone hand as he steered Valley to 6/210 at stumps, rain shortening the day to a thrilling 66 overs.
Ipswich travelling to Norths in a match which could likely be repeated in next week’s semi finals. With both sides boasting some impressive batting firepower, the green tinged wicket had other ideas as an old fashioned fast bowlers shoot out unfolded. Sent in to bat, Ipswich lost Bryn Llewellyn in the first over and Harry Shepard in the second. After Will Prestwidge (3/21) dismissed Llewellyn, Noah McFadyen (4/43) took the next four including the dangerous Jack Wood.
Norths bowlers continued to take wickets, however were unable to dismiss Harry Wood (61 off 78). On a wicket which saw only two batters surpass 10 runs, Wood stood tall as he danced between pure aggression and survival. Ipswich were dismissed 113 all out off 32.1 overs.
The match’s wild momentum continued into Norths’ innings, Connor Carroll dismissed by Harry Wood (4/15) in the second over. Wood then sparked a phenomenal collapse shortly after as Norths lost 4/0, Adam Smith (3/22) joining the wicket takers. The slim total of 113 was certainly a long way away from Norths at 5/18. Hobart Hurricane sensation Nikhil Chaudary (30 off 29) went on the counterpunch to have his side within 50 runs of the total. However, it was all Ipswich as Jem Ryan (2/28) and Sean Lutter (1/6) helped quickly wrap up the tail. Norths all out 72.
The rain inhibited any further play, however with both sides guaranteed finals and Ipswich already securing the minor premiership, expect from further fireworks from this game this weekend.
Sandgate-Redcliffe captain Adrian Lascu (95 off 138) led his side from the front against Redlands at Trevor Hohns Field. Lascu and Jet Liebke (46 off 102) led the Gators from 4/98 to 5/242. Lascu fell agonisingly short of a century, chasing a wide delivery which caught the edge. Liebke could consider himself unlucky, falling to a run out as his batting partner returned a drive back to the bowler which was touched on the way through to hitting the stumps. Redlands bowlers shared wickets, George Garrett (2/53)) and James Pullar (2/77) both taking a pair. Sandgate are 9/319 at stumps.
The Gold Coast bowlers continued their form against Wests on a tricky Jack McLaughlin Oval wicket. Opening bowlers Jackson Smith (3/39) and Matt Revis (3/47) both took a trio of wickets. Smiths haul continues a standout season, currently taking 49 wickets across all formats and sitting fourth across the competition. Zac McDermott (1/27 off 17) and Brad Munro (1/14 off 9) amassed great pressure for their side, helping restrict Wests to 8/138 at stumps.
Souths are in a solid position against local rivals Wynnum-Manly on Norman Gray Oval. Batting first, Souths lost two quick wickets before Lucky Peterson (76 off 147) and Sam Geyer (50 off 168) settled in an saw off the new ball. After a 136 run partnership, a mishap in the middle saw Peterson run out. After Geyer fell, John Isoardi (44* off 91) and Lachlan Biggs (14 off 45) saw Souths to stumps 4/217.
Bryce Street continued his strong premier cricket form in Universities match against the Sunshine Coast, however this week it was with the ball. Street’s (3/28 off 17) seamers proved highly effective at WEP Harris Oval. His three wickets came in quick succession and included Sunshine Coast captain Sam Truloff (36 off 79). The Scorchers fell from 1/53 to 5/90 before Nick Selman (34* off 98) and Cody Pyne (63* off 80) paired at the crease. Pyne and Selman have an unbroken 82 run partnership at stumps, Sunshine Coast 5/172.
In the Katherine Raymont Shield, Ipswich produced one of their best batting efforts of the season as Laura Schweie (65) and Keely Freiberg (61) produced half centuries as the Hornets scored 9-241 against University of Queensland. With the threat of a storm, UQ threw batting caution to the wind and charged to 2-185 from 29.2 overs to claim the win under the DLS method. Opener Tara Wheeler was classy with 81 not out from 90 balls as UQ claime the points.
Valley top order bat Lucinda Bourke, who is also an Australian Youth rugby sevens representative, demonstrated her skills with a dashing 107 from 122 balls against Wynnun-Manly. The Warwick product helped Valley to 5-219 as she and Megan Jones (51) put on 157 for the second wicket. Wynnum faltered in their batting chase, dismissed for 63, with Abby Harris snaring 3-3.
The Sunshine Coast Scorchers stormed to a big win over Sandgate-Redcliffe, scoring 8-163 (Mikayla Wrigley 48) and then dismissing the Gators for 96. The opening bowlers for both teams caught the eye, with Olivia Roche taking 5-24 from 10 overs for Sandgate-Redcliffe and Scorchers opening bowler Shari Anderson snapping up 4-22.
Wests opening bowlers Fillipa Suesee (3-11) and Lilli Hamilton (3-11) made Gold Coast work hard to score 104 in their match. Wests chased down the target for the loss of three wickets to maintain top spot.
With one round remaining, the top three of Wests, Sunshine Coast and University of Queensland is set with only fourth spot to be decided. Valley leads Sandgate-Redcliffe by three points.
Team of the Week (Feb 24-25)
- Tara Wheeler, 81* (90), University of Queensland, Womens First Grade
- Lucinda Bourke, 107 (122), Valley, Womens First Grade
- Jamie-Lee Strang, 57 (105), Gold Coast, Womens First Grade
- Harrison Wood, 61* (78) & 4/15 (7.0), Ipswich, Mens First Grade
- Adrian Lascu, 95 (138), Sandgate-Redcliffe, Mens First Grade
- Patrick Cotter, 94* (119), Valley, Mens First Grade
- Megan Jones, 51 (116) & 2/11 (5.0), Valley, Womens First Grade
- Noah McFayden, 4/43 (12.0), Northern Suburbs, Mens First Grade
- Daniel Cranitch, 4/51 (12.2), Toombul, Mens First Grade
- Olivia Roche, 5/24 (10.0), Sandgate-Redcliffe, Womens First Grade
- Shari Anderson, 4/22 (10.0), Sunshine Coast, Womens First Grade