Big Premier Weekend!

With the last round of T20s being completed, the Katherine Raymont Shield T20 champions are soon to be crowned. Last Sunday had everything - large team totals, 5 wicket hauls, and big runs.

Sunshine Coast secured a big win against top of the table Sangate-Redcliffe in the first fixture of the weekend. The Scorchers were strengthened with the return of Brisbane Heat athlete, Mikayla Wrigley (pictured above) coming back to the crease.

Wrigley's quickfire 88 off 68, one of the best knocks in the comp so far, guided the team to 5-171. This season any score over 125 has been monstrous, so this was certainly a statement from the Sunny Coast.

Supporting knocks from the international pairing of Kalea Moore (25) and Rachel Priest (20) ensured the total would not be chased.  A solid middle over spell from Darcey Johnson included 3 wickets.

Tess Cooper continued her good form striking 36 off 27 deliveries but with Caity Mair not being there as support, Sandgate-Redcliffe pulled up 67 runs short. Sunshine Coast's Catherine White again playing a huge role with the ball taking 3 wickets at an economy of just 2 runs per over.

Western Suburbs travelled to Ashgrove as Valley continue their struggle to get a win on the board.  After flying to Perth with the Brisbane Heat squad last week, Lily Bassingthwaighte came out firing with 35 runs.

The Year 12 student has just completed her final exams and this has not stopped her from taking every opportunity presented to her with both bat and ball. Bassingthwaighte's innings was supported by Lilli Hamilton's 25. Another Brisbane Heat athlete, Sianna Ginger returned strongly to the Katherine Raymont Shield taking 3/17.

Both Big Bash players continued their strong starts in the second innings as Ginger hit 48 (41) and Bassingthwaighte boweld her team to victory with her first 5 wicket haul of the season. Valley did hit their highest score of the competition so far with 10/116, falling 14 runs short of the target.

Gold Coast had a disapointing end to their T20 campaign after winning the toss and falling to 9/92 in the first innings against Wynnum-Manly. An elegant start to the innings from opener, Liv Winter (20) included multiple classic cricket shots. None of the other batters followed. Erin Moran's superb spell of 3/9 included 18 dot balls and a near hat-trick.

Chasing the small total, Wynnum made light work achieving this in just the 14th over. A standout innings from Allegra Pollack included many lofted on drives. The powerful opener was accessing many areas straight of the wicket in her innings of 52 off 40.

The second fixture of the weekend saw Sandgate take on Wests in a clash between two of the competitions strongest. Western Suburbs won the toss and elected to bat posting 9-132. This was led by Olivia Steel, smashing her first half century batting at number 7. Darcey Johnson again bowling well as the off spinner took 3/29.

A strong start for the Gators as Caity Mair smashed a half century. After Mair was dismissed in the 16th over, Sandgate were unable to push on scrambling to only 16 more runs. Leg spinner, Ayaka Stafford again in the wickets column with 2/18 off 4 to guide her team to victory.

University of Queensland took on the Gold Coast in one of their last pushes for a finals birth. An easy win came for the students as Gold Coast again struggled to reach triple figures. Overseas import, Ava Lee (32 off 28) did not struggle as she played many full face drives. Spin bowling again proved dangerous for UQ with Jess Daldy's 4/24 and Tara Wheeler's 2/15.

UQ chased the total in a timely fashion, only losing 1 wicket. Anlo van Deventer looked at ease with her quickfire 35* from 21 deliveries.

Another one sided game as Sunshine Coast thrashed Valleys DCC. Valleys started quite well against a full strength Scorchers line-up, posting 5-133. Queensland Fire player, Kira Holmes has found some form smashing 56 off 47 and Lucy Bourke followed with 39 off 30. A backend collapse prevented Valleys from putting on a really big total. 2 vital wickets from Tarah Staines put the Scorchers into a very strong postion.

Sunshine Coast chased 137 with ease, not losing a wicket. Mikayla Wrigley continued right where she left off in the first fixture with 67* off 48 and Staines pushed into the other opening postition with 55.

The final game ame was scheduled for 6pm under lights between Wynnum and University of Queensland. The students started strongly with 3-91 after 14 overs before rain hit and the match was abandoned. Taylor Stumer was looking solid with 50* off 45 before the end of play.

University of Queensland will play Wynnum-Manly at CHelmer under lights tomorrow evening with the winner to go through to play Sunshine Coast on Sunday at Elizabeth Daniels Park.

The batting groups enjoyed fruitful performances in majority of the weekend’s First Grade men’s fixtures.

The Sunshine Coast continued their scorching start to the red ball season, posting a big total of 366 against Redlands. Once again, the Scorchers had no one big contributor, instead having three batters score 70 or more. Openers Harrison Clark-Burnam (75 off 122) and Zac Willox (70 off 176) had their side off to a great start, before gun allrounder Nick Fletcher (76 off 76) took their total past 300. Redlands bowlers Bailey Stewart (3/64), Tom Biggs (3/99) and Jack Sinfield (2/63) toiled hard for their side.

Sandgate-Redcliffe also enjoyed one of their most successful days in recent red ball history against local rivals Norths. Gators opener Dan Seaton (51 off 124) got his team off to a solid start, before young gun Steve Hogan and skipper Adrian Lascu settled in. Hogan (100 off 160) manipulated the field and picked gaps, as Lascu (107 off 130) went about his more naturally offensive approach. The pair helped Sandgate pass 300, before a collapse of 5/15 saw their side dismissed for 342. Norths are 0/6 at stumps.

University’s Bryce Street (114 off 159) posted his second century in as many weeks, pairing with the state’s most in form batter Angus Lovell (105 off 156) for a 228 run first wicket stand. It is Lovell’s fourth century of the year, including his recently outstanding Sheffield Shield (146) and Toyota 2^nd XI (250) innings for Queensland.

Jack (42 off 61) and Max (59 off 78) Clayton then helped push Uni to 7/415d. The Gold Coast’s Brad Munro (5/86) picked up a bag of wickets in what was a tough day for the bowlers. With half an hour remaining in the day, Uni’s Matt Willans managed to dismiss opener Ashton Gumm to have the Gold Coast 1/15 at stumps.

Toombul and Ipswich played out a completive day at Ken Mackay Oval. Toombul’s Addy Grewal (58 off 99) and Preston White (75 off 150) continued their recent run of form. Captain Dan Cranitch (54 off 67) then played aggressively to help drive his side to all out 278. Ipswich fast bowlers Jem Ryan (3/32) and Sean Lutter (3/56) led their attack.

In response, Toombuls pace pairing Connor Sully and Tom Balkin managed to snare a wicket each to give their side the upper hand at stumps, Ipswich 2/21.

Souths headed to Valleys looking to turn their early season form around. Logan Duval (48 off 81) and Aryan Jain (41 off 69) put on 92 runs for the second wicket, however Valley quickly swung momentum as both batters were dismissed in successive overs.

A collapse of 4/17 then had Souths reeling at 5/199, before Brandon Faber (74 off 115) halted Valley’s momentum. Valley’s left arm quick Charlie Thomas (6/57) was again extremely impressive. With Benji Floros with the state squad and Callum Vidler (2/21) and Jack Wildermuth (1/20) coming back from injury,  Thomas led the attack and showed his true class. Souths fell all out 256 and Valley are 1/38 at stumps.

Wynnum-Manly got off to a flyer against Wests, the visitors taking 3/11 with the ball early on Jack McLaughlin Oval. Thando Ntiti (2/58) took two wickets in the second over of the match, before Liam Guthrie (4/42) soon took his first. Isiah Snell (72 off 151) showed class on a wicket all other batters struggled on, Jared Sippel (32 off 70) the next highest score. Two late wickets from Sukhveer Singh had Wests all out 186. Tom Whitney (1/15) struck early, before Soham Sane (2/10) helped have Wynnum-Manly 3/51 at stumps after 26 overs. Stay tuned for a tight finish in this match, it could go down to the wire!