Premier Clubs Set For Finals

Men's Finals Preview

Toombul (1) vs Norths (4)

Sunshine Coast (2) vs Ipswich (3)


Toombul vs Norths | Ken Mackay Oval

This semi final is going to be a barnstormer! Two local rivals with plenty of players at each club who have played for the former. Expect big wicket celebrations and the big players to stand up. This will be epic, take a look how the two sides match up:

Toombul
The minor premiers were consistently the best side all year. Toombul’s enthusiasm and connection stand out as key factors for their success so far this season. They’re a tight team, and it shows in how they perform, especially in the field. Their bowling unit toils together and doesn’t have a standout top performer.

Last year, Toombul relied heavily on the season’s Burge Medallist Preston White to perform. This season hasn’t been White’s biggest statistically, but he’s still as classy as ever and has shown his elite capabilities when needed with both bat and ball this season. He’s also had opener Addy Grewal step up and stand alongside him as Toombul’s top performers.

While finals cricket is a different game to the regular season, their consistent form leaves them as clear favourites this weekend and across finals.

Leading run scorers:
Preston White 507 @ 56.33)
Addy Grewal (483 @ 40.25)

Leading wicket takers:
Daniel Cranitch – 16 @ 18.19
Tom Balkin – 15 @ 23.33

Norths
Last years premiers have had a last surge to make the top four. The question mark across the board is; will their late run of form be enough to propel them into another final, or will their inconsistent season and lack of runs see them falter?

Interestingly, Norths are the only side in the top four to have played in a finals match this season, with the other three sides missing out in both white ball competitions. However, no Norths player has scored a red ball hundred this season and in fact, they don’t have a player in the top 30 run scorers across the First Grade competition.

They have relied on their excellent bowling attack to do the damage this year. Sam Neale has led from the front, while spinner Ryan Walker has come into his own this season and established his quality at the level.

Leading run scorers:
Connor Carroll – 257 @ 36.71
Blake Maher – 246 @ 41

Leading wicket takers:
Sam Neale - 28 @ 13.96
Blake Maher – 15 @18.73

Sunshine Coast vs Ipswich | Ken Emery Oval

This match looms as a terrific battle between two teams who match up very similarly. Both sides are notoriously hard to beat at home, so can Ipswich take their home form up the M1 and challenge a side that has been consistently in the top 2 all year? Here’s how the sides match up:

Sunshine Coast

After struggling the past few seasons, the Sunshine Coast have broken through in a big way this season. The addition of all rounder Nick Fletcher from Victorian Premier Cricket has been just the injection their side needed. Fletcher has complimented their seamers perfectly, while providing something different to their middle order batting.

Opening bowler Chad Soper (33 wickets @ 13.61) (pictured above) is the competition's leading wicket taker and the long-serving PNG international seamer will play a significant role. Their home ground advantage will not only suit Soper, but the rest of their bowlers who, even in lean years, are notoriously tricky on Ken Emery Oval.

The Sunshine Coast have consistently found a way to win games this year, a trait which will be crucial this weekend against an in form Ipswich side.

Leading run scorers:
Kiran Carlson – 267 @ 44.5
Nick Fletcher – 230 @ 38.33

Leading wicket takers:
Chad Soper - 33 @ 13.61
Nick Fletcher – 15 @ 11.73

Ipswich
After losing last year’s final to Norths and the absence of a significant number of senior players, Ipswich were off to a slow start this season. However, since Christmas their young side has found their groove and really hit their straps as a side. Players who were once ‘young’ have matured, including the dangerous Noah Emmerson and dogged opener Bryn Llewellyn. It has meant the responsibility to win hasn’t been heavy on former Burge Medallist Harry Wood, something they could have been criticised for in the past.

Expect their recent finals experience to play a significant role in their match this weekend, as well as their burning desire to win an elusive two day premiership.

Leading run scorers:
Harry Wood – 481 @ 53.44
Harry Sheppard – 287 @ 47.83

Leading wicket takers:
Noah Emmerson - 21 wickets @ 20.52
Sean Lutter -18 wickets @17.94

Women's Final Preview

With the Grand Final of the Katherine Raymont Shield just around the corner, tensions run high as players are completing last minute preparation. After sadly being washed out last weekend, the match is planned to go ahead this Sunday between competition front runners, Sandgate-Redcliffe and Western Suburbs at Trevor Hohns Field.

Sandgate have won 3 of their last 5 fixtures since the Christmas break (B,W,W,W,L).  The Gators have continued to be dominant this season with consistent performances across the board. Even with the exit of star Georgia Voll due to ongoing WPL and WNCL commitments, the side have continued a flow of runs.

Sandgate go into the final being front runners although the team have not completed a fixture in exactly a month, with their last match being on the 16th of February. The Gators won their last One Day title in 2019/2020 and look worthy of claiming another title.

Having an impressive run post-Christmas, Western Suburbs have been undefeated with multiple impressive performances (W,W,W,W,B,W). The Bulldogs are lucky enough to have 6 contracted athletes (5x Queensland Fire & 1x English Overseas) and will certainly come with a full strength line-up for this weekend's finals clash. Wests wish to end their 7 year dry streak without a One Day Championship. Their last Katherine Raymont Shield being in the 2018/19 season.

With both teams having superstars in their side, listed are some players to certainly look out for.

Tess Cooper (Sandgate-Redcliffe; Captain)

The competition top run scorer across both the One Day (333 @ 37) and T20 format (382 @63.67), Cooper has been nothing short of exceptional this season. The Sandgate captain has shown experience this year with tough decisions and leading from the front. If Cooper gets going this weekend, there will be no stopping Sandgate from claiming another title.

Darcey Johnson (Sandgate)

One of the best spinners in the Katherine Raymont Shield, Johnson has had an outstanding season with both bat and ball. Consistency has been key for the 19-year-old who has struck 318 runs in the One Day season at an average of 39.75 to go alongside 18 wickets. A true all-round performance, certainly a competition standout as no one has made such an impact across all areas.

Caity Mair (Sandgate)

Yet another big run-scorer in the Sandgate outfit, Mair has also been impeccable with the gloves this season. Taking 9 catches, 12 run outs, and 6 stumping, it is no wonder Sandgate have finished on top. This goes alongside 280 One Day runs at an average of 35.

Georgia Redmayne (Wests - Captain)

Western Suburbs have been gifted with one of the best wicketkeepers in the country. With lightning quick hands, Redmayne's switched on mentality is a force to be reckoned with. If that was not enough, the skipper's ability is almost unmatched in Queensland.

Ruby Strange (Wests)

Making an impressive comeback from injury post Christmas, Strange has been an integral part of the Wests line up for many years. The senior player has been damaging with bat and ball including big scores of 61 (54) vs Gold Coast, 52 (64) vs Gold Coast, and 42 (49) vs Sandgate. The all-rounder was selected in the T20 Spring Challenge earlier this summer.

Cordelia Griffiths (Wests)

A London local, Griffiths has shown powerful batting performances in high pressure situations for Western Suburbs. Having played just 7 matches for the club, the right-hander has hit 185 runs at an average of 61.67. In the semi-final against UQ, Griffiths struck match-winning 85 (80). Currently in superb form, Griffiths will be a vital in bringing home a title for Western Suburbs.

Lily Bassingthwaighte (Wests)

Bassingthwaighte has had a massive 12 months, being awarded her first Queensland Fire contract at just 17 years of age. This comes off the back of both runs and wickets in T20 Max and for the Australia U19s side. The pace bowling all-rounder has battled through injury over the past few seasons but is fit and firing for this Sunday.

FINALS BREAKDOWN - ALL GRADES

Finals Allocations - March 15–16
 
Grade     Match
Womens 1st Grade    Sandgate Redcliffe v Western Suburbs – Trevor Hohns Oval
Womens 2nd Grade     University of QLD v Northern Suburbs – Ian Healy Oval 
      
Mens 1st Grade    Toombul v Northern Suburbs - Ken Mackay Oval
Mens 1st Grade    Sunshine Coast v Ipswich – Kerry Emery Oval
    
Mens 2nd Grade    South Brisbane v Sunshine Coast – Norman Gray Oval
Mens 2nd Grade    Gold Coast v Wynnum-Manly – Bill Pippen Oval 
    
Mens 3rd Grade    Wynnum-Manly v Western Suburbs – Bill Albury Oval
Mens 3rd Grade     University of QLD v Northern Suburbs – WEP Harris Oval
    
Mens 4th Grade    South Brisbane v Gold Coast – Bob Young Oval
Mens 4th Grade    Valley v Northern Suburbs – Peter Easton Oval
    
Mens 5th Grade    Western Suburbs v Valley – Chelmer
Mens 5th Grade    Wynnum-Manly v University of QLD – Ian Droney Oval
    
Mens 6th Grade     Sandgate Redcliffe v South Brisbane – Dixon Oval
Mens 6th Grade     Valley (1) v Western Suburbs – Norm McMahon Oval
    
      
In the event of Semi-Finals achieving no result, the highest place team will progress to the final. If either Womens 1st or 2nd Grade Finals achieve no result, the highest placed team will be the premiers.