Burns Leads Huge Chase

The weekend's cricketing fixtures saw some outstanding finals performances in the One Day Semi Finals, while the first days play of red ball cricket also had plenty of excitement.

The upshot of the One Day semi-finals is that Norths will take on Valley in this Sunday’s One Day Grand Final, after two contrasting matched unfolded last Sunday.

Valley took the field against the home side University of Queensland on Sunday, playing on a wicket which Uni scored 8/330 the day prior in their red ball match.

Both Bryce Street and Alecz Day scored hundreds on Saturday against Wynnum and were eager to continue their strong form.

Benji Floros (3/25) struck early, taking Street’s (6 off 11) wicket caught at second slip. Jack Wildermuth (1/33) shortly after dismissed the dangerous Jack Clayton (1 off 12).

Uni batters Angus Lovell (46 off 71) and Max Clayton (17 of 39) settled in to reach 2/74, however scoreboard pressure from Zanden Jeh’s bowling brought a false shot from Clayton.

Experienced allrounder Alecz Day fell the next over to the wrist spin of Cameron Boyce (5/31). The evergreen leggie had Lovell caught and bowled two overs later, Uni 5/90. Harry Walker (41* off 58) tried hard to give Uni a decent score, but the home side finished with169 as Floros and Boyce dismissed the last five batters.

Valley batters Dylan McLachlan (55 off 81) and Hugh Weibgen (55* off 65) then batted with class to account for the total. Valley won with 6 wickets and 16 overs in hand.

It was déjà vu at Ian Healy Oval, with Norths taking on Wests for the second day in a row.

In red ball cricket the day before, Wests batters Pranav Susarla (116 off 170) and Jared Sippel (94 off 111) dominated the Norths bowlers to set a total of 329.

The story was similar on Sunday, Wests eager to set a big lead and defend it. Losing Isiah Snell (17 off 15) early, opener Harry McNeilly (101 off 99) and former Norths player Tom Campbell (49 off 61) paired for a century stand. Sharp gloves from Rav Srivastava helped dismiss Campbell but that only brought Steve McGiffin to the crease. McGiffin (110* off 78) was brilliant and brutal, finishing with six maximums and a flurry of late runs to have his side 4/353 at close of innings.

It was all happening at the start of Norths batting innings. Josh Brown (4 off 12) was bested by Blake Edwards, before Edwards then dismissed one of the competition's form batters Scott Palombo for a golden duck.

Mitch Doolan avoided being the hattrick, however was then struck in the ribcage the next ball. Doolan was forced to retire hurt (not out) and headed immediately in an ambulance to hospital.

Skipper Joe Burns was joined at the crease by Rav Srivastava (70 off 72), who steadied and saw the score to 3/150 before Srivastava was dismissed.

Still needing 200 runs to win, Burns guided one end while Blake Maher (27 off 19), Noah McFadyen (28 off 16) and Connor Sully (32 off 16) opened the shoulders and hit eight maximums and four boundaries between them.

When Sully’s wicket fell in the 43^rd over, Norths were 8/300 – however with Doolan in hospital, it was the last wicket.

As they say, form is temporary and class is permanent. Taking his score from 109 off 109 to 156* off 134, Joe Burns was exceptional. Hitting a six to win the match on the last ball, Burns innings was as good as any in his illustrious First Grade career. Number 11 Ejaaz Alavi (5* off 17) also dug deep for his adopted interstate side. The match was undoubtedly an instant classic.

Elsewhere in Saturday’s play, Souths are looking to claim a strong first innings win against the Sunshine Coast. Souths managed to bowl the Scorchers out for 156, Josh Matthews (72 off 114) the standout batter. Debutant seamer Eddie Leslie (4/28) had a terrific first day in First Grade, leading the Magpies with the ball. Souths are 4/131 in reply, Brandon Faber (48 off 51) batting swiftly to chase the score.

Ipswich were also bowled out for 156 in their match against Redlands. A former Manly-Warringah player, Jake Carden (4/19) impressed for his new club. A half century from Noah Emmerson (59 off 137) gave the Hornets bowlers a lean margin to bowl to, which they certainly did. Local talent Jem Ryan (5/43) stood up with the new ball to help have Redlands 6/127 at stumps. With the ball only 33 overs old, it will be a cracking first hour this weekend at Baxter Oval.

Valley dominated Sandgate-Redcliffe at Peter Easton Oval Saturday, already claiming first innings points. Benji Floros (5/47) and Cameron Boyce (4/45) were simply too good, the Gators all out 112. Dylan McLachlan (69 off 89) then led his side to 3/141d, before Floros (3/9) again wreaked havoc on the Sandgate top order. After 13 overs in the second innings, Sandgate are still 3/26, or essentially 3/-3 in reply.

The Gold Coast batting unit showed why it is one of the competitions most feared on Saturday. Their star studded line up blazed 7/393d off 85 overs, before Jackson Smith (1/11) and Matt Kuhnemann (1/10) both managed to strike before stumps. Hugo Burdon (83 off 123) and Ben McDermott (98 off 99) paired for a 180 run stand, showing their class as Queensland contracted players. Callum Taylor (73* off 109) then cashed in on some tired bowling late in the day to set up a huge total for the Dolphins. Toombul are 2/21 at stumps after 9 overs.

Norths are 1/11 in reply to Wests 329, and Uni have Wynnum 1/32 after declaring 8/330.

In the Katherine Raymont Shield, a superb 117 not out from Queensland Fire and Brisbane Heat teenager Lucy Hamilton delivered a strong score of 272 for the Sunshine Coast against Gold Coast. Hamilton was well supported by allrounder Tarah Staines who took wickets and scored a half century while Ruby Orchard snared 3-30. The Dolphins were held to 173.

Wynunnum-Manly completed a hard fought victory over Ipswich, with leg-spinners Amreen Kahlon (WM) and Melissa Lewis (Ips) taking three wickets each while Wynnum's Clodagh Ryall proved the difference with her knock of 66.

Wests (0-88) enjoyed a comfortable win over Sandgate-Redcliffe (87) thanks to young bowlers Lilli Hamilton (3-8) and Filippa SueSee (3-5). University of Queensland (0-81) did likewise against Valley (79), with Heat and Fire duo Charli Knott and Nicola Hancock taking two wickets each along with doubles to Charlotte Atkinson and Charnie Bloxsom.

The KFC Queensland Premier Cricket Team of the Week is as follows:

1. Bryce Street 140 (221) – University of Queensland. Mens 1^st Grade
2. Pranav Susarla 116 (170) – Western Suburbs. Mens 1^st Grade
3. Joe Burns 156* (134) – Northern Suburbs. Mens 1^st Grade
4. Steven McGiffin 110* (78) – Western Suburbs. Mens 1^st Grade
5. Lucy Hamilton 117* (123) – Sunshine Coast. Womens 1^st Grade
6. Clodagh Ryall 66* (72) – Wynnum-Manly. Womens 1^st Grade
7. Abi McCray 53* (121) – Ipswich. Womens 1^st Grade
8. Jem Ryan 5/43 (17) – Ipswich. Mens 1^st Grade
9. Cam Boyce 5/31 (10) – Valley. Mens 1^st Grade
10. Filippa SueSee 3/5 (4) – Western Suburbs. Womens 1^st Grade
11. Lilli Hamilton 3/8 (6) – Western Suburbs. Womens 1^st Grade

The latest from The Courier-Mail's on-going coverage of Premier Cricket can be found at: https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/sport/club-cricket-latest-who-did-what-in-another-bumper-round/news-story/4b5576bea4ad8ea35f9b2de46d61bb0a