Strong Showings From Clubs

A clinical performance from University of Queensland opener Bryce Street (100* off 108) saw his side chase down Toombul’s total of 9/116d. Street was at his best as Uni finished the match 1/138 off 34.2 overs when hands were shaken. Toombul’s brave declaration was made in attempt to claim victory and an outsiders chance of playing finals. Due to their loss, the margin between the top four and the rest of the competition is now unassailable in the last round. 

While the top four are locked in heading into the last round, their ladder positioning is anything but assured. A mere three points separates the second placed Valley and fourth placed Gold Coast, with Norths wedged in the middle of them. Congratulations to minor premiers Ipswich, who head into the finals looking to add to their KFC T20 Max silverware by claiming the Cam Battersby Cup as Premiers.

Gold Coast and Norths played out an interesting draw at Bill Pippen Oval on Saturday. After being 8/160 last week, Norths number 8 Will Prestwidge (130* off 234) and number 10 Ryan Walker (104* off 248) guided their side to 8/215 at stumps. The pair then batted on together, the Gold Coast unable to take a wicket as the pair scored centuries. After Walker brought up his maiden First Grade century, Norths declared 8/386 after the remarkable 226 run partnership was unbroken. 

The Gold Coast batters were given the near impossible task of chasing the runs within 40 overs. Depsite the match fizzling out in a draw, both sides will take positives as batters were able to spend solid time at the crease. The Gold Coast’s top three of Ashton Gumm (41 off 44), Lachy Crump (40 off 46) and Hugo Burdon (71 off 64) were the main contributers in their score of 4/215.

In the women’s First Grade competition, University of Queensland and Valley both posted strong wins off the back of their batting performances. Uni’s opening pair Emma Jackson (121 off 93) and Tara Wheeler (129 off 147) combined in a 211 run opening stand, leading their side to 6/336. Tara Norris (4/12) then led the Uni bolwing unit to dismiss the Gold Coast for 108.

Kira Holmes (75 off 72) anchored the innings for Valley as they posted 9/254 against Ipswich. Ipswich bowlers Trinity Doyle, Keely Freiberg, Laura Scheiwe and Samantha Bremner all took two wickets. Grace Adby (3/8) led the Valley bowlers as they dismissed Ipswich for 63.

It was finals fever at Shaw Road for the men’s U19 finals. Both semi finals were played at Norths in the morning before the afternoon final on Ian Healy Oval. In the morning, the Gold Coast beat Valley with 5 balls to spare. Valley scored 9/100, the Gold Coast passing the score 7 wickets down. The Sunshine Coast also mustered up a final over win against Norths, chasing down the home side’s 8/123 with three balls and three wickets to spare. 

The Gold Coast got the better of their coastal counterparts in a thrilling and frantic final which featured five ducks and another 9 scores below 10. Batting first, the Gold Coast were dismissed for 89 as spin proved difficult to score from. Scorcher’s bowlers Oliver Bembrick (3/15), Mitch Armstrong (2/13) and Tom Longhurst (2/21) were their side’s key wicket takers. 

The run chase see-sawed as the Sunshine Coast rapidly fell to 4/25. Batters Liam Johnson (16 off 32) and Curtis McAllister (20 off 32) then steadied to have them within 30 runs of victory with 6 overs remaining. The Gold Coast then struck two crucial blows, both set batters dismissed in consecutive overs. 

It was still either team’s game as the Scorchers needed 19 to win off the final 3 overs. A magnificent over from Gold Coast captain Ashton Gumm then turned the momentum entirely in his side’s favour, conceding a mere 2 runs in the 18th over. With 17 runs required, two wickets fell to begin the 19th over to keep the Dolphins momentum. However, a boundary off the 5th ball of the over kept the Scorchers in the hunt.

With 10 runs needed off the final over, which was bowled at the end with a small leg side boundary, Gold Coast seamer Coby Fitzgerald (1/22) held his nerve and executed outside of the stump line and inside the wide line. The final over played out in aptly dramatic fashion, the first five balls playing out like this: play and miss, top edge - single,  play and miss, two, lap sweep four.

One ball remaining - 2 runs to send it to a super over, 3 to win. Fitzgerald bowled length on a fifth stump line, played and missed by Longhurst, Gold Coast keeper Lachy Aitken takes it cleanly and they scamper through for a single. The Gold Coast win by 1 run, with their celebrations captured in the main image. 

Well done to all teams for playing the U19 competition in serious yet enjoyable manner. It has certainly been a terrific addition to the summer of cricket and is a fantastic gateway to First and Second Grade white ball cricket.