Premier Finals Set

As one season closes, another opens.

The 2023-24 KFC Queensland Premier Cricket season has come to it’s end for all but the top four sides in each grade. The final round of the men's and women's competitions saw competitive cricket across the board as each team looked to finish on a high note. While the top four was locked in heading to the final round of the Cam Battersby Cup, the final placings were anything but assured.

The top four of the men’s competition saw Ipswich finish as minor premiers with Valley, Norths and Gold Coast making up the finalists.

In the Katherine Raymont Shield women’s competition, Western Suburbs, Sunshine Coast, University of Queensland and Valley was the final four.

It was a high intensity finish in the men's clash at Shaw Road between Ipswich and Norths. After losing on first innings last week, the home side Norths looked to fight back and claim the outright victory against an Ipswich side already guaranteed the minor premiership.

Ipswich started the day with a 41 run lead, however were tasked with negotiating a wicket which still had plenty of life. Norths new ball bowler Will Prestwidge (1/17) bowled fast early and rushed a short ball through Bryn Llewellyn for the first wicket.

The Ipswich innings was unable to ever gain momentum as Norths seamers Sam Neale (4/14) and Blake Maher (3/19) ripped through the middle order. Keeper batter Jake Cross (37 off 41) top scored for the Hornets, however it was again Neale who was able to put his side in a dominant position. Ipswich were eventually dismissed for 153, their lead 194.

Norths openers Rav Srivastava (46 off 57) and Connor Carroll (43 off 62) held a high scoring rate for their opening stand. After an impressive bowling display, Blake Maher (62* off 38) capped off an excellent all round game with a blistering effort. Maher belted 5 maximums and 6 boundaries, swiftly seeing Norths level the score at 3/194. Nikhil Chaudhary then hit a six to not only secure the outright win, but also maximum points as Norths reached the 200 run mark. The win pushed Norths into a tentative second place, awaiting the final result of the Valley vs Toombul game.

Valley resumed their first innings 6/210 after a whirlwind first weekend which saw a hat trick and four wickets in a over, as well as middle order Paddy Cotter hitting a defiant 94 not out. Cotter (106 off 133) was able convert for his first century since returning to his junior roots, Valley then quickly all out 244. Toombul captain Dan Cranitch finished with figures of 6/62 following his heroic hat trick last week.

Valley’s biggest strength all year, their bowling attack, was able to then do was it does best against an in form Toombul batting line up. Despite Toombul’s top five all passing 40 deliveries, none were able to convert to a score larger than Lachlan Hearne’s 51 (101). Benji Floros (3/27) and Cam Boyce (3/57) were dominant in their combined 39 overs, while Saxon Jeh (3/27) came into bowl some unsettling overs and reap the reward. Toombul all out 178.

Knowing points would be tight, Valley went back into bat in search of as many bonus points as possible. With 25 overs remaining, they managed to reach 8/141. As they passed 100 runs in their seconds innings, Valley received 1 full bonus point.

Both Norths and Valleys left all on the field in their respective games, however the late surge of a Valley second innings left them half a point ahead of Norths in the end. It certainly shows the value of every run and wicket throughout the season!

Sandgate-Redcliffe capped off a tough season with a memorable victory against last year’s premiers Redlands. The Gators bowlers enjoyed their home conditions, stifling the Redlands top order. A wonderful leg side take from keeper Jet Liebke saw Sam Heazlett removed and Redlands 2/12. They were unable to recover, all of the Gators bowlers taking a wicket, Adrian Lascu (2/22) and Jackson Mills (3/16) multiple. Redlands finished all out 147 in pursuit of Sandgate’s 319.

The Gold Coast finished in fourth place after scraping home for a narrow victory against the home team Wests. Wests added only two runs to their overnight score as the Dolphins were swiftly able to take the remaining two wickets, Wests 140 all out.

In pursuit of the low total, opener Ashton Gumm (26 off 28) hit out before he got out.

Captain Matt Kuhnemann (39 off 103) was the only other Dolphin to pass 20 as Wests managed to stay in the game, just. The match was seemingly sewn up for the Dolphins as they were 6/131 needing 10 to win. However, set batter Lachy Aitken (17 off 75) chunked a pull shot off fellow Australian U19 rep Tom Campbell (2/3), the ball lobbing straight to short fine leg. Steve McGiffin (3/44) then took two wickets in two balls the following over, Gold Coast 9/132. After a tense 4 overs, the Gold Coast batters managed to chip around the runs and declare 9/146. In the remaining 19 overs, Wests finished 1/83 and stumps were drawn.

Souths and Wynnum played out a thrilling final match, the local rivals both eager to finish the season with bragging rights. Souths batted on in the morning before declaring 8/275. It was far from ideal start for Wynnum-Manly’s batting innings, losing a wicket in the second over before a yes/no/sorry run out in the fifth to leave them 2/8.

Anjana Nanayakkara (70 off 180) and Rueben Burger (54 off 92) then steadied before Burger fell, 3/81. Wynnum batters continued to fall around Nanayakkara as bowlers James Rosewarne (3/50) and Connor McMillan (3/16) took wickets for Souths. A ninth wicket partnership of 56 between Harmon Sandhu (39 off 58) and Chris Lloyd (14* off 49) gave the Sea Eagles a glimmer of hope at victory.

As the shadows grew long across Norman Gray Oval and Wynnum drew within 25 runs, McMillan’s leg spin mustered the final two wickets in the 78^th over for Souths to claim the win. Wynnum all out 251. Well done to both sides for a hard fought contest.

Sunshine Coast and University played out an uneventful draw on Wep Harris Oval. The Scorchers batted on from 5/172, Cody Pyne (84 off 113) adding 21 to his overnight score. The tail end saw the Sunshine Coast eventually dismissed for 305. University reached 6/189 in their 53 overs when stumps were called. Alecz Day (57 off 91) top scored for the students.

The Katherine Raymont Shield featured another hard-hitting century from Georgia Voll for Sandgate-Redcliffe. Voll (pictured) set the scene for a big week with the bat scoring 119 for the Gators against Valley as they reached 211. A skiful effort from Chris Coulson (5-17) ensured the Gators did not post a bigger score and Valley, with a host of contributions from their batting group where eight players reached double figures, finished as victors with a score of 8-212.

Voll this week was the stand-out batter in the CA Green v CA Gold three-day red ball game in Adelaide, hitting 200 not out and 56.

Ipswich broke through for a rare win, overcoming the equally youthful Gold Coast outfit. Both sides fought hard, with the Dolphins held to 98 before the Hornets needed plenty of determination to reach 8-100.

Sunshine Coast (5-124) flexed their finals muscle to defeat the improving Wynnum-Manly (123) while minor premiers Wests held their nerve to earn bragging rights over neighbours University of Queensland. Wests held UQ to 99 and then overcome the loss of regular wickets to register 8-103 for the victory.

Team Of The Week 2-3 March

1. Anjana Nanayakkara, 70 (180), Wynnum-Manly, Mens 1^st Grade
2. Georgia Voll, 119 (104), Sandgate-Redcliffe, Womens 1^st Grade
3. Lachlan Hearne, 51 (101) & 4/43 (8.0), Toombul, Mens 1^st Grade
4. Olivia Winter, 48 (63), Gold Coast, Womens 1^st Grade
5. Reuben Burger, 54 (92), Wynnum-Manly, Mens 1^st Grade
6. Blake Maher, 3/19 (8.0) & 62* (38), Northern Suburbs, Mens 1^st Grade
7. Alecz Day, 57 (91), University of Queensland, Mens 1^st Grade
8. Sam Neale, 4/14 (7.1), Northern Suburbs, Mens 1^st Grade
9. Bonnie Berry, 3/14 (5.5), Sunshine Coast, Womens 1^st Grade
10. Jemma Savill, 4/18 (10.0), Gold Coast, Womens 1^st Grade
11. Christina Coulson, 5/17 (8.1), Valley, Womens 1^st Grade