The KFC Premier Cricket competition has reached the Grand Final stage, with men's and women's grade teams set to compete for trophies and premierships to wrap up the 2023-24 season. CAM VELLACOTT gives us the low down on the semi-finals.
Premier Finals Secured
And then there were two.
Outstanding individual performances highlighted what was a fantastic weekend of finals cricket. Despite some threatening weather on Sunday morning, nearly all matches across the mens and womens grades had first innings results.
Leading into the weekend, the men’s matches promised tight contests and they delivered spectacularly.
In the 2nd vs 3rd match, the competitions strongest bowling unit Valley hosted the competitions strongest batting side Norths. Valley won the toss and elected to bat. It was a particularly important toss for Valley, their star batter Max Bryant available only for the first day’s play.
Norths quick Will Prestwidge (2/33) trapped opener Jack Beath in front early to have the hosts 1/8. Australian U19 captain Hugh Weibgen (11 off 40) then settled at the crease with opener Zanden Jeh (17 off 58) to consolidate. However, a frightening spell from Queensland firebrand Connor Sully (3/42) would remove both batters in the same over. Jeh fell to a nasty short ball directed towards his upper ribs, feathering through to the keeper in a shot of self preservation. Sully’s speed then drew a false shot from Weibgen, the wicket sealed thanks to a terrific catch in the gully by Connor Carroll.
Following his century last week, Paddy Cotter (25 off 49) looked solid with Dylan McLachlan (51 off 100) in their half century partnership. A wicket then came from nowhere, Cotter leaving a leg break that didn’t break from Nikhil Chaudhary (1/38), Valley 4/91.
Norths were then able to maintain ascendancy, Valley losing wickets in steady increments. That momentum was reassured when two-day leading wicket taker Noah McFayden (2/33) trapped Max Bryant (18 off 35) in front, Valley 6/141.
All bar one of Valley’s tail enders managed to chip in with the bat, skipper Cameron Boyce (47 off 57) leading the way. Boyce and his fellow bowlers were stoic, Valley eventually dismissed for 232.
With just inside an hour left to play in the day, Valley came out roaring as Benji Floros (2/50) dismissed the dangerous Connor Carroll and Scott Palombo to have Norths 2/20 at stumps.
The following morning, Norths batters Mitch Doolan (57 off 120) and Rav Srivastava (20 off 75) saw through the new ball, setting up for their noted power hitters to come. Zanden Jeh (2/54) dismissed Srivastava and Blake Maher shortly after to drag his side right back into the contest, Norths 4/69.
New batter Will Prestwidge (29 off 53) and Doolan combined for a 59 run partnership before both falling to Joey Pratt (2/42), Norths 6/145. Valley threw all they had at new batters Kendel Fleming (23* off 73) and Nikhil Chaudhary (79* off 91) (pictured above) in a tense exchange.
Chaudhary showcased his usual flair, countering the tense battle by carving balls over cover. He hit 9 boundaries and 2 maximums in his swift innings before Fleming went over the top of mid off to win the match.
It was an incredibly tight affair at Ipswich as the Gold Coast desperately bowled to keep their season alive. Electing to bat first, the Gold Coast batted with intent to post a score and have a late look at the Ipswich top order.
However, Ipswich finished first for a reason and taking on their seamers proved challenging for opener Lachlan Crump (66 off 153) and number four Matt Kuhnemann (38 off 110).
Ipswich were able to continue taking wickets which hurt any sort of momentum the Gold Coast looked to gain in their innings. Callum Taylor (46* off 96) and Lachy Aitken (50 off 82) led the Dolphins from 5/149 to 6/228. After Aitken fell, the Gold Coast batted on to reach 7/255 before making a declaration which left them with 9 overs before stumps.
It only took two overs of pace before the Dolphins turned to their star spinner Matt Kuhnemann (1/83). Kuhnemann struck immediately to remove Anthony Wilson. He then had a fair examination of night watchmen Adam Smith. Smith prevailed for his side, drowning out the noise of the five players surrounding the bat to see through to stumps.
It was a slow Sunday morning for Ipswich, Smith (8 off 71) digging in with opener Bryn Llewellyn (50 off 152). Smith was eventually removed, though the ball was no longer in it’s desirable new condition.
Gold Coast stayed in the contest and had Ipswich 4/90, though form batters Harry Wood (32 off 75) and Noah Emmerson (53 off 104) still occupied the crease. It took a sensational short leg catch from Lachy Crump to remove Wood. Left arm medium pacer Connor Brown (5/27) was bowling with the keeper up and short leg in place when Wood flicked one off his pads straight into an accepting Crump’s hands. Brown then trapped Jack Wood in front in his next over, Ipswich in trouble at 6/157.
Noah Emmerson continued to push forward for his side, now intent on claiming victory as opposed to chasing a draw. Emmerson saw Ipswich pass 200 and close in on victory before Brown struck again. With Gold Coast keeper Lachy Aitken again up to the stumps, Brown steamed in and caught the edge of Emmerson. Aitken managed to hang on to the catch as the match teetered on a knifes edge, Ipswich 8/210.
All season, Ipswich have been able to scrap and claw their way out of situations where they are seemingly all but beaten. This match was no exception.
Ipswich keeper Jake Cross (34* off 53) and fast bowler Jem Ryan (24* off 22) showed poise and calmness well beyond a typical number 9 and 10 combination. Not interesting in dragging it out, they hit a combined three maximums to quickly close in on the score.
With 8 runs to win, Ryan cleared the front leg to hit Kuhnemann over mid off for 6. He then kept his head just enough, finding an inside edge to the vacant fine leg, Ipswich win!
The Hornets will now take on the Vikings in the Final starting this weekend.
In the Katherine Raymont Shield, University of Queensland and Valley managed to claim strong wins in their respective semi-finals, both defeating teams that had finished above them in the regular season, to set up their meeting in the Final on Sunday.
At the Sunshine Coast, a terrific all round bowling performance from the University of Queensland restricted the Scorchers to 138. Queensland Fire players Charli Knott (2/25) and Nicola Hancock (2/19) proved a challenging task to score from.
Scorchers batters Rachel Priest (26 off 45) and Mikayla Wrigley (35 off 81) toiled hard to post a defendable score, however the strength of the students bowling proved too much. Bree Craven (2/19), Josie (2/31) and Jessica Daldy (1/35) also took wickets for Uni.
Charli Knott (33 off 30) and Emma Jackson (18 off 27) saw Uni through to 1/50 before number 3 Tara Wheeler (47 off 61) came to the crease. Wheeler continued her fantastic season, only undone by a magic piece of fielding by Lucy Hamilton. Hamilton took a crisp on drive cleanly before throwing the stumps down, Wheeler short of her ground in returning to the crease. University passed the score 4/139.
Valley managed to defeat the home team Wests on Jack McLaughlin Oval. Skipper Christina Coulson (4/9), Sianna Ginger (3/22) and Abby Harris (2/8) were phenomenal with the ball for Valley. Bowling in a great opening partnership, Ginger and Coulson were able to restrict run scoring from the Wests batters, forcing them to try play shots against tight bowling. Valley were relentless and bowled the minor premiers out for 82.
The entire Valley top order chipped in to pass the score 3/83. Lucinda Bourke (22 off 75) and Ginger (20* off 23) top scored for Valley.
Lower grade Finals were also finalised over the weekend in spite of some untimely wet weather, with a full breakdown of which teams will meet in their respective grand finals to come on Friday.
The KFC Premier Cricket team of the week
TOTW 9th & 10th March
1. Bryn Llewellyn, 50 (152), Ipswich, Mens 1st Grade
2. Lachlan Crump, 66 (153), Gold Coast, Mens 1st Grade
3. Sianna Ginger, 20* (23) & 3/22 (9.0), Valley, Womens 1st Grade
4. Tara Wheeler, 47 (61), University of Queensland, Womens 1st Grade
5. Charli Knott, 33 (30) & 2/25 (10.0), University of Queensland, Womens 1st Grade
6. Nikhil Chaudhary, 79* (91), Northern Suburbs, Mens 1st Grade
7. Lachy Aitken, 50 (82), Gold Coast, Mens 1st Grade
8. Christina Coulson, 4/9 (6.3), Valley, Womens 1st Grade
9. Nicola Hancock, 2/19 (7.5), University of Queensland, Womens 1st Grade
10. Connor Brown, 5/27 (18.0), Gold Coast, Mens 1st Grade
11. Connor Sully, 3/42 (17.0), Northern Suburbs, Mens 1st Grade
The Courier-Mail provided a comprehensive run-down of the semi-finals amongst their excellent coverage of community and schools cricket (note subscription required):