Another Successful KFC T20 Max!

Heading into the weekend, Redlands, Norths, Sandgate-Redcliffe, and Valley all finished with 5 wins and 2 losses and were one win clear of fifth place. In Friday’s first semi-final, first-placed Redlands took on Valley at Allan Border Field.

Winning the toss and bowling first, Valley took the three huge wickets of Sam Heazlett (4 off 4), Marnus Labuschagne (4 off 3), and Daniel Drew (1 off 3), all in the first three overs. Valley’s mixture of experience and exceptional emerging talent allowed them to hold momentum and never let Redlands into the match.

When Jimmy Peirson (26 off 31) was dismissed in the 12th over, leaving Redlands 5/63, the match was all but won for Valley. Dismissing Redlands for 103, Valley's top five batters – Usman Khawaja (28 off 25), Max Bryant (21 off 20), Hugh Weibgen (39 off 31), Jake Weatherald (12* off 13), and Dylan McLachlan (4* off 6) – saw them home with 3/107 off 15.5 overs.

It was an eerily similar story at Ian Healy Oval, with Sandgate-Redcliffe sending home team Norths into bat. Muhammad Irfan (1/29) bowled Sam Neale (4 off 4) in the first over, and the Gators never looked back. While Heat star Mitch Swepson led the side, it was emerging leg-spinner Lakshdeep Singh who stole the show. Singh took 5/15, ripping through Norths' batting order, dismissed all out for 98.

The competition’s top run scorer, Jake Winter (34 off 17) then did too much damage early, Sandgate winning with 5 wickets remaining.

In Saturday’s final at Allan Border Field, Valley won the toss and sent Sandgate-Redcliffe in to bat.

Hard-fought innings from wicket-keeper Jet Liebke (34 off 21), captain Mitch Swepson (17* off 9) and Muhammad Irfan (18* off 9) saw the Gators post 7/138.

Despite missing in-form allrounder Jack Wildermuth for the finals with a back complaint, experienced Valley pace bowler Benji Floros (3/9) proved too hard to handle. Floros’ swing, bounce and excellent variety of change-up deliveries being near impossible to score from. Young left-armer Charlie Thomas (2/28) also showed he will be a player to watch this year for Valley.

Fans at Allan Border Field were then treated to one of the finest batting performances of the entire tournament.

Brisbane Heat and Queensland Bulls batter Max Bryant (91 off 42) was at his brutal best as he decimated the Sandgate attack.

His brute force counteracted the seemingly two-paced wicket, the large crowd enjoying his 7 sixes and 8 fours. Usman Khawaja (33* off 25) facilitated Bryant’s flow perfectly from the other end, with Valley chasing the runs at 1/140 off only 11.1 overs.

Congratulations to Valley on a much-deserved victory after a fantastic campaign. Well done to all teams who made this year’s KFC T20 Max one to remember!