KFC T20 Max Finals Loom

Queensland’s next generation dominated the second week of the KFC T20 Max with Charlie Lachmund, Tom Vaseo, Eli Brain and Piper Veivers making their mark on the second biggest T20 competition in Australia.

The men’s competition is taking shape after some vital clashes under lights this week.

It was a repeat of last year’s Grand Final at Peter Burge Oval with reigning premiers Redlands accounting for Valley. Tigers’ opener Sam Heazlett (33) and Valley’s spearhead Tom Straker traded blows in the first innings powerplay, while Mac Wright’s 46 and James Bazley’s 43 propelled Redlands to 6/196. Bustling off-spinner Dushyant Thaman was the pick of Valley’s bowlers with 2-26 (4), rushing the top order with his left-arm darts.

In reply, St Laurence’s College quick Tom Vaseo was given the new ball and immediately made the biggest breakthrough of his young career. Hugh Weibgen, walking to the crease with an average of 104, picked out deep square-leg first ball to give the 18-year old and his Tigers a perfect start. Valley never recovered with Redlands running out 96-run victors.

At Baxter Oval, Ipswich upset Wests in a superb defensive effort lead by Queensland’s newest tearaway quick.

Defending 8/137, Ipswich’s Charlie Lachmund announced himself to the competition with a rapid spell. The most recent leader of Australia’s U19 attack went for just two runs in his first two overs including a maiden in the powerplay. The turning point of the match came when a direct hit from Sean Lutter at third man caught in-form bat Will Bosisto short. Lachmund finished with 2-15 (4) and Wests scrounged 9/107, gifting Ipswich their second victory this season.

Earlier, Wests’ Blake Edwards had it on a string, with the former Bulls quick taking 2-1 in his first over as Ipswich were left reeling at 4/45. However, Mikey McNamara’s 64 (59) gave the Hornets a match-winning boost that was more than enough.

Sandgate-Redcliffe had Sunshine Coast in a spin on Wednesday night, with their trio of leg-spinners combining for 7 wickets at Ian Healy Oval. Youngster Lakshdeep Singh (3-24) outshone seasoned teammates Mitch Swepson (2-16) and Cameron Boyce (2-9), condemning Sunshine Coast to their third consecutive loss. Victorian import Dylan Brasher (31 off 16) launched three enormous leg-side maximums as the Gators iced the chase of 80 in 8.1 overs. 

On Thursday Night, Norths chased down Wynnum-Manly in a low scoring thriller at Ian Healy Oval. Recent Brisbane Grammar graduate Eli Brain (28* off 9) took down Seagulls skipper Harmon Sandhu, launching him for a pair of 4’s and 6’s in the penultimate over to reach Wynnum-Manly’s target of 6/146. It was North’s Captain Scott Palombo (69) who steadied the ship after the early wickets of Joe Burns and Josh Brown, however Palombo found mid-wicket with his side still needing a further 20 runs from the last two overs. Brain’s cameo lifted North’s to 5th on the ladder.

The semi-finals of the women’s competition are locked in with Wynnum-Manly, Sandgate-Redcliffe, Wests and Valleys to fight it out for a coveted Final’s spot.

It was the battle of the Harris sisters on Tuesday night, with Wynnum-Manly facing Wests at Alan Pettigrew Oval.

Grace Harris opened the batting, peppering the off-side boundary on her way to 47 (27). Sarah Coyte took Wynnum-Manly’s attack apart with 78* (49), leading Wests to 6-188.

Laura Harris was unable to emulate her sister's knock, falling for 8 as the Sea Eagles chase never got going. Lilly Bassingthwaighte took both openers on her way to 4-26 (4) as Wests won by 64 runs. 

Sandgate-Redcliffe took care of Uni at Ken Mackay Oval in a match headlined by Queensland Fire teammates Georgia Voll and Charli Knott. Sandgate’s batting juggernaut Voll converted her slow start into 62 (38) against a spin-heavy Uni attack. Charli Knott took 4/33 (4), including the pivotal scalp of Voll, but the Gators 7/174 was above par on a green-tinged pitch. Knott’s 54 (27) kept Uni afloat, however Voll’s 3-20 ensured they fell 36 runs short. 

Valley’s opening pair of Lucy Bourke (54*) and Mikayla Hinkley (59*) made light work of Gold Coast at Ian Healy Oval. Sianna Ginger took 3-9 (4) with the ball, restricting Gold Coast to 7-109. Against a distinguished attack lead by Melbourne Renegades pacer Milly Illingworth, Bourke and Hinkley knocked off the total in 12 overs.

Hinkley was in the runs again on Wednesday night, scoring 57* (46) to sink Uni by 6 wickets at Geoff Dymock Oval. Opening bowlers Ella Wilson (3-18) and Meghan McCartney (3-14) did the damage in the first innings before Tara Wheeler’s 39* (31) added some respectability to Uni’s 7/114. 

Rhys McKenna struck twice in the 2nd innings but an unbeaten 80-run partnership between Hinkley and Tasmanian import Tabatha Saville (25*) sealed the match.

Wests won their second match in as many days, beating Sunshine Coast by 7 wickets. Courtney Sippel (50) and Ruth Johnston (49) scored the bulk of the Scorchers 5/125, but Katie Mack’s measured 59* (46) extended Wests’ lead on the top of the ladder.

Ipswich’s Piper Veivers continued her stunning rise into the upper echelons of first grade cricket, though it wasn’t enough to stop Sandgate-Redcliffe taking a 33-run victory. Veivers’ 2-23 (4) catapulted her to the top of this year’s wicket-taking list with the St Peters Lutheran College product claiming 10 at 15.7 in 4 matches. 

Caitlin Mair (60) and Flora Devonshire (43) provided a platform for the Gaitors 5/166. Olivia Porter’s lone hand of 75 (50) kept the Hornets within touching distance until Victorian tweaker Sophie Day slammed the door shut with 3-17 (4).

The Hornets failed to get the job done at Baxter Oval on Thursday night with Charli Knott’s superb unbeaten 115* handing Uni a much needed win. Ipswich’s inter-state imports Olivia Porter (53) and Rachel Trenaman (72) were in the runs again, but Knott’s century and Rhys McKenna’s (3-17) helped Uni to a comprehensive 8-wicket victory.

Sandgate-Redcliffe and Gold Coast was a bowler’s affair, with no batsman passing 30 at Ken Mackay Oval. Courtney Webb’s 22-ball 30 proved the decisive knock as Gold Coast  managed just 8/78 in reply to the Gators 133. With the win, Sandgate snuck into 4th position while Gold Coast were relegated to the bottom.

Uni’s Charli Knott finished the regular season as the leading run-scorer wth 225 runs at 45. Piper Veivers is the leading wicket-taker with 11 wickets at 18.33, including a wicket in every match and a best of 3-26 against eventual semi-finalists Valley.

Valley and Wynnum-Manly will reprise their rivalry in the first Semi-Final at 9:30 AM on Saturday, while Wests and Sandgate-Redcliffe will play the second Semi at 1:30 PM. 

Sunday's Final at Allan Border Field starts at 2pm, with the Brisbane Heat Fan Day underway from 12pm.