Finalists are set for an Allan Border Field Finals frenzy this week in the Katherine Raymont Shield while the competition continues to heat up elsewhere in the KFC Queensland Premier Cricket competition, as CAM VELLACOTT outlines.
Women's T20 Finals Set
The Katherine Raymont Shield women’s T20 Finals will be held this weekend with Western Suburbs taking on University of Queensland at 10am at Allan Border Field on Saturday while Sandgate-Redcliffe and Sunshine Coast will meet at 2pm in the other semi-final at Allan Border Field.
The Final will be held on Sunday at 2pm.
All Finals games will be livestreamed through the QC match centre at https://matchcentre.premier.qld.cricket.com.au/
Last weekend's men’s First Grade matches saw six fantastic matches featuring some of the best individual performances of the season to date. Across the weekend, all 10 First Grade matches finished with a result as teams push for maximum points heading into the Christmas break.
Valley continued their unbeaten start to red ball cricket with a convincing run chase against Wests. Chasing 256, Valley resumed 0/41. The match lay in the balance at 2/85 on the stroke of the first drinks break. However, Max Bryant (87 off 127) and Connor Nowlan (72 off 109) swiftly combined at the crease to all but win the match by the time Nowlan was dismissed. Wests managed to take three quick wickets, though the damage was done and Valley passed the score 5 down. Some lower order hitting from Zanden Jeh (45* off 56) saw Valley reach maximum batting points and declare 7/352. Darcy Murphy, Toby Matthews and Dupinder Singh shared the wickets. Wests finished 2/103 off the remaining 14 overs, Steve McGiffin (59* off 41) launching five maximums in his late afternoon onslaught.
Much like Valley, Norths unbeaten red ball run continued in a dominant batting display against Redlands. With Josh Brown in the sheds already, it was fellow hard hitting opener Connor Carroll’s turn to inflict damage on the kookaburra. Hitting 20 boundaries and 4 maximums, Carroll was in full flight for his 156 (198). He and Scott Palombo (68 off 110) guided Norths from 1/23 to 2/256 in their pursuit of 276. Norths middle order then pushed hard to maximise their points, declaring 7/352. In a tough day for the bowlers, Redlands Jack Sinfield (2/70) toiled hard and proved a challenge to face throughout. Redlands finished their second innings 3/100 off the remaining 24 overs.
Ipswich managed to hold off an inspired Souths run chase at Ivor Marsden Oval. After Souths resumed 2/57, it then all went right for Ipswich early. Keeper Jake Cross took a magnificent catch off Harry Wood bowling around the wicket to the left handed Brandon Faber, Cross launching himself down the leg side to snare a strangle.
Ipswich bowlers Adam Smith (3/32), Harry Wood (2/29) and Noah Emmerson (2/42) the continued the momentum to decimate the Souths top order. Not often would you find the club’s only professional cricketer at short leg, but that’s where Jack Wood was for Emmerson’s off spin. Very quickly Sam Geyer (25 off 82) would found out why, Wood’s reflex catch to dismiss him utterly superb. The Magpies lost 5/30 to start the day. Reeling at 7/88, Matt Love (91* off 191) and Ed Leslie (45 off 94) steadied. However, Ipswich’s 278 proved too many. Love and Leslie fought hard, Souths eventually all out 229. Ipswich reached 5/209 off 26 overs, Jake Cross finishing the afternoon with a brutal 52* off 15 balls.
In a team brimming with state and national stars, it was the Gold Coast’s Jackson Smith (4/42) who shone brightest against the Sunshine Coast. Smith claimed the first three wickets of the match to have the Scorchers 3/42. The Gold Coast bowlers, backed up by some excellence fielding, continued their dominance to have the Sunshine Coast 8/115. Off spinner Brad Munro (4/33) took the last four wickets for the Dolphins as they charged to victory. Lleyton Chick (48 off 97) and Oliver Bembrick (32* off 71) put on 69 in their last wicket stand, the Sunshine Coast eventually all out 209. Ashton Gumm blasted 91 (51) in the Gold Coast’s second innings. They finished 6/153 off 17 overs.
Saturday morning was far more subdued than last Saturday afternoon at Ken McKay Oval. Resuming 4/31, Wynnum-Manly’s Jed Wilson (32 off 100) and Reuben Burger (71 off 99) gave their side a glimmer of hope chasing Toombul’s 341 as they batted through past lunch. However, Preston White (2/10) managed to break through and dismiss Wilson. The next over, Burger was dropped in the gully before a mistimed pull shot had him caught behind. Toombul leg spinner Hassan Sadar (3/43) cleaned up the tail, Wynnum-Manly all out 201. Toombul, lead by Sam Wilson (75* off 56), managed 7/201 in the remaining 35 overs. Harmon Sandhu (2/34) and Tom Eyley (3/52) led the bowlers.
University’s Harry Walker (78 off 87) and Max Clayton (85 off 149) guided their side home to a sound victory against Sandgate-Redcliffe. After returning 2/79, the students only lost one further wicket in pursuit of the Gators 208. Uni were cruising towards maximum batting points before Sandgate struck thrice, Walker, Clayton and Day all departing to go from 3/247 to 6/248. Bowlers Mitch Buckley and Hiri Hiri both took three wickets to help dismiss Uni for 333. Steven Cawood (76 off 103) saw the Gators steer clear of any chance of an outright result, Sandgate 6/153 (45) at stumps.
TOTW 18th & 19th Nov
1. Ashton Gumm 91 (51) Gold Coast
2. Connor Carroll 156 (198) Northern Suburbs
3. Max Bryant 87 (127) Valley
4. Tess Cooper 61 (58), 32 (34) Sandgate-Redcliffe
5. Keyra Smith 54* (42) Western Suburbs
6. Matthew Love 91* (191) South Brisbane
7. Reuben Burger 71 (99) Wynnum-Manly (Wicket Keeper)
8. Meagan Dixon 3/10 (4), 2/11 (4) Sandgate-Redcliffe
9. Jessica Daldy 3/24 (4) University of Queensland
10. Brad Munro 4/33 (17.3) Gold Coast
11. Roxanne Thomson 4/5 (4) Gold Coast
Each week The Courier-Mail covers the Premier Cricket round with 3-2-1 points from matches. Their latest reports, including an in-depth appraisal of the unsung heroes of Premier cricket are available here (note subscription required):