Dixon Holmes T20 cricket resumes in Mackay

It took one side 21 overs to claim their first win of the year as the Dixon Holmes T20 competition came roaring back across the weekend. See who dominated with the bat and ball.

Shaun Austin for Souths Sharks against Walkerston Cricket Club in Mackay

After a well earned Christmas break, Mackay’s best cricketers dusted off the cobwebs and went big this past weekend in the Dixon Holmes T20 Shootout competition.

The new year presented some challenges for sides, with two hoping to remain undefeated and others aiming to notch their first win of the season in 2023.

The biggest game of the weekend came between the South Sharks and Magpies - both side without wins on the board heading into the clash.

The Sharks were sent to bat first and wasted no time in making their presence felt with opener Shaun Austin hitting the weekend’s biggest score of 68 to set his side up with a great chance of victory.

While getting out of the blocks well, the Sharks middle order struggled at the hands of Isaac Borg and Adam Zurvass who managed three and one wicket respectively to keep the runs limited to 133

Now into bat, the Magpies struggled to find any continuity early with opening pair Kai Higham and Matthew Borg sent packing with only one run between them, which left plenty of work for next man in, Adam Zurvass.

Rated as the best long form batsmen in the competition, Zurvas showed his class and settled his side with a great knock of 56 alongside brother Benjamin who managed to score 50 runs of his own.

With the Zurvas brothers going to work the Magpies managed to draw even with Souths in the final over, forcing the sides to head to a league-first sudden death round to decide the winner.

Given only one over each, the Magpies managed to score a hefty 11 runs in their over to take down Souths who only scored four.

Pioneer Valley versus Brothers

Next up was the competition’s best battling it out for the prestige of remaining undefeated, with Pioneer Valley and Brothers going at it in the scorching heat.

Pioneer Valley batted first and struggled to find momentum as the Brothers bowling stocks ripped through the top order.

Mitchell Wadsworth made his case as one of the league's best bowlers by removing both opening batsmen for just eight runs.

Scrambling to find continuity, Valley’s Cody Filewood and Liam Hutchenson steadied the ship with 27 runs each to get the side on the board and edging toward a total that may be hard to chase.

Ending the innings with a total of just 93 runs after brothers bowler Chris Dunn claimed another three wickets, the Pioneer Valley side was left with an almighty task to dismiss one of the best batting line-ups in the league.

Stepping up to the crease, the Brothers batsmen were rattled early with opener Michael Dunn dismissed for just two runs and were forced to hope in-form batsman Matthew Wicks could carry the side to victory.

Wicks dominated, sending the ball in all directions to hit 51 runs off just 33 balls to steer his side to a big victory and have the bragging rights of remaining undefeated in the T20 competition.

Brothers Cricket Club celebrate a big win in round three of the Dixon Holmes T20 Shootout continuing their undefeated streak this season.

Norths versus Walkerston

The weekend’s final match up between Norths and Walkerston became a battle for the middle position on the ladder.

Norths bat first and could not have got off to a better start with opener Duncan Sterling standing and delivering with 57 runs off 46 balls.

With Sterling setting it up, it just needed the rest of the side to stay consistent and with one of the league’s best batsmen Mason Kohler accumulating 31 runs of his own, Norths left a total of 133 runs for Walkerston to chase down.

Walkerston opener Sam Vassallo hit 20 quick runs before being sent back to the sheds which saw a slew of wickets taken by the Norths bowling contingent.

Coming in during the middle order, Luke Jackson stepped up to the crease and made his presence felt managing to get the best of the bowling attack and make 42 runs not out for the side.

In the final over the pair of Jackson and Newbery stood their ground and hit the winning runs with just five balls to spare giving Walkerston a big win and their first of the season to sit on the middle of the table.

Norths Mason Kohler continued his dominance on the competition with 31 runs to help steady his side before falling short against a strong Walkerston side.

Round four action of the Dixon Holmes T20 competition continues this week and will be a season defining weekend as finals quickly approach.