Sunshine Coast cricket sides battle for spot in T20 semi-finals

Contenders battle for final four T20 semi-finals semi-finals spots in the Sunshine Coast Division 1 competition.

Caboolture's Jayden Coffin

The final four to play the T20 semi-finals in the Sunshine Coast Division 1 is still open, but the contenders have been narrowed down to five likely teams as the competition goes into the fifth and sixth rounds.

Coolum, Nambour and Gympie look set to finish their pool rounds and go no further with only two wins between them, but they can still create mischief in the remaining three games that will see one of the other five clubs join them on the sidelines.

Unbeaten Tewantin-Noosa will face the biggest hurdle in the quest for consecutive titles as the Thunder take on Caboolture in the afternoon and Glasshouse under lights.

The Snake’s formidable batting list lost only three wickets in each innings in disposing of Glasshouse and Caloundra with totals of 166 and 130, and the combination of Glen Batticciotto, Preston White, Jayden Coffin and Matt Schubert has the firepower to test any local attack.

Caboolture's Jayden Coffin

Against them will be the home side’s depth with Tom Stewart, Scott Aufderheide and the proven Ben Laughlin with the new ball, and Lewis Waugh, Troy Dennien plus Dom Taylor to slow things down.

There could be a number of confrontations between these two ambitious sides in all forms this season, so each will be looking to land the first blow.

Maroochydore suffered its first defeat at the hands of Tewantin on Saturday, and would now consider that the hard part of the draw has passed, with the three remaining matches against Caloundra, Nambour and Coolum.

Against any complacency is the rejuvenated Lighthouse batting, which has reached three figures in every clash, and still presents an unknown quality due to the presence of an aggressive opener in Brendan Kelly, Premier Grade experience of Sam Underhill and 7000 plus local runs from Rod Gibbs.

A good start on a good wicket could worry the Swans.

Lacklustre batting has resulted in Glasshouse out of the top four going into the money rounds, with the Rangers’ only substantial score being 159 against Coolum.

The 108 run challenge to Nambour may have been harder to defend against a more experienced line-up, and a negative Net Run Rate is hardly a strong reserve in a countback situation.

Jeremy Schultz, Liam Moffett and Dan Cahill have 633 games behind them for the Rangers.

If they could turn half that number into runs in the final three matches, their side would be much more comfortable.

A positive side for Glasshouse is the enthusiasm of a young attack, which has had to respond to the absence of Steve Heise and Heath Fischer.

Only Caboolture in Round 3 has inflicted severe damage, with Matt Schubert’s whirlwind 87 with 8 sixes any bowler’s nightmare.

By the end of Round 6 each side will be able to assess the progress made and calculate what is needed in the final week to improve or consolidate a position in the final four.

From there, they are the masters of their fate.

POINTS: Tewantin-Noosa 8, Caboolture, Maroochydore 6, Caloundra, Glasshouse 4, Gympie, Nambour 2, Coolum 1.