Sunshine Coast cricket teams Maroochydore and Tewantin to face off in Twenty20 grand final replay

Undefeated sides Maroochydore and Tewantin will face off in a replay of last season’s final as they look to further stamp their mark on the Twenty20 season.

Former Gympie Gold ace Lewis Waugh has joined Tewantin-Noosa. Photo: Zahner Photography

The second day of Twenty20 fixtures for Sunshine Coast Division 1 sides looms as crucial for semi-finals hopes with a minimum of four wins from the seven rounds a likely cut-off for qualifiers.

Tomorrow the clubs are centred at Tewantin and Caboolture, where four teams at each venue play two games each.

After day one Maroochydore and Tewantin are unbeaten and their clash under lights at Read Park will be a replay of last season’s final.

The home side fancies this summer as a chance to repeat last year’s T20 success and then make a move on a 26-year premiership drought, a campaign boosted by the addition of Lewis Waugh, last season’s leading all-rounder, and the stature of Ben Laughlin, now a local.

A bonus could be the batting of experienced campaigners Chris Wright and Jarrod Officer, who last season compiled nearly 600 T20 runs between them.

Premiers Maroochydore started the season without leading runscorer Zak Willox, who could be hard to replace, though the Swans have the full services of Callum Stitt for the T20s, denied through his honeymoon last year.

The young Swans have benefited from a year’s experience, and would await the thrill of a night contest.

Caboolture has a proven trump with the return of Preston White, who joins with Glen Batticciotto, Matt Schubert and Jayden Coffin as an imposing top order.

The Snakes would have been disappointed with their all out 74 against Maroochydore after an easy win over Coolum, and at home would fancy themselves against Glasshouse and Caloundra.

Glasshouse is without Steve Heise for at least the first half of the season, and any team would sorely miss the quality of 170 wickets in four seasons, so the bowling looks up to rising talent Jet Taylor for strike power with Leon Manuel.

The absence for the early rounds of run miser Heath Fischer is another hurdle, especially in white ball rounds, making it imperative for the top five with the bat to roll up their sleeves.

Glasshouse faces a big test in the morning against the Snakes, but a win over Caloundra later in the day becomes vital with or without that result, and the Lighthouses pose an unknown threat this season, with maturing and introduced talent.

Their unsuccessful chase of 7/132 against Tewantin hints at batting strength.

Gympie lost both first round clashes, but reached three figures both times, and are mercurial enough to worry any side on their day, for the Gold definitely has match winners.

Coolum first up will provide a chance for points, but the Sharks batting first have to be respected if they can reach three figures, making this is an important contest for both sides.

Nambour produced a comeback for the ages after chasing down Gympie’s 124 without loss in game two after collapsing for 27 to Tewantin in the opening game, and face Caloundra then Glasshouse at Caboolture.

Depth is the Cutters’ weak spot, and relying on individual brilliance is no long term solution.

They need at least one win for the weekend.

POINTS: Tewantin, Maroochydore 4, Caboolture, Glasshouse, Nambour, Caloundra 2, Coolum, Gympie 0.