Club cricket grand finals - the best 3-2-1 across seven deciders
Who were the best players following day 1 of a super seven of senior club cricket grand finals? We reveal the best 3-2-1 players
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Valley were Raymont Shield champions following a resounding win while Northern Suburbs were in the box seat to win the Bulls Masters first grade premiership after a stunning bowling effort against reigning premiers Ipswich.
Valley bowling ace Megan Jones was a four wicket hero at University on Sunday, a real magic maker for her side. More on her performance below.
And in the men’s senior final, Sam Neale (5-34) was sensational, with his well directed right arm pace dismantling the Ipswich line-up.
GPS FIRST XI CRICKET: RD 8 TEAM OF THE WEEK AS TSS EYE TITLE
AIC FIRST XI CRICKET - PREMIERSHIP DECIDED
In Ipswich, Neale and the Norths’ bowlers seized the moment to dismiss Ipswich for 166 - and then have them 3-66 in the second innings after Norths (356) had batted themselves to the brink of the title.
Neale, who has had premiership success before with the club, capitalised on the early success of bowling enforcers Will Prestwidge and Connor Sully, to skid through the middle and lower order.
BULLS MASTERS PREMIER GRADE
3. Sam Neale (Norths)
The former Queensland and Toowoomba under 19 representative was challenged by Jack Wood (42) and Jem Ryan (37), but maintained his line and length and eventually dismissed both batsmen. He took 5-34.
2. Joshua Brown (Norths)
Brown bashed Ipswich for 88 runs from 75 balls, pounding his side out of trouble following the loss of three early wickets.
1. Will Prestwidge (Norths)
Prestwidge claimed an early wicket and then dismissed Ipswich’s top scorer, Harrison Wood, in his second spell. He also scored 42 when Norths were eager to capitalise on the momentum generated by Josh Brown.
RELATED LINKS
QUIET ACHIEVERS OF GPS FIRST XI CRICKET
HATTRICK HERO FROM REDLANDS AN AIC HIT
CLUB CRICKET SEMI-FINAL 3-2-1 PLAYERS
Special mentions: Norths’ bowling enforcer Connor Sully claimed two early wickets, while swing bowler Noah McFadyen struck twice in the second innings.
Blake Maher (Norths) also had a good first couple of days with runs, wickets and catches.
Sean Lutter (Ipswich) was under tremendous pressure from Brown and Prestwidge, but played tough to claim four wickets - including denying Brown his hundred.
His bowling mate Jem Ryan also took three wickets and scored 37 - not a bad effort in a grand final - while Harrison Wood scored 45 and 20 not out, while also taking a wicket. He will fight hard this Saturday for his side.
ALAN PETTIGREW SHIELD SECOND GRADE
Valley players can see the premiership pennant dangling in front of their faces after the team’s bowlers dominated the opening two days.
Defending 276, Brisbane Grammar School old boy Charlie Thomas blasted Norths out for.
3. Charlie Thomas (Valley)
The right arm fast bowler wound up and let rip, taking 5-20 from 16 overs on his home track over the weekend. He bowled Oliver Lunt early for a duck, then Toowoomba Grammar School old boy Harrison Tzannes and from that moment, Valley never lost momentum. Thomas maintained pressure with eight maiden overs.
3. Ryan Walker (Norths)
Leg spinner Walker (7-63) was remarkable with his 32 overs that initially bowled Norths onto the front foot. A former Australian under 19 representative, Walker cracked the Valley innings open with the dismissal of Darling Downs product Callum Galvin and local boy from across the creek, Cooper Mackie. In the second innings he also ran out Galvin. Walker is a Terrace old boy who started at Albany Creek juniors before his career gathered pace at Toombul.
Special mentions: Morgan Galvin (Valley)
Charlie Thomas grabbed the headlines, but Galvin also took two valuable top order wickets to keep his foot on the chest of the Norths’ batsmen. He also bowled tightly in his 12 over stint.
Matthew Clarke (Norths)
Clarke played a defiant lone hand, facing 157 balls in scoring 41 not out. His blood was worth bottling.
John Joyce (Valley, 61) and Ethan Du Payne (Valley, 55) for their lower order partnership which breathed air into a Valley innings that was starting to deflate around Ryan Walker’s tight bowling.
Jack O’Neill (Valley)
The Valley top order batsman was on the spot with his spin. Building pressure across his 16 overs, O’Neill claimed 3-16 late in the innings.
NORM MCMAHON THIRD GRADE
Third grade was evenly poised with Valley 5-109 in reply to Norths 215
3. Samuel Deacon (Norths)
Deacon was outstanding with the bat (61), then claimed two vital wickets. The Nudgee College old boy partnered with his captain Haydn Murray in an innings defining partnership, before claiming the crucial wicket of Harry Carroll (44) who was flowing freely. Another 30 minutes of Carroll and Valley’s innings would have ballooned over 150 by stumps, so quickly was he scoring.
2. Ben Lanigan (Valley)
The former St Laurence’s College paceman was the mainstay of the Valley attack. He was persistent across his 20 overs, taking wickets regularly to finish with 4-48. It was a great innings of bowling by him.
1. Haydn Murray (Norths)
The Norths’ captain shared in a vital partnership with Deacon which has eased his team ahead. Runs on the board in the final were key, and 215 is something for his bowlers and fielders to play with. He scored a patient 63 from 157 balls.
Special mention: While he only took one wicket, let us not discount the bowling of Valley captain Kade Horan who kept the pressure on across his 18 overs.
BOB SPENCE SHIELD FOURTH GRADE
Northern Suburbs were on top in its grand final despite scoring just 187. They have Redlands 4-46 in their innings.
3. Jason Hill (Redlands)
The Tigers’ opening bowler was a wicket taking workhorse who toiled across 35 gruelling overs to take 5-53. He was given encouragement early when he claimed two quick wickets in his first two overs, but as the Norths’ batsmen rallied he had to be patient - and he was.
1. Frank Piper (Norths)
Frank Piper (33) was a part of a rearguard action which got Norths’ heads above water after some early mishaps. He batted for 83 balls at No.8, scrambling some runs late in the piece. Then, with the ball, he claimed 2-9 during a five over spurt.
1. Joshua Campebell (Norths)
Norths batsmen Joseph Campbell (33) showed his teammate how it was done with a grinding, gutsy 120 ball stay after the top of the order had wobbled and creaked. Around him Liam Byrne (34), Harley Friske (34) and Michael Wright (37) all put a high price on their wickets.
1. Ely Robertson (Redlands)
Robertson was Hills’ right hand man, taking 3-46 from his 18.2 overs.
ROY TANNER SHIELD FIFTH GRADE
It is game on in the fifth grade decider, with Western Suburbs (157) a nose ahead of University (94, 1-32)
3.Hugh Mason (Wests)
Mason was the bowling hero with his 5-22 plunging Wests onto the front foot. After the initial success of Tyler Heness and James Young, Mason worked his way through the rest of the batting order in style.
1. Brock Balcombe (University)
Brock Balcombe did his best to swing momentum his team’s way with a stoic 20 over effort. It was Balcombe who removed Wests’ two batting barnacles, Chaudhari and Rebetzke, who were set like concrete. He claimed 4-33.
1.David Rebetzke (Wests)
The Wests captain stonewalled the opposition for 225 balls on his way to scoring 44 - and it is just as well as he watched his side lose six cheap wickets before Mann Chaudhari dug deep.
1. Mann Chaudhari (Wests)
The Wests innings would have sunk without trace had Mann Chaudhari (44, 102 balls) not joined his captain Rebetzke.
Special mention: Tyler Heness (Wests)
It was Tyler Heness who started Wests roll on Saturday afternoon with two early wickets. After that success, he rolled his sleeves up to bowl 14 overs, finding a third wicket along the way.
RAYMONT SHIELD, FIRST GRADE
Valley 2-110 def University 10-109
Valley bowling ace Megan Jones was a four wicket hero at University on Sunday, rattling her rivals with a miraculous 10 overs.
From the get go Jones was magic, the Julia Price awardee snaring the first three wickets to have University, with their feathers ruffled, 3-25.
She took her fourth wicket shortly after, dismissing Taylor Stumer for naught to see University going in circles at 5-29.
It was a special first spell.
3. Megan Jones (Valley)
Taking her tally to 15 wickets in the one day season, Jones delivered mouthwatering figures of 4-21 off 10 overs.
She got Valley off to a flyer after University had won the toss and elected to bat and with help from Christina Coulson, Meghan McCartney and Eleanor Swanepoel, Valley took the upperhand.
1. Nicola Hancock (University)
No.6 bat Nicola Hancock produced 47 runs under extreme pressure and top scored for both teams.
Arriving at the crease with her side 4-29 and then losing Stumer shortly after getting there, Hancock was batting in less than ideal circumstances.
But diamonds are formed under pressure and the classy Hancock put up an incredible fight.
She ran incredibly between the wickets and put on a 34 run partnership with Ava Spencer which gave University life.
1 and 1. Lucinda Bourke and Sianna Ginger (Valley)
It was no surprise seeing Bourke (31 not out, 75 balls) and Sianna Ginger (42 not out, 64 balls) score the winning runs to crown Valley Katherine Raymont Shield premiers.
After all, Ginge is averaging 66.43 on the season while Bourke averaged 40.63. They took no chances on Sunday, and by the 30th over Valley had the trophy wrapped up and ready to be sent to Yoku road.
Ginger and Bourke combined for 73 runs and tracked down 110 the hard way, by running between the wickets.
They hit just three boundaries between them and sucked the hope out of a gallant University side which won two more games than Valley during the home-and-away season.
JODIE PURVES SECOND GRADE
Ipswich 10-111 def Western Suburbs 10-110
Ipswich were giant killers at Graceville Memorial Park on Sunday, beating Wests by one run in a fitting end to a stellar season.
The Jodie Purves Shield was hanging in the balance until Ipswich skipper Hannah Tucker’s magnificent bowling swung momentum in her team’s favour and brought about a thrilling victory.
3. Hannah Tucker (Ipswich)
Defending a score of 111, captain Tucker took four wickets when it mattered most.
The competition’s leading wicket taker with 27 wickets in 13 one day matches across the season, Tucker rose to the occasion to snare two crucial scalps.
The first was Chelsea Sonter (21) and the next was Olviia Totten (19), two wickets which could not have come at a better time.
Tucker scored four consecutive wickets, also dismissing Taylor Hamblin and Scarlett Varidel to turn the game on its head.
1. Kyrna Crump (Ipswich)
No.6 batter Kyrna Crump stayed ready and delivered on the biggest stage of the season.
She showed poise to stay out there for 80 deliveries, where her 41 runs was monumental in Ipswich attaining a defendable total.
Crump smashed six fours and had a wonderful 45 run partnership with Lucy Williams (15) which proved vital.
1 and 1. Nicolene Snyman and Caitlin Lutvey (Wests)
Snyman continued her fine form at the bowling crease with three wickets, while Lutvey’s four wicket effort was top of the pops.
The pair were damaging, ensuring Ipswich were only able to face 38.5 overs out of 50 on the day.
Snyman (6) and Lutvey (9 not out) also chipped in runs during the chase but in swooped Lucy Williams for the Hornets, collecting two late wickets to bowl Wests out for 110.
Who’s who for Opals, Boomers as Paris destiny awaits
Australia’s strong history of results at the Olympic Games goes on the line again in Paris 2024.
‘What may look OK on the outside may not be OK on the inside’: Olympian reveals private battle
The Paris Olympics are more than a medal chase for Conor Nicholas. They are about laying demons to rest after the loss of a sister “with the biggest smile in the world”.