Toowoomba trio earns state honour

DESPITE a tough outing against North Queensland, three Toowoomba players have been rewarded with Queensland Country selection.

Cameron Brimblecombe Picture: Nev Madsen.

CRICKET: A tough weekend for South Queensland Country has been offset with a number of Toowoomba players chosen to represent their state.

Their northern counterparts got the better of a three-game series over the weekend in Beenleigh, clean-sweeping South Queensland.

However it wasn’t all doom and gloom, with Cameron Brimblecombe, Chris Gillam and Sam Neale earning selection in the Queensland Country side to take part in the Australian Country Cricket Championships in Toowoomba in January.

Brimblecombe and Gillam have both previously competed for Queensland Country, with Neale to make his debut in the side.

Kris Glass, Tully Willson and Shaun McCarthy also lined up for South Queensland Country across the weekend.

It started with a T20 fixture, where North Queensland scraped home by two runs.

Brimblecombe starred with 2/18 with the ball, while Gillam’s 11 runs was the pick of Toowoomba’s players.

North Queensland was relentless in the one-day fixture, scoring a big 197-run victory.

McCarthy took a wicket and Brimblecombe two catches in the one-sided contest.

Glass and McCarthy were in the wickets in the final game, a 45-over match, and Willson scored 22, as South Queensland again fell short as rain stopped play.

“it was a tough weekend. Unfortunately in the lead-up we had four blokes pull out which made things tough,” Brimblecombe said.

“We did well on the Friday to get within a few runs of them, but in the one-day games a few fundamentals batting-wise let us down and the rain-impacted match on Sunday didn’t allow to get into the winners list.”

Despite the results, Brimblecombe said he was overjoyed to be named as captain of Queensland Country, and to share that honour with Western Districts teammates Gillam and Neale.

“It’s an absolute honour to captain any side, but as a country kid to do it for Queensland Country is something I will relish and something I’m looking forward to,” he said.

“Chris absolutely bleeds maroon, so it’s great to have him back in the fold.

“I know how much it means to him and how hard he has worked to get back in the side.

“Sam has only just turned 17 and is currently away with the Queensland U19s.

“He’s getting his opportunity in the opens and it’s a pretty unbelievable achievement for such a youngster, He’s earned the right to be in the team and is someone that will perform.”

The Australian Country Cricket Championships begin here in Toowoomba on January 3, with the finals matches to be played on January 11.

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