Kookaburra Cup; Surfers Paradise Demons youngsters could take them all way

A Kookaburra Cup cricket side with four players under the age of 16 have held the competition’s most explosive batting line-up to 175 runs from 75 overs.

Kookaburra Cup cricket - Mudgeeraba Nerang vs. Surfers Paradise at Nerang RSL Oval. Surfers Paradise bowler Sam Willis. (Photo/Steve Holland)

A Kookaburra Cup cricket side with four players under the age of 16 have held the competition’s most explosive batting line-up to 175 runs from 75 overs.

Surfers Paradise skipper Claye Beams says his young side’s simple approach to playing the game is the reason why they are ready to take on the finals - before half his teammates have graduated to their P plates.

Beams is the primary driver behind the team’s fun-loving culture that is helping the young Demons punch above their weight and into finals contention.

Kookaburra Cup cricket - Mudgeeraba Nerang vs. Surfers Paradise at Nerang RSL Oval. Surfers Paradise bowler Sam Willis. (Photo/Steve Holland)

“If you’re out there on the field with us, you’d see I’m the captain who likes to have fun with it,” the 28-year-old, 54-game Brisbane Lions midfielder-turned-suburban wicketkeeper said.

“We have a laugh, we’re not too serious.

“We’re the young side so we don’t have any expectations on ourselves; we’re just a young side that go out and have fun and it’s working for us.”

On Saturday, the fourth-ranked Demons held the Kookaburra Cup’s second-ranked team on the table, the Mudgeeraba Nerang Bushmen, to a run rate of 2.3 per over for 75 overs.

The Demons’ have climbed Cup ladder on the back of a tough-as-teak bowling attack that can suffocate even the strongest of batting teams, as they did on Saturday.

Led by warhorse Wade McDougall, Sam Willis and fiery young quick Cade Linde, Surfers have the weapons to scratch and claw their way to the premiership.

“That’s the part of our game that’s improved the most, our bowling and fielding,” Beams said.

“Wade is our old veteran, he builds pressure and ties up an end.

Kookaburra Cup cricket - Mudgeeraba Nerang vs. Surfers Paradise at Nerang RSL Oval. Surfers Paradise bowler Wade McDougall. (Photo/Steve Holland)

“Sam Willis bowled his best spell of the year coming off the long run for the first time since a rib injury.

“Young Cade made his debut aged 15 and he’s already the quickest bowler in our squad.

“He’s been really impressive with his attitude and the way he applies himself.

“We’ve been kicking along nicely, building momentum.

“With Finals there’s nothing expected of us so we’ll have fun, play how we normally play and what happens will happen.”

Across the Cup, Runaway Bay have beaten Queens by two wickets in a single day of play.

Top side Broadbeach Robina have Palm Beach on the ropes, 8-42, chasing 181.

Southport Labrador have set Alberton 302 to chase while Coomera are 0-25 chasing Burleigh’s 180.