Trophies were lifted and hearts broken at the final hurdles of the Cricket Gold Coast season. Follow the action of our juniors and seniors here >>
One final all star showing from Harry Lickiss has ended the Cricket Gold Coast season, as Helensvale Pacific Pines lifted the Taper Premier League trophy.
The Hawks all-rounder has been in a realm of his own in the back half of the 2022/23 summer, and his efforts on the weekend broke the hearts of Mudgeeraba Nerang once again.
Lickiss finishes as the competition’s leading wicket taker with 49 at 12.90 runs apiece, while his batting exploits gathered momentum as the campaign wore on.
Since his side’s Round 13 bye, he has gone on to score 268 runs at 38.29 and claim 32 wickets at 11.09.
And with the trophy on the line, Lickiss delivered once again; taking figures of 4/35 while combining for a half-century partnership with brother Jack to hand the Bushmen their third grand final defeat of the season — having lost the one-day and T20 deciders.
Lickiss and Ryan Maloney (4/19) wreaked havoc on the Mudgeeraba Nerang batting line up, as the pair removed openers Jai Kurt and Lydon Gibbons quickly to leave their rivals reeling at 2/14.
Only Luke Smith’s defiant 31 — the only score above 15 for the outfit — offered any resistance as the Bushmen were bundled all out for just 94.
However it appeared there was still plenty of fight left in the minor premiers, with Rhys Finn tearing through the Hawks’ top order on his way to figures of 3/24 to have Helensvale Pacific Pines in all sorts at 3/29.
But the Lickiss duo of Jack (49) and Harry (32) guided their unit to the title, with their exits coming having already surpassed the target required.
This clash was destined to be a fight between bat and ball, with the Hawks boasting the most formidable bowling line up in the competition to go head to head with the most lethal batting order of the season.
Cricket Gold Coast’s leading run scorer Josh Nelson (734 @ 40.78), skipper Howard Biddle (477 runs @ 31.80) and the dangerous Gibbons (458 runs @ 35.23) were always going to be crucial to their cause.
But with three of the summer’s top four bowlers in the Hawks line up — Lickiss joined by Maloney (37 wickets @ 12.14) and Jack Baird (37 wickets @ 9.92) — they were always going to have their work cut out for them.
TAPER PREMIER LEAGUE DIVISION TWO
Palm Beach 256 all out defeated Helensvale Pacific Pines 170 all out
A batting masterclass from the Palm Beach line up, and an unstoppable spell from James Lamont has inspired the Lions to an emphatic grand final triumph in the division two competition.
Led by Callum Wilsom’s brilliant 83, the Lions charged to a formidable 256 all out — with captain Riley Coulson (63) and Matthew Field (48) providing invaluable support.
Despite the best efforts of skipper Craig Pilbin (56) and opener Ben Daley (37), Helensvale Pacific Pines were unable to match the intensity as Lamont went on a tearaway mission.
The opening quick finished with 6/41 to reduce the Hawks to 170 and end the campaign with further silverware to add to Palm Beach’s cabinet.
TAPER PREMIER LEAGUE DIVISION THREE
Bonogin Valley 8/128 defeated Mudgeeraba Nerang Red 127 all out
Beau Pearson looked determined to deliver an inspired captain’s knock, however it was ultimately in vain for the Mudgeeraba Nerang Red leader.
The skipper’s late innings 35 from just 34 delivers gave the Bushmen something to bowl to, dismissed for 127 as the Bonogin Valley attack all chimed in (six wicket takers).
Pearson then claimed 2/24 to give his side a chance, however defiant knocks from Decklin Ross (40) and Udith Fernando (32) proved enough to spearhead Valley to a triumph.
UNDER 18 DIVISION ONE
Surfers Paradise 178 all out defeated Mudgeeraba 72 all out
A defiant half-century from Tynan O’Toole and brilliant spell from Daniel Burda has proven the difference, as Surfers Paradise lifted the Gold Coast’s under-18 division one trophy.
O’Toole proved to be in a space of his own on the weekend, dominating an 89-run partnership with Luke Rodrigues (29) to put the Demons in a commanding position.
The opener charged to 72, with his running between wickets on show — he struck just one boundary in the innings.
Despite the best efforts of Hayden Taylor (4/25), his rival’s exploits left Mudgeeraba with 179 to chase, but ultimately Burda wasn’t having any of it.
Only two of the Bushmen’s batsman reached 20 — Elijah Welsh (22) and Shauka Silva (20) — as Burda’s spell of 4/17 reduced them to be all out for 72.
Jake Selvey proved the perfect foil with the ball, claiming figures of 3/7.
UNDER 18 DIVISION TWO
Coomera Hope Island 3/75 defeated Southport 9/71
Jonti Kamo has saved one of his finest performances for when it counted, spearheaded Coomera Hope Island to the under-18 division two mantle over Southport.
Only one Tigers batman hit double digits as skipper Cooper Johnson (25) played a lone hand in the face of Kamo’s carnage.
The Coomera opener took 5/15 from his 10 overs to reduce Southport to 9/71, before hitting an unbeaten 37 to lift the premiership trophy.
UNDER 18 DIVISION THREE
Bonogin Valley 7/109 defeated Burleigh Maroon 96 all out
All it took were three-and-a-half miserly overs from Tyler Cook to all but bury Burleigh’s premiership tilt.
The Bonogin Valley bowler came in and thrived with the ball, claiming 3/5 from just 3.3 overs to reduce Burleigh to just 96 all out.
Only Judd Mooney (33) offered any real resistance in the division three battle, before Eligh Fermor’s 30 and an unbeaten 23 to Caleb Williams guided Valley to the title.
UNDER 15
Palm Beach 162 all out defeated Southport 134 all out
Patrick Cashman has cashed in in a big way for Palm Beach, as his inspired performance steered the Lions to grand final triumph over Southport.
Then under-15s trophy is now headed for the border, with Cashman’s 4/12 instrumental in reducing the Tigers to just 134.
Ubaid Azam’s 36 and Jake Tattle’s 29 offered some respite, however Cashman found a valuable ally in Zavier Iseppi (3/24) to defend their side’s 162 with aplomb.
Cashman’s efforts with the bat also were pivotal to the cause, scoring 20 to support Lewis Dart (25) and Krish Bhasin (32) to give he and his fellow attack a strong target to bowl to.
UNDER 13 DIVISION ONE
Surfers Paradise Red 82 all out defeated Helensvale 78 all out
A thriller has ensued in the under-13s division one grand final, as Surfers Paradise held on for a gutsy four-run win over Helensvale.
Things were looking good for the Hawks as Caleb McDougall (3/5) and Noah Bray (3/11) combined to restrict the Demons to just 82.
However despite a strong start from Dev Sharma (20 off 21), a collective effort with the ball from Surfers — with eight wicket takers sharing the spoils — enabled them to defend the small target.
UNDER 13 DIVISION TWO
Palm Beach 130 all out defeated Bonogin Valley 95 all out
As Bonogin Valley set up chasing down Palm Beach’s 130 run target, Jackson Smith ensured it never had the chance to get off the ground.
After Valley’s bowler Cameron Dungey’s 3/6 kept the Lions in check, the onus fell on the Palm Beach bowling arsenal to cause some chaos in the middle.
That is where Smith came to the fore.
The Lion was quick to dismiss Bonogin openers Oliver Dungey and Jappy Ranu on his way to figures of 4/11, sending his side into jubilant celebrations to win by 35-runs.
Dungey was valiant in backing up his efforts with the ball, top scoring with 29 retired not out but unable to find enough support to orchestrate a victory.
UNDER 12 NORTH
Helensvale Gold 139 all out defeated Southport Yellow 92 all out
Cometh the hour, cometh Cooper Armstrong.
It was with both bat and ball and the Helensvale Gold all-rounder rose to the occasion, as the Hawks charged to a 47 run grand final triumph in the under-12 north competition.
Armstong’s quickfire 25 — along with Ethan McIntyre’s unbeaten 27 and Krish Patel’s 25 — guided their side to 139 all out before Armstrong got to work with the ball.
Despite Samiel Johnston’s 3/16 for the Hawks, the chase proved too much, as Armstrong’s clinical 5/9 from six overs decimated his Southport Yellow rivals.
UNDER 12 SOUTH
Palm Beach 3/88 defeated Mudgeeraba Blue 5/75
Wrap to come
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