First century of the season: Taper Financial Premier League Round 1 wrap

Helensvale have fired an early warning shot at the Taper Financial Premier League with a 114-run win over competition hopefuls Broadbeach Robina.

Harry Lickiss from Helensvale. Photo: Jodie Henderson.

Helensvale Pacific Pines has fired an early warning shot in the Taper Financial Premier League with a 114-run win over competition hopefuls Broadbeach Robina.

Harry Lickiss was divine for the Hawks on Saturday, scoring 117 runs from 73 balls including seven fours and 10 sixes at a strike rate of 160.27 to help guide Helensvale to a 243 total. Broadbeach Robina managed 7-129 in reply.

Lickiss then took 1/7 from four overs, while Ryan Maloney and Jack Baird took 2/25 and 2/32 from eight overs each.

Helensvale bowler Ryan Maloney. Photo: Mike Batterham.

Lickiss brought up his century with a powerful sweep over mid-wicket.

“It felt really good, I was just happy to get the boys over the line,” Lickiss said.

“I wasn’t expecting to hit them that well but it’s good to see the training is paying off.”

The Round 1 win comes after the side was knocked out of the All Ballsports Cup in the semi-finals — a loss that disappointed the side after they went down by 24 runs.

“We didn’t change a heap from the T20s to now, just really knuckling down and playing to our strengths which we didn’t really do in the semi.

“The result just proves we aren’t a team that can be pushed over easily, we all bond really well and love getting around each other.”

Lickiss said he had made a few changes to his game since last season, where he averaged 42.9 runs from a total of 472.

“Being the cricket nerd I am I watch a lot of Mark Cosgrove videos so I’ve altered my technique to be similar to his and it seems to be working,” Lickiss.

The loss was a shock for Broadbeach who recruited well in the off-season, with former England under-19 captain Adam Ball and West England Premier League recruit Ryan Thorpe signing for the club.

Ball scored 11 from 25 balls while Thorpe hit 31 from 46 balls.

Across the competition, competition heavyweights Mudgeeraba beat defending premiers Surfers Paradise by five wickets.

Surfers lost former Queensland cricketer Michael Phillipson to UQ and former Brisbane Lions footballer and Surfers’ captain Claye Beams, who has gone to South Brisbane’s Queensland Premier Cricket side.

Mackenzie Barclay bowling for Mudgeeraba in the All Ballsports T20 Cup grand final. Photo: Richard Gosling.

Mackenzie Barclay took three wickets, including the prized scalp of former Queensland Bulls batsman Nathan Reardon who put on 64 runs before he was dismissed.

Last season’s wooden spooners Queens began their campaign by beating Burleigh when they reached a total of 163 with five wickets to spare.

Opening batsman Mitchell Freeman smashed 65 from 92 balls while Jackson Winton took 3/23 from eight overs.

Southport Labrador put out a solid performance to defeat Coomera Hope Island, winning by 174 runs, while Alberton Ormeau defeated Runaway Bay by 75 runs.