Mudgeeraba fight off grand final curse to claim the ultimate prize in Cricket Gold Coast
Mudgeeraba have been crowned kings of Cricket Gold Coast once again after fighting off grand final demons and claiming the Premier First Grade premiership.
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Mudgeeraba have been crowned kings of Cricket Gold Coast once again after fighting off grand final demons and claiming the Premier First Grade premiership.
Coming into the grand final with coach Cameron Garnham believing they ‘were the big underdogs’ after losing to Palm Beach in the one day final just two weeks ago and having lost their last six grand finals.
But after winning the toss and bowling first, Mudgeeraba picked up vital wickets early to leave Palm Beach in a lot of trouble at Bill Pippen Oval.
The scalp of captain Cody Durante for a second ball duck helped Mudgeeraba’s confidence as it continued to rise throughout the opening day.
Nathan Lyons continued to show why he is the number one bowler in the competition, picking up 4-43 from 13.1 overs while Dayne Siede claimed 3-25 from nine overs and Matthew Grant picked up 3-9 from seven overs.
Palm Beach opener Jared Neuhaus top scored with 23 from 45 balls with Brent Anderson the second top scorer with 19 from 44 balls guiding them to 10-85.
In reply, Palm Beach picked up two quick wickets early and flash backs of Mudgeeraba under performing in grand finals started to ring out.
But opener Lydon Gibbons (35 from 112 balls) and Dylan McLaughlin (26 not out from 80 balls) guided Mudgeeraba to a lead of just 43 at stumps on day one.
Rain distrupted play early on day two with Palm Beach managing to face a further seven overs going at just under five an over to sit at 0-34, trailing by just nine runs.
Just before 2pm with the covers having been back on for almost two hours, play was eventually called off with Mudgeeraba winning on first innings.
Premier Second Grade:
Helensvale 4-227 defeated Mudgeeraba 10-33
After claiming the minor premiership and breezing into the Premier Second Grade grand final, Helensvale won the toss and elected to bowl first.
The club only required two bowlers, who combined bowled 17.2 overs between them as Oliver Hawkins (5-18 from 8.2 overs) and skipper Alexander Hayes (4-10 from 9 overs) ripped through Mudgeeraba’s batting line up.
Luke Trudgett was the top scorer for Mudgeeraba and the only batter to score double figures, being dismissed on 11 from 24 balls.
In reply, Helensvale lost their first wicket for 12 but remained in control on Saturday, finishing the day at 4-227 with both teams calling it game at stumps on day one.
Craig Pilbin smashed a quick fire 86 not out from 64 balls to put on a partnership with Nathan Gett, 29 not out from 91 balls.
Benji Lee smashed two 6s and three 4s in his 41 from 37 balls while Michael Taylor was dismissed on 35 from 48 balls.
Premier Third Grade:
Alberton 4-223 defeated Palm Beach 10-171
Palm Beach won the toss and sent Alberton in to bat with openers getting a start to put PBC on the back foot.
Captain Ben Fleming came in at number four and went at more than a run a ball 82 not out from 79 balls, combining with Tony Snelson (46 from 45 balls) to get their team to a defendable total.
Opening bowler Tim McDonald was the pick of the bowler and the only one out of six bowlers who had an economy rate of less than 5.
McDonald finished with 1-23 from his eight overs.
In reply, a few of Palm Beach batters got starts but were unable to capitalise, with the side eventually falling 52 runs short being bowled out in the 38th over.
Harrison Smith top scored with 28 from 32 balls, with Heath Downie and Rhys Saunders bother getting dismissed for 24 from 25 balls.
Alberton all-rounder Dylan Groenewald was the pick of the bowlers with 4-33 from eight overs with Jason Plummer collecting 3-30 from his eight.
Community Div 1:
Broadbeach 6-249 defeated Queens Centaurs 10-94
Queens won the toss and elected to bowl in the top Community grade grand final and it looked to not be the best decision as Broadbeach lost their first wicket for 94.
Opener Scott Robson top scored with 89 from 75 balls while Joel Kennan added a very handy 75 not out from 35 balls.
Queens bowler Joel Threlfall picked up 3-41 from eight overs.
In reply, Queens lost Peter Goodchap third ball of the run chase and it didn’t get much better from there.
Dave Ginley showed some fight towards the back end of the innings with 36 not out from 41 balls.
Opening bowlers Daniel Platts (3-12 from six overs) and Zachary Smith (3-31 from six overs) were the pick of the bowlers as Broadbeach won by 155 runs.
Community Div 2:
Surfers Paradise 5-186 defeated Mudgeeraba 10-108
The only game held at Mudgeeraba cricket club on grand final weekend with the Bushmen sending Surfers Paradise into bat.
Peter Young (60 from 70 balls) and Simon Collins (32 from 47 balls) built a solid partnership for the first wicket to put Mudgeeraba on the back foot.
Partnerships were valuable throughout the innings with the Demons managing a below par score on what was a very fast outfield at Mudgeeraba.
In reply, young Samuel Tredrea claimed man of the match after picking up 3-12 from his four overs, changing the game when Mudgeeraba looked to get back on top in the middle overs.
Ben Minge topped scored with 28 from 27 balls as he tried to lead the fightback for Mudgeeraba before Tredrea dismissed him.
Opening bowler Jack Rodrigues also picked up 3-16 from four overs.
Community Div 3:
Broadbeach 8-147 defeated Palm Beach 8-146
In the only game a team won the toss and batted first, Palm Beach had batters get starts but again unable to capitalise on them to build into the innings.
Broadbeach picked up a wicket in the first over to have Palm Beach 1-0 but a 40 run stand looked like it was swinging momentum back in PBC’s favour.
Skipper Pat Prasad top scored with 31 from 68 balls, with plenty of support around him from Daniel Robards (27 from 20 balls), Shayne Townshend (23 from 45 balls) and Jarrod Thomas (23 from 35 balls).
Harry Fleet picked up 2-19 from six overs with Gurdev Mehta also picked up 2-11 from four overs.
In reply, vice-captain Peter Holman led the fight back with 41 from 75 balls.
Fellow opener Lincoln Clark provided some support early with 26 from 43 balls as well as Chris Bellikoff with 22 from 20 balls.
Broadbeach passed the score down with just over three overs to spare.
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