Helensvale Pacific Pines young gun Kaleb Day scores vital ton as Hawks, Broadbeach Robina win

WHO said 87 was an unlucky cricket number in Australia?It certainly wasn’t for Kaleb Day today.

WHO said 87 was an unlucky cricket number in Australia?

It certainly wasn’t for Kaleb Day today, as the wicketkeeper-batsman posted a breakthrough hundred to help Helensvale Pacific Pines to their first win of the Kookaburra Cup season.

The 21-year-old anchored the Hawks’ innings at Hession Oval with a measured 101 from 123 balls, having accrued just 15 runs from his first 50 deliveries.

Day has long been touted as a supreme talent but remarkably his innings against Runaway Bay – his 87th since joining Helensvale in 2013-14 – was not only his first ton in Hawks colours, but his first fifty-plus score.

His knock comes after making starts of 14, 29 and 30 in his previous three hits.

Kaleb Day. Picture: Jodie Henderson

Day and opener Jack Baird combined for a 98-run second-wicket stand to lay the foundations for the Hawks to post 4-220, helped by a late flurry of 95 runs in the final 10 overs of the innings.

Bay seamer Michael Graham was the standout with the ball, taking 2-27 off eight overs.

In reply, Bay lost regular wickets en route to being bowled out for 120 as Helensvale veteran Brett Burke claimed 4-17.

The bonus point win could not have come at a better time for the Hawks, who after making the 2017-18 final had gone winless through four prior starts.

Over at Voice Print Data Oval, Broadbeach Robina toiled hard to achieve an important victory over Coomera Hope Island.

Phil Tunnicliffe. Picture: Mike Batterham

The visitors jumped out of the blocks well thanks largely to in-form all-rounder Phil Tunnicliffe’s 65 before déjà vu struck the Crocs.

A week after losing 9-39, they lost 8-23 to go from the comfort of 2-119 to all out for 142.

Tom Scriven (4-40) started the rot with an excellent mid-innings spell to dismiss Tunnicliffe and Ryan Soars in quick succession.

The Cats were ultra cautious in reply, scoring just 16 runs from their first 11 overs before skipper Felix Organ entered to guide the chase with an unbeaten 73 off 75.

Scriven (26) was also at the crease when Broadbeach reached the target.

In Queensland Premier Cricket, the Gold Coast Dolphins fought back to have Ipswich-Logan at 4-179 at the last score update.