REPLAYS: Roach reigns supreme in thrilling finals showdown
There was plenty at stake on a nailbiting weekend of Barrier Reef Big Bash cricket, with three of the six matches coming down to the final over. Relive the action from all six games here.
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Badgers skipper Jake Roach reigned supreme in a thrilling weekend of Barrier Reef Big Bash cricket at Griffiths Park.
The big-hitting all-rounder produced a pair of whirlwind knocks, smashing 41 off 18 against the Dare Devils on Saturday before blasting an unbeaten 62 off 40 against the Hurricanes on Sunday to lead his side to victory and straight into this weekend’s grand final.
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The weekend was full of classy knocks and tight spells, but none were better than Hurricanes’ Justin Reid (99 of 60 v Badgers) and Blake Raper (4-5 v Dare Devils).
Badgers’ Dan Freebody also deserves mention for his figures of 2-3 against the Dare Devils.
The Hurricanes will now take on the Thunder in the preliminary final this Friday night at Griffiths Park at 6.30pm, with the winner to face the Badgers in Saturday’s decider at 7pm.
SUNDAY: BADGERS v HURRICANES (QUALIFYING FINAL)
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SUNDAY: THUNDER V DARE DEVILS (KNOCKOUT FINAL)
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SATURDAY: BADGERS v THUNDER
Piccones Badgers sent a message to their Barrier Reef Big Bash rivals with a five-wicket win over the Twomey Schriber Thunder in an emphatic run chase.
The Thunder made 7-133 from their 20 overs thanks to a 47-run stand between experienced cricketers Tom Maher (28 of 20) and Jacob Stanton (17 off 17), who both finished unbeaten at the crease.
Aidan Beach (2-17), Prashant Goel (2-20) and Dan Freebody (2-31) shared the wickets.
Badgers openers Chris Adams (21 off 14) and Angus Warnock (29 off 17) put the rest of the competition on notice with a blistering start, the pair combining for 10 boundaries in the first four overs.
Both batsmen would fall by the end of the sixth over, at which point the Badgers were sitting pretty at 2-60.
Rhys Camilleri (39 not out) and Freebody (27 off 19) followed up the work of their openers with a 61-run stand from 46 balls, before Freebody was dismissed in the 14th over with the Badgers needing just 13 runs from 39 balls for the win.
In a fitting end to the game, Louis Piccone, son of franchise owner and Cairns businessman John, brought up the runs with a four in the 16th over.
SATURDAY: BADGERS V DARE DEVILS
Piccones Badgers were no match for the Designer First Homes Dare Devils as they produced the highest total of the Barrier Reef Big Bash with a swashbuckling team batting performance.
Openers Chris Adams and Angus Warnock got the party started, before skipper Jake Roach and former Brisbane grade cricketer Rowan Giddens carried on proceedings, with the quartet combining for 11 fours and eight sixes as the Badgers racked up a mighty score.
Adams blasted three fours and three sixes on his way to 42 off 33, Warnock two fours and a six for his 27 off 20, Roach four fours and two sixes on his way to 41 off 18, and Giddens two of each for his 45 off 35.
The big-hitting spree powered the Piccones Badgers to 5-171, as they smashed the previous record for highest total in the tournament, held by the Twomey Schriber Thunder (8-148).
The Dare Devils needed to come out firing in pursuit of the big score, but struggled to get opening pace bowlers Brodie Deverell and Jake Roach away.
After falling behind the run rate early, the Dare Devils chanced their arm and started swinging, but it didn’t come off for them, as the wickets of Boorman, Edwards, Ryan Terry and Brett Souvlis fell in quick succession.
Lusty hitting from Allan Kelley (24 off 16) and Tajinder Kumar (32 off 20) was all in vain as the Dare Devils were bowled out for 108 in the 19th over.
Badgers’ Aaron Lock (4-28) and Dan Freebody (2-3) produced handy spells.
The result means the Dare Devils will play-off with their season on the line in the elimination final on Sunday, while the Badgers will look to secure the first grand final spot in the qualifying final.
SATURDAY: HURRICANES v THUNDER
Hurricanes all-rounder Barry Weare took a tough catch to secure his side’s victory against the Twomey Schriber Thunder at Griffiths Park.
The former Australian National Indigenous Team captain made a crucial 32 runs from 34 deliveries to help his side to 9-107 from their 20 overs, before sealing victory with a spectacular catch on the final ball of the game.
Anton Booy (22), Brendan Nasser (17) and Justin Reid (10) also chipped in for the Hurricanes, but they were left to wonder what could have been after five batsman were dismissed for single figures.
Paul Nasser (33) came to the crease with intent and looked like he might steer the Thunder to victory with one of his trademark innings, before a brilliant catch from James Belczacki off the bowling off Linden March sent him back to the pavilion.
Andrew Phelps (19), Jacob Stanton (13) and Wade Matthews (11) helped the Thunder get within striking distance, with the side needing 11 runs off the last over.
Back-to-back fours to Luke Parnell on balls four and five of the over set up a grandstand finish, with two runs to send the match to a superover, while three or more would win it for the Thunder.
Parnell smashed the ball hard and flat, but it went straight to Weare at mid-wicket, who made a difficult catch look very easy to seal the Hurricanes victory.
The Hurricanes bowled well as a unit, with Blake Raper (3-24), Linden March (3-22), Luke McAvoy (2-10) and Mark Ellis (2-17) sharing the spoils.
The win puts the Hurricanes into second spot on the ladder with two games remaining.
FRIDAY: HURRICANES V DARE DEVILS
Halpin Hurricanes spearhead Blake Raper produced an incredible spell to help his side escape with a one-run win over the Designer First Homes Dare Devils at Griffiths Park.
Raper had the ball singing as he returned figures of 4-5 from his four overs in the best bowling performance in the Barrier Reef Big Bash’s short history.
The Mulgrave quick opened the Hurricanes bowling with a wicket maiden, which set the tone for the rest of the innings.
Classy knocks from Linden March (31) and Brendan Nasser (21) helped propel the Hurricanes to 124 from their 20 overs after skipper Michael Salerno won the toss and elected to bat.
Dare Devils’ off-spinner Josh Chadwick claimed 3-18 with the ball, while skipper Brenton Edwards took 3-24 with his pace bowling.
In pursuit of 125 for victory, the Dare Devils got off to a nightmare start when Tajinder Kumar went for a duck in the first over, before dangerman Edwards was dismissed for a golden duck two balls later.
After losing wickets in the first and second overs, the trend continued when Tom Boorman was dismissed by a brilliant caught and bowled by Raper in the third, with the Dare Devils reeling at 3-10.
A 71-run fifth-wicket stand between Rovers teammates Tom Lever (32) and Chadwick (33) helped the Dare Devils get back in the game, before experienced Far North cricketing stalwart Barry Weare (2-32) trapped Chadwick in front lbw to break the partnership.
The Dare Devils needed 32 runs off 26 balls when Adam Trewin came the crease, and some late shot-making from Allan Kelley (11) made it eight off the last over.
But it was the variations of Hurricanes medium-pacer March (2-26) that would reign supreme, with a final-ball four to the Barrier Reef Big Bash’s youngest player Seth McGinty just a consolation as the Dare Devils fell two runs short of the win.
The win keeps the Hurricanes, who also claimed the Tyrepower boost point, in the hunt for a second chance in the first round of the finals this Sunday, while the Dare Devils are staring down the barrel of a do-or-die clash.
THE DRAW
Friday, February 5
Friday, February 12
Thunder v Dare Devils (washed out)
Friday, February 19
Friday, March 12
Saturday, March 13
Sunday, March 14
Friday, March 19
Saturday, March 20
Sunday, March 21
Knockout final: Thunder v Dare Devils
Qualifying final: Badgers v Hurricanes
Friday, March 26
Challenger final: Hurricanes v Thunder at Griffiths Park, 6.30pm
Saturday, March 27
Grand final: Badgers v winner of challenger final at Griffiths Park, 7pm
Originally published as REPLAYS: Roach reigns supreme in thrilling finals showdown
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