Barrier Reef Big Bash building to a belter after first tournament
Barrier Reef Big Bash boss Kev Maher “got a bit emotional” when the inaugural tournament came to an end but says the T20 competition will return bigger and better.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Barrier Reef Big Bash boss Kev Maher “got a bit emotional” when the inaugural tournament came to an end but says the T20 competition will return bigger and better.
“This has been a 12 months thing really to get it in place,” he said.
Why Healy is fond of Cairns’ Big Bash cricket tournament
REPLAY: Badgers claim inaugural Barrier Reef Big Bash title
“I can only thank the owners and the naming right sponsor, Cairns Tyrepower. They got behind an idea and it’s just been a fantastic tournament.
“I think it’s done a lot for cricket going forward in Cairns and Far North Queensland and I couldn’t be happier.”
Maher said organisers and franchise owners would have a “debrief” following the first Barrier Reef Big Bash and discuss plans for the future, including whether it will run before or after the annual Cricket Far North season.
“I want to talk to Cricket Far North and the Cairns Cricket Association as to where it will best fit in the calendar, but the owners are already signed up and they’re ready to go again,” he said.
“We’d probably be looking at a mid-September start, something like that, because we’ve got to respect the other sports that use the grounds here at Griffiths Park, but we could use Walker Road (Sporting Precinct) out there at Edmonton, as that’s fully lit.
“We’ve got a bit of work to do, we’ll take a full review on it, but it’s certainly got its place in the calendar and everyone’s just rapt it’s here.”
MORE NEWS:
Cairns Taipans: Ngatai hopeful win can be turning point
Milestone men help Taipans to big win back at home
‘Black book him’: Best yet to come from Miller gelding
Big threes and big threats: 2021 CDRL season preview
He said it was his preference to keep the tournament at four franchises for now.
“I think if we go to six or something like that we’d start diluting the standard,” he said.
“The standard of cricket in the last month has been absolutely brilliant, and I know Ian (Healy) was just absolutely amazed at some of the talent.”
Maher said while there were plenty of big hits across the tournament, what impressed him most was some of the fielding on display.
“The batting of Jake Roach was unbelievable, Brendan Nasser and Justin Reid played some great innings, the bowling of Jordan Fulton and Blake Raper was very good — but one of the highlights of the whole show was the standard of fielding,” he said.
“The T20 game really lifts the standard of fielding. Some of the catches that have been taken here in the last month have been unbelievable.”
Skipper fires in five-over shootout as Badgers claim inaugural title
He has been described as the “ultimate match winner” by his teammates and once again Piccones Badgers skipper Jake Roach stood up when his side needed it the most in the Barrier Reef Big Bash final that almost never was.
Roach eventually stole the show at Griffiths Park late on Saturday night as the Badgers escaped a cruel threat by Mother Nature to be crowned inaugural T20 Barrier Reef Big Bash champions.
Why Healy is fond of Cairns’ Big Bash cricket tournament
REPLAY: Badgers claim inaugural Barrier Reef Big Bash title
Led by their own “captain clutch”, the Badgers claimed a dominant 10-wicket win over the Twomey Schriber Thunder in a frantic five-over shootout.
After winning all seven of their Barrier Reef Big Bash games prior to the grand final, Roach said losing in the big dance was never an option, especially in a shortened contest.
“Five overs isn’t really what you want to play, you obviously want to play Twenty20s, but with the weather pending and the rain, we were just happy to get on and at least it gave the crowd a bit of viewing,” he said.
“It was a bit annoying at the start with the covers coming on and off, but when we got the five overs in, we were just cool and calm.
“We weren’t going to lose that — not at all.”
Roach won the toss and elected to bowl but the match lasted just one over before play was halted due to rainfall with the Thunder at 0-6.
MORE NEWS:
Milestone men help Taipans to big win back at home
REPLAY: Badgers claim inaugural Barrier Reef Big Bash title
‘Black book him’: Best yet to come from Miller gelding
Big threes and big threats: 2021 CDRL season preview
The decider went agonisingly close to being declared a washout after rain stopped play for more than two hours, but the teams were able to get back on the pitch and resume the match just minutes before the cut-off time.
The Thunder returned to the crease with just four overs to build a competitive total but lost quick wickets on their way to 6-44.
Roach and opening partner Angus Warnock strode out to the middle with their side needing a DLS adjusted total of 47 to take out the first T20 Barrier Reef Big Bash tournament and remain undefeated.
Roach left nothing to chance as he smashed 35 off 13 deliveries, including four sixes, to lead the Badgers to victory, with Warnock (12 off 8) doing the rest.
In true Roach fashion, the big-hitting all-rounder brought up the winning runs with a maximum as the Badgers chased down the required total with nine balls to spare.
Roach said the Badgers wanted to put an exclamation mark on their campaign with a dominant grand final display and send one last message to the rest of the competition.
“Me and Gus had a chat before we went out to bat and we just wanted to get the runs none down to prove a point, and we did,” Roach said.
“We showed why we’re on top and that we deserved to win it, so happy days.”
Roach said the new tournament was a great concept and a huge win for cricket in the Far North.
“I’ve never played with Brodie (Deverell), Locky (Aaron Lock), and only played rep cricket with Bomber (Chris Adams) and Gus, but it’s like we’ve been playing together for years,” he said.
“Seeing all the younger guys running around as well — in five years time that’s going to be them coming through, so hopefully they can learn a lot from us older fellas and take it into their club cricket now.”
All-round talent shines on big stage to take out comp’s top gong
Piccones Badgers batsman Rhys Camilleri says he was caught off guard when he was given a special honour after the first Barrier Reef Big Bash tournament.
Speaking after the Badgers’ grand final triumph, the Cassowary Coast shot-maker was stunned to have earned the Player of the Tournament award.
Why Healy is fond of Cairns’ Big Bash cricket tournament
REPLAY: Badgers claim inaugural Barrier Reef Big Bash title
“I wasn’t expecting it,” he said.
“It was just good to be part of it.
“I was a bit scratchy in club land and come here and performed pretty well, so pretty happy with it.
“I think it was probably just having more time to actually practice and to get the little things right.
“It was a good surprise.”
Camilleri scored 145 runs at an average of 48.33 and a strike rate of 98.6, which included unbeaten match-winning knocks of 42, 36 and 39.
He carried his bat in four of his seven innings and was dismissed three times, including two caught outs and an unlucky run-out off a brilliant piece of fielding from Hurricanes’ Sean Henrich in the deep.
But it wasn’t just with the bat that the 24-year-old Far North Fusion representative made an impact.
Camilleri also swung the momentum in the Badgers’ second-round clash against the Thunder when he launched into the air with his arms fully extended and hauled in an absolute screamer to take the big scalp of Dan Parnell, who at the time was motoring on 58 off 52.
Showing his versatility, Camilleri also took the gloves for one match and finished with a caught behind, an assisted run-out and a stumping.
Badgers skipper Jake Roach, who was the favourite to take home the award as the tournament’s leading run-scorer (250), said he couldn’t be more proud of his teammate.
“He’s always up there, he’s always making runs, he’s a good fielder, a good bloke and just an all-round good cricketer,” he said.
“He deserves it.”
Originally published as Barrier Reef Big Bash building to a belter after first tournament
‘Free lunch for the little criminals?’: Voter lets fly at Miles
A seething Townsville retiree has unloaded on Steven Miles and the Labor party for their handling of the youth crime crisis and school lunch plan.
Next Gen: 11 Queensland junior softballers turning heads
Queensland best junior softballers haved flocked to Cairns to take part in the National School Sports Softball Championships.