Hornets face tactical battle after rain

PICKING the right time to declare an innings closed in cricket is always a hard thing to get right.

GREAT WORK: Centrals celebrate another wicket in last weekend's one-day first division victory over the Redbacks. Picture: Cordell Richardson

WAYNE'S WICKET

PICKING the right time to declare an innings closed in cricket is always a hard thing to get right.

Too many runs, the opposition can shut up shop; too few runs leaves you open to a loss; while time remaining also plays its part in anxiety of a captain's decision.

The Ipswich/Logan Hornets, more particularly their skipper Anthony Wilson, is in that tricky position.

The Hornets again batted splendidly to rack up 4/186 at Baxter Oval last weekend before the storm ended the day's play early.

Levi Thomson-Matthews (61) and Harry Wood (44) continued their great season form.

However, the late afternoon thunderstorm means the Hornets not only missed out on the afternoon runfest, they will have to bat solidly again this morning to ensure no collapse in conditions that will favour the seam bowlers.

After that, Wilson will have to pick a time to send Gold Coast in to bat so the Hornets can get the result.

Queensland representative Max Bryant, one of the state's most destructive batsmen, also awaits.

In the host's favour is that they have the runs on the board and will be able to dictate the speed of the Dolphins chase.

The Hornets women's teams will play in T20s at St Lucia tomorrow.

The Raymont Shield team take on University while the 2nd Grade Fields Shield team takes on Sunny Coast and University.

Midweek, Georgia Voll was selected in the Brisbane Heat development team for the upcoming Women's Big Bash League.

She has a very good season so far with 234 runs at an average of 39.

She was selected in Cricket Australia under-16 team alongside Ruth Johnston for the upcoming National Under 18 championships in January after emerging through the Queensland Cricket Pathway system.

Classic clash looms

THE most anticipated game of the season will be played between the two best teams so far this season at Limestone Park today.

Laidley District and Central Districts are both undefeated.

Most of their players are in form so this shapes as one of the best top level games you will see in a few seasons.

Laidley skipper Alex Welsh heads the batting and bowling lists with 496 runs at an astounding average of 124 and 16 wickets at an average of just 10.

Gerard Sippel has rekindled his old form, averaging 64.

Matthew Grassick, the three-time Second Division Association Player of the Year winner, already has a century.

Newcomers Noah Emmerson and Tom Schultz have contributed greatly to the Bluedogs throughout the season so far while Michael Topp, Mick Sippel and Ben Gibson have great pedigree and are always dangerous players.

Centrals, already have had four games in which the other teams probably thought they had the game but their fight and determination has seen them have their best ever winning streak.

Tim Weber (192 runs at 38) has laid the platform while the skipper who has 271 runs at 68.

The Kookaburras are coming off two convincing wins mainly thanks to allrounders Luke Barrett and Matt Guest finding their form in these games.

Fast bowlers Geoff Klease (12 wickets at 12) and Rhys O'Sullivan (eight wickets at 20) have bowled better than their figures suggest. They have been very hard to get away this season and had many an edge fly away from fielders or just miss the stumps.

All in all, this game shapes as a great clash and could be a pointer on how each will fare in next Sunday's semi-finals of the Ipswich-Toowoomba competition.

In the other game, Brothers will be determined there is no repeat of their past encounter against South East Redbacks when they suffered a one-wicket loss.

Veterans David Richardson (14 wickets at 12), Mark Sharrad (11 wickets at 11.45), Craig Mackay (132 runs at 66) and Luke Dixon (306 runs at 102) have been in great form and the Brethren will need sizeable contributions from them again.

Callum and Daniel Chandler for the Redbacks showed great fight against a rampant Centrals attack last week.

If they can support Brodie Dwyer and Vaughan Oldham, Brothers will have many head-aches.

If Redbacks can repeat their win, it will leave them, Brothers and Northsiders, all on about equal points.

Spirited T20 contests

MONDAY night's T20s were again high quality contests.

In the top grade, Centrals (5/156) downed the Redbacks (7/137) by 19 runs.

Allrounders Jasber Singh (42 off 28) and Jake Burns (30 off 25) threatened Centrals mid innings after Matt Guest (2/26) and Brodie Nickson (2/24) had made early inroads.

Man-of-the-match Luke Barrett delivered tight death bowling (2/10 off three) to save the situation.

Earlier, Barrett (32 off 34) and Adam O'Sullivan (44 off 30) set up the win.

Strollers defeated Thunder with two balls and one wicket to spare in the 2nd Division match.

Strollers, made up of classy retired players, started well reducing Thunder to 6/56 thanks to former Queensland Country fast bowler Mark Lehmann's 4/15.

Toby Janke (39) and captain Isaac Van de Werken (15) scrapped their way to a competitive 9/106.

Strollers had many contributors with Craig Cumming (27) and Tim Wichura (20) their best.

Thunder fought to the end securing five wickets in the final five overs with Janke (2/12) and Van de Werken (3/22).

Veteran Marino Nugter snared vital wickets (2/14 off four).

A Lehmann boundary off the second last ball gave the Strollers their first victory since February 2010 after their merger with Eastern Raiders.

The Second Division one-day final lived up to its billing with Fassifern securing a seven-wicket win.

Despite an upset loss last Saturday, Thunder scored freely and posted 9/216 off their 40 overs with Aaron Nugter (53), Oliver Schmidt (39) and captain Josh Wendt (33) leading the way.

Matt Morrison (2/36), Charlie Moncada (2/22) and Nathan Black (2/45) took the bowling honours.

Fassifern captain Moncada (51), Grant Harvey (50no) and Jarrod Noe (75no) ensured no nervous moments after a mature run chase.

Thunder's Blayde Klass (2/41) was their best bowler.

Originally published as Hornets face tactical battle after rain