Hornets tackling twin test

The Hornets have it all to do in the first session if they are going to continue on their winning ways.

Laidley captain Alex Welsh has set a new one-day record in the Ipswich competition. Picture: Rob Williams

THE Ipswich Logan Hornets are through to the Queensland Premier Cricket one-day semi-final after an overwhelming victory over Northern Suburbs last Sunday.

The "Bash Brothers", better known as the Wilson siblings, were let loose at Kedron as Anthony (75 off 68 balls) and Dan (143 not out off 131) dismantled the Norths attack in an opening partnership of 147.

It was Dan's ninth century for the Hornets in his fourth season. He and Harry Wood (37no off 52 balls) completed a comfortable nine-wicket victory after Anthony was run out.

In tomorrow's final, the Hornets face table-topping Valleys away at Ashgrove.

Valleys' prime allrounder Andrew Gode was selected for the Queensland team midweek and has travelled to Sydney. His omission will be a significant one.

Gode has smashed 247 runs at a strike rate of 208 so far in the one-day competition. He is one of the most destructive batsmen in Queensland cricket outside of Bulls captain Chris Lynn.

Valleys will have ex-Laidley and state wicketkeeper Lach-lan Pfeffer in their team and he has on occasions put the Hornets to the sword in the past.

If the Hornets can win the semi-final, they will play the winner of Western Suburbs and Sandgate-Redcliffe semi-final in the grand final at Allan Border Field on Sunday week.

In the two-day fixture resuming today at Baxter Oval, the Hornets have it all to do in the first session if they are going to continue on their winning ways.

The Hornets' moderate total of 204 has not left them much wriggle room to defend against Norths (1/62).

Lachlan Prince, in Queensland's under-19 squad, was the glue in the innings with a well compiled 72 as the Hornets lost 5/22 in the middle order.

The Hornets will need early wickets and plenty of them as the notorious Baxter pitch flattens out after the lunch break.

Tomorrow is also the start for the 2nd Grade women's team in the Jodie Field Shield.

The two-time defending champions will start the season as underdogs, with most of the team from last season now in the top flight team.

The first grade team (190) debuted against heavyweights Valleys (9/239) last week in a promising start.

Lacey Hinze (4/28 & 30 not out), Georgia Voll (32), Dutchwomen Sterre Kalis (32) and Papua New Guinean Vicky Ara'a (3/35) all made solid contributions.

Record-breaking run chase

THE grand final rematch between Brothers and Laidley at Marsden Complex last Saturday lived up to its billing with some big scores posted and records being broken.

Brothers mustered what would usually be a match-winning total (7/280) largely thanks to Mick Ridgewell (91) and Taylor Peach (90).

In reply, Laidley's captain Alex Welsh went about posting the highest ever one-day score in the Ipswich competition history with 165 not out off 164 balls. That featured 24 boundaries as he passed the record held by former Centrals opener Jason O'Sullivan (162 against Northsiders in September 2013).

Welsh, with former Laidley captain Chris Wilson (50), made the perfect start with a 150 run opening stand in just 26 overs.

Welsh guided the Bluedogs to victory with seven balls to spare in what was the highest successful run chase in one-day cricket in Ipswich history.

In the other game, Centrals were rusty in their first match of the season against Northsiders but showed enough fight and experience to get the job done.

Centrals slipped to 7/123 while chasing 180 before debutant Caleb White (17 not out) was steadfast in support of his skipper.

Northsiders were brave but couldn't land the killer blow despite the efforts of Troy Cooper (3/16 off 10 overs) and Jordan Alegre (66).

Today will be the last round of local cricket before the Harding Madsen Cup. The combined Toowoomba and Ipswich competition starts next week.

Heavyweights Centrals and Brothers face off at Limestone Park today in what shapes as an intriguing encounter. These teams had three nailbiting contests last season, with Kookaburras winning the one day match.

Centrals have won the past three one day encounters.

Brothers get back Luke Dixon, Joel Hall and Cam Wood after personal commitments last weekend but lose legspinner Dylan McAteer to the Australian under-17 team.

In the other match, Northsiders travel to Bruce Raleigh Oval to take on the South East Redbacks. Both teams are yet to win a game.

Redbacks had a chastening experience at the hands of Laidley a fortnight ago. They will want to bounce back quickly.

Their bowling line-up misfired except for speedster Vaughan Oldham. The Redbacks' batting will need to lift to help captain Brodie Dwyer.

Originally published as Hornets tackling twin test