Club cricket U19s: McClure magic headlines frantic round of T20 bouts across South East Queensland

Big time players came to play in the final round of Queensland’s Mens under-19 T20 cricket competition and few shone brighter than Redlands rookie Lachlan McClure. More here on round 5.

Redlands batter Lachlan McClure was a late-game specialist on Sunday when he scored an unbeaten 64 to steer his side home in a frantic T20 bout against the Sunshine Coast.

Round 5 of the Mens under-19 cricket competition had everything and McClure’s showstopping innings at Redlands was a wonderful way to finish his team’s season ahead of finals next weekend.

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Sandgate-Redcliffe, Gold Coast, South Brisbane and Sunshine Coast have progressed through.

Finals week came early when McClure hit four fours and three sixes in his 45-ball blitz that put Redlands in a prime position to win.

The Sunshine Coast had set the Tigers 173 for victory and when McClure came in at 2-47, he took a liking to the Scorchers’ pacemen and starred in a 50-run stand with No. 4 Jackson Todman (19, 17 balls).

Sam Heazlett presenting Redlands young gun Lachlan McClure his Tigers baggy green earlier this year when making his first grade debut.

Sree Rayirth Prabhas Bachu (32, 18 balls) was also very important in Redlands’ pursuit but when it came down to it, it was the towering McClure who rallied with distinction in the death overs.

In the 19th over 11 runs sprung off McClure’s willow, giving Chase Roders (3 not out) the chance to finish the job in the final over.

Rodgers also showed nerves of steel coming in with four balls remaining and three runs to get. It took until the final two deliveries for Rodgers to see his side home, with a stunning ramp shot and subsequent cut shot into the gap.

Phew. Redlands were home.

SCORCHERS’ AWESOME FOURSOME

Earlier, Sunshine Coast top order batsmen Carter Simpson (28), Curtis McAllister (37) Ben Baker (56 not out) and Will Noffke (31 not out) fired in the first innings.

In the end Redlands scampered home but skipper Baker and his men were impressive both rotating the strike and clearing the boundary.

Simpson and McAllister’s efforts came at a great time because openers Aryan Sanjay and Wiill Dodunski had gotten out early. Then, when Baker came to the party, the Scorchers took the upper hand.

The Maroochydore youngster hit six fours and two sixes and shared in both a 66-run partnership with McAllister and a 58-run stand with the big-hitting Noffke.

Noffke belted three sixes in his 17-ball showcase.

Sunshine Coast Cricket talent Will Noffke. Picture: Patrick Woods.

MCCLURE MAGIC

173 is a good score any day in this format and Redlands all-rounder Lachlan McClure made sure his side ended the season on a high.

He was a rock in the middle and despite the high quality of bowling from his opposition, he managed to find runs just about everywhere. Through the middle overs, the urgent McClure kept the scoreboard ticking tremendously.

Later in the match he steered a six hit and a four through mid wicket to swing momentum back in his team’s favour.

ROBSON IN THE CLUTCH

Jackson Robson has been a staple in Gold Coast’s Taverners under-17s and Mens under-19s sides. On Sunday he went for just four runs in the 20th over of the Dolphins clash against Souths to snare a draw.

At Souths, Gold Coast quick Jackson Robson bowled a brilliant final over to escape back down the M1 with a draw.

Souths needed five runs to win in the final over and Robson, using variation, snared two wickets and leaked just four runs to stave off gutsy tailenders Saxon Jeh and Luke Wegner.

Jeh also deserves praise for scoring on the final ball to steal a draw.

Earlier, Robson had taken two wickets in his first spell.

He finished with 4-17 from four overs, with his death bowling of the highest calibre.

In the Gold Coast’s batting innings, No. 3 and captain Ned Hanrahan (30,32 balls) showed determination. Ryan Reid, who scored quickly for his 44 (32 balls), was also a mighty mite in the face of the Souths bowling attack.

ISOARDI STEPS UP

Max Isoardi pictured playing for Brisbane State High’s First XI last year.

In the first innings, Souths right arm fast bowler Max Isoardi was excellent in taking his four wickets.

He removed dangermen Luke Ward, Brody Felton and Jason Campese for next to nothing and also claimed the scalp of Hanrahan.

He got plenty of bounce and in the 15th over took two wickets to change the directory of the Gold Coast innings. They started the over 3-89 and finished it 5-92.

HINZE SPEARHEADS NORTHS ATTACK

At Toombul, Norths won by seven wickets and Charlie Hinze had a big say in the first innings when he took three wickets.

Frank Piper, Theo Tsingos, Eli Brain and James Eustance all took wickets to assist Hinze (3-20) who led the charge in restricting the Bulls to just 88 runs.

On the topic of restriction, part time off spin bowler Brain leaked just six runs across his three overs and had the Toombul batters right where he wanted them.

Eli Brain batting for Northern Suburbs. Picture Lachie Millard

Left arm orthodox spinner Hinze was on the money, clean bowling two of his rivals before claiming his most important wicket of Samuel Jones (28, 34 balls).

In reply, representative opener Alex Procopis enhanced his reputation with a rapid half century that made quick work of Toombul’s score.

He scored 51 from just 28 and when left arm orthodox Lewis Goodyear removed him, Norths needed just 12 runs and had 12 overs in hand.

Procopis went out firing as you can expect.

Northern Suburbs cricketer Alex Procopis in action.

WESTS BOWLERS RUN RIOT

At University, the Wests bowling attack was on song to leave its batters just 82 runs to win.

Callum Pamenter (3-16), Josh Lossberg (1-10), Eshwin Kapoor (3-15), and Jack Matthews (3-12) all took wickets, with Jacob Cibulka and Astin Riley also asking plenty of questions.

Ipswich Grammar’s Callum Pamenter pictured during the GPS First XI cricket season. Picture, John Gass

Spin-king Kapoor was unplayable at times and didn’t bowl a single wide. His efforts epitomised that of the entire Wests attack because they bowled just two wides across 18 overs.

In response, opening batsmen Sohaan Sharma scored an unbeaten 50 to steer his side home alongside Michael Neumann (26 not out).

Ipswich Grammar senior Sharma had missed out in GPS First XI cricket away on Saturday against Nudgee College. At University, he had time and scored freely.

SIPPEL THE DIFFERENCE IN ASHGROVE

Toowoomba Grammar School old boy Joe Sippel.

At Valleys, Ipswich batting spearhead Joe Sippel scored a crucial 54 (42 balls) to power his side towards victory.

Valleys posted 5-140 with Churchie gun Tighe Morris (33, 32 balls), Will Nickelson (28), Oliver Dauber (20) and no-nonsense No. 6 Toby Lamond (26 not out, 14 balls) showing flashes of brilliance.

Tighe Morris, Churchie’s First XI cricket captain

The ultra-impressive Sippel, who has scored plenty of runs in the past on Yoku road, was the bedrock of Ipswich’s innings and got them halfway to the total before Nissanpal Singh Saroya swooped.

Kade Martin (30,22 balls) was also impressive alongside Sippel.

The game hung in the balance (6-114) when Valleys all-rounder Will Tozer removed Martin and Ipswich’s Charlie Lachmund was run out.

But a timely intervention of Valleys’ momentum came from No. 8 bat Patrick Rose (13 not out, 11 balls) and No. 9 Jett Emmerson (7 not out, 4 balls) who came together to see the Hornets home safely.

Earlier, Emmerson (2-14, 3 overs) had taken the first two wickets of the match to take Draper and Harry Frost out of the game.

FIRMIN FIRES TO GIVE GATORS THE EDGE

At Wynnum Manly, Sandgate-Redcliffe’s Aidan Firman mixed poise with power-hitting to give his side the edge over the Sea Eagles.

Firman’s innings was the turning point for his side. he scored 40 from 22 balls in the middle order after his bowling group restricted Wynnum Manly to 119.

St Patrick's College student and Gators junior Steve Hogan on his way to a century for the Australian under-19s earlier this year.

Gators openers Matt Fielding (15) and Steve Hogan (19) had gotten the chase underway nicely but when Firman entered the fray three wickets had been lost in no time.

Shortly after he asked the umpire to signal middle stump, the Gators’ fourth specialist batsmen had been run out.

It was at that moment the game was Wynnum Manly’s for the taking and Firman exploded for 40 to quell that opportunity.

Billy Nuss (20) and Henry Patrick (13) made valuable contributions once Kobie Richmond snared the wicket of Firman.

Originally published as Club cricket U19s: McClure magic headlines frantic round of T20 bouts across South East Queensland