Taverner’s U17 semi-final drama as Sunshine Coast prevail in final over thriller

Two teens were batting heroes in a dramatic Taverner’s U17 club cricket semi-final. Full details here, including best players from Bulls Masters and Raymont Shield matches.

Brisbane Grammar School old boy Aryan Jain hits out for South Brisbane in Bulls Masters club cricket. Picture, John Gass

Sunshine Coast’s later order batsmen Banjo Seaniger and Riley McDonald displayed maturity beyond their years as the best game of the Taverner’s under-19 season was saved until Sunday’s dramatic semi-final against Wynnum.

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The Scorchers’ teenagers scrambled a win off the last ball of the match to win a place in this weekend’s grand final.

They will play University who went through to the decider on for and against after its match against the Gold Coast was abandoned due to the condition of the ground following last week’s deluge.

Rising Sunshine Coast cricketer Malakai Pearce - the win was another feather in his cap. Picture: Contributed.

Sunshine Coast were 7-199 chasing 9-218 after Wynnum’s Hayden Hamilton (108) capped a fantastic season with a century in the biggest game of the year.

Rookies Seaniger (10 not out) and McDonald (11 not out) then added the remaining runs, taking until the final ball to secure the most dramatic of wins.

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The foundation for Sunshine Coast’s win came from its top three batsmen of Aryan Sanjay (47), Elijah Welsh (82) and Joe Murray (24) who combined to take their side to 1-169 before Wynnum Manly spinners Kethmin Meegasdeniya (2-34) and Shoubhit Jain (3-38) impacted the game.

The Sunshine Coast lost 6-30, five to the Sea Eagles’ spinners and a sixth to Will Neubecker’s arm who ran out the top scoring Welsh.

Kethmin Meegasdeniya of Wynnum Manly bowling his spin - he took two wickets on Sunday.

Momentum was with Wynnum entering the championship rounds, but Seaniger and McDonald held their nerve during a run-a-ball rally from the back blocks. It could not have been a closer finisher.

Earlier, to a man the Sunshine Coast bowlers all did their jobs in restricting Wynnum, with

Oscar Cawse (0-22, eight overs), Thomas Town (2-37), Seaniger (1-39) and Aryan Sanjay (1-16) the pick of the crop.

Against the head winds Wynnum batting pair Joshua Cranston (64) and Hamilton (108) added 133 runs for the second wicket.

Sunshine Coast Scorchers Lord Taverners talent Will Dodunski - his arm enabled a run out on Sunday.

During Wynnum’s scramble for late runs, the Sunshine Coast fielding unit stood up to the pressure to generate three run outs featuring Charlie Kruger, Malakai Pearce and Will Dodunski.

The win was another feather in the captain of Sunshine Coast captain Pearce who has had a bumper season.

If Sunday’s grand final has two-thirds of the action which unfolded in this final, then the competition is in for a decider for the ages.

Souths batsman Aryan Jain - he scored 33 at the weekend. Picture, John Gass

BULLS MASTERS

South Brisbane v Ipswich

In a weather-affected round of Bulls Masters round 10 cricket, only South Brisbane v Ipswich and Gold Coast v Sunshine Coast got on.

There was enough cricket at Norman Gray Oval for 20 wickets, and for the home (167) side to claim an first innings points over Ipswich (108), with day two this Saturday.

Representative fast bowler Gurinder Sandhu (7-26) was sensational for South Brisbane, taking five early wickets.

Jack Wood (48) counter attacked during a 39 ball innings, but Ipswich were too far behind in the match.

Gurinder Sandhu as a Queensland bowler earlier in the year - he took seven wickets for South Brisbane on Saturday. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

For South Brisbane Aryan Jain (33, 70 balls) was in his element, digging in for the longest innings of the day, while opener Logan Duval scored 34.

At Bill Pippen Oval, the Gold Coast (9-304) had good batting, with Hugo Burdon (84, 112) boosting his season average.

KATHERINE RAYMONT SHIELD, one day

Sunshine Coast v Wynnum-Manly

The Sunshine Coast tailenders Peyton Meredith (15 not out) and Carys Underwood (11 not out) were magnificent in lifting their side to victory over Wynnum-Manly.

The Katherine Raymont was also restricted due to playing conditions, with only Bill Albury Oval holding up to enable the game to proceed.

Carys Underwood. (Photo by Chris Hyde - CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

The Scorchers (8-113) defeated the Sea Eagles (112) after the Sunshine Coast looked down and out at 8-80.

But up stepped patient pair Meredith and Underwood who, inch by inch, over by over, crawled their side to a thrilling win.

Wynnum’s Hannah Tucker (3-14, eight overs) had bowled her side into the box seat, but there was no denying Meredith and Underwood.

The innings of the game came from Wynnum’s Abi McCray (48) who went against the tide to score a game high 48.

Sublime junior representative bowler Catherine White (7.2-2-15-4) was superb with the new ball, but she had plenty of mates including Kalea Moore (2-6), Ruby Orchard (1-7) and Meredith (2-17).

JODIE PURVES SHIELD, one day

South Brisbane v University of Queensland

University won the only Purves Shield clash of the round by six wickets after restricting home side South Brisbane to 88.

Despite Emily Titmarsh’s gallant 39 (70 balls), Uni’s bowling overwhelmed South Brisbane.

Kyrna Crump (3-15, seven overs) and Claire Molloy (2-19, eight overs) were fabulous, and with support from Hayley Campbell and company, South Brisbane’s total of 88 was never going to be enough.

Originally published as Taverner’s U17 semi-final drama as Sunshine Coast prevail in final over thriller