Score of 300 proved too big a chase for cricket team

TEAM batting second had no answer to blistering 126 earlier in the day.

John Cleary on the way to taking four wickets for Warwick Hotel Colts in the preliminary final at Slade Park. Picture: Gerard Walsh

CRICKET: John Cleary hit 10 fours and nine sixes in a top scoring 126 as Warwick Hotel Colts booked the second spot in the Warwick Cricket Association Condamine Cup grand final.

While Cleary top scored, Colts captain Shaun O'Leary pointed to five scores between 20 to 40 to show a solid batting performance through the whole innings.

"We had a lot of good partnerships, it was a team effort,” O'Leary said.

Colts batted first and scored 6-301 with opener Jacob Gross hitting 40.

Matt Kiernan was unbeaten on 25 and shared a 117-run partnership with Cleary.

"I had the best spot in the house to watch Johnny bat,” Kiernan said.

With the ball, Will Duff took 3-40 for Victoria Hill and Joe Morris took 2-26.

In reply, Victoria Hill were behind the run rate from the start and was 3-70 before they lost three wickets in two overs, including trump card Adam May for five.

It was Cleary and O'Leary who broke the back of the Victoria Hill batting, Cleary finished with 4-26 off seven overs of pace and O'Leary 3-9 off three overs of leg spin.

O'Leary said his team would not be at full strength for the grand final against Maryvale Condamine on Saturday.

"Lachlan Gross suffered a knee injury while fielding and is in doubt and the Fern brothers, Thomas and Joseph, are booked for a gig and are unavailable,” he said.

Originally published as Score of 300 proved too big a chase for cricket team