STATE CUP CRICKET SOUTH QUEENSLAND FINALS

Cricket News

An update on the State Cup Cricket South Queensland and Queensland Final by Mr Brendan Callaghan, Cricket Coordinator.

Leaving as dawn broke over the beautiful All Saints grounds on Monday morning at 5:00am, we travelled to Buderim to the Sunshine Coast Scorchers grounds. With the first game due to start at 8:00am, an accident north of Brisbane delayed our start to the day. On our arrival at 8:20am, we were greeted by the umpire to toss the coin so the first ball could be bowled at 8:30am. Luckily skipper James Ghusn won the toss and elected to bat, as the game had been moved to a synthetic pitch with a small outfield.

What followed was an aggressive display of power hitting. One boundary and 7 runs off the first over was followed by 22 runs taken by Ted Sheppard (27 off 10 balls) off the first 4 deliveries bowled by Shalom skipper Matt Pozzebon. This set the innings up with all batsman contributing around the mainstay Jai Kurt. Jai scored a brilliant 92 off 40 balls with 7 sixes and 9 fours. He and Campbell Glaves (3 sixes and 5 fours) combined for 108 run partnership off 48 balls. Other contributors were Matt Taylor (13 off 7 balls) who was brilliantly caught on the boundary, James Ghusn (12 not out off 7 balls) and Zane Beattie with two big sixes in scoring 13 not out off 4 balls.

Opening bowlers Kieran Hamley (0-18 off 2 overs) and Ted Sheppard (1-15 off 3) conceded only one boundary per over in the first three overs. With the run rate mounting Shalom lost their first wicket in the 4th over on 28. In comparison, ASAS opener Ted Sheppard got out 2 balls earlier, but we were 1-62; Shalom were already 34 runs behind us and needing 196 runs off 68 balls. The strong ASAS attack was disciplined and relentless with Shalom unable to get any momentum or partnerships, limping to 8/76 off their 20 overs.

All Saints won by 147 runs.

Semi-Final ASAS 4-223 (Jai Kurt 92 (40 balls; Campbell Glaves 45 (23 balls); Shoobridge 1/38 off 3) def Shalom College 8/76 (Delaney 20 off 20 balls; Dan Mason3/8 off 3; James Ghusn 2/16 off 3; Jaiden May 2/17 off 3)

SOUTH QUEENSLAND FINAL

Unfortunately, we did not capitalise on any starts made by our top five batsman and our opposition, GPS Premiers TSS, once again did turn starts into 50’s. This, plus our inability to hold crucial chances affected the result of this game. We were in a good position bowling first when we had TSS 3/42, but Queensland 17’s player Josh Kann muscled 85 with 7 sixes. We did well to restrict TSS to 7-208 given the conditions.

With the possibility of rain it was a case of trying to get off to a positive start. However, the experienced Kann and Matt Grant restricted our openers Jai Kurt and Ted Sheppard. Our boys will learn a lot from this experience as TSS applied the pressure with their bowling, fielding and incessant chat. Our top four all failed to get going and James Ghusn (39) provided a glimmer of hope, particularly while he was batting with Zane. Unfortunately the task was too great and we were out off the second last ball for 124, after number 11 Kieran Hamley peeled off a few boundaries.

TSS 7/208 ( Kann 85, Leathem 35, Ted Sheppard 3 -31 off 4 overs) def ASAS 124 ( James Ghusn 39)

Thanks to Mr Leslie, Mr Wright, Mr Harm and Mr Wallas for their ongoing support of our involvement in this competition. Thanks also to Mr Warwick Glaves for his commitment and guidance of the team in the State Knockout Competition this year.

Lastly thanks to the players; some of these players have been members of the State Cup squads for the past four years and achieved remarkable results every year. They have had a lot of fun, enjoyed playing, but most importantly enjoyed the mateship.

State Cup results for this group over the years:

Brendan Callaghan

Cricket Coordinator