By Casey OÇonnor
The Warwick Bulls have taken out the final of the Davis Shield Under 21s Representative Cricket on Sunday with a massive 210 run victory over Lockyer at Slade Oval, Warwick.
Warwick looked a class above Lockyer with both bat and ball and while there were some individual heroes the win was a comprehensive team effort. Warwick won by a massive 210 runs dismissing Lockyer for 80 runs in the 30th over.
Warwick Cricket Association President Andrew Bryson said described the win as outstanding.
“It was set up by the outstanding 100 run partnership by the Warwick openers,” he said.
“The pressure was off the remaining batters and that allowed Samson and others to play with freedom.
He said it was a similar scenario in the second innings .
“Jack Ragh bowled beautifully without taking a wicket. “His figures of 0/8 from six overs put pressure on the batters and Alex claimed the wickets at the other end. “The fielding was also top class.”
The Warwick line-up has remained almost unchanged throughout the competition, and Andrew Bryson acknowledged three players who did not play in the last two games but played earlier in the tournament, Will Ole, Riley Doherty and Will Jamieson.
The Warwick Bulls captained by Tom Allison won the toss and elected to bat
There were some stunning batting performances as Warwick notched up 290 runs.
The captain Allison (52) and opening partner Sean Bryson took the score to 0/68 at the first drinks break. Both reached half centuries before the partnership was broken when Allison was dismissed. His departure brought vice-captain Samson Lowney to the crease and the Redbacks batsman attacked the Lockyer bowlers smashing 103 from 70 balls. His big hitting innings included five boundaries and eight sixes and had the crowd at the game watching on line on their feet.
While Samson dominated the scoring at the other end Tom Doherty was also adding to the total. When Doherty was out for 43 the Bulls were well placed at 3/219 and Lowney commanding the show. He was eventually caught by Drew Stafford off a David Kilah delivery .
While Lockyer would have been please to see him back in the clubhouse the score was 4/269 with a strong tail to follow.
The Bulls batted out their 50 overs as the tail took the score to 290.
On a wicket that looked like it favoured the batters, things did not begin well for Lockyer, the scoreboard read 1/0 when opener Nic Miller was bowled for a duck by Alex Dwan. It was just a sample of things to come.
Dwan single handedly decimated the Lockyer attack claiming the wickets of all five top order batters in a stunning performance. When Dwan trapped Lachie Miller lbw Lockyer were 5/13 and Warwick supporters were looking for a spot in the clubhouse trophy cabinet for the Davis Shield.
Matt Higgins made his presence felt with the ball taking 3/3 including the wicket of Dylan Fredrick batting at number eight who top scored for the visitors with 30.
Higgins also took a brilliant catch off the bowling of Mitch “White Lightning” Scheiwe.
Dwan put a full stop and exclamation mark on his bowling performance and the game when the claimed wicket of Lockyer tailender, Joshua Sippel to wrap up the game.
Dwan’s figures 6/9 from 6.5 overs. His spell also included two maiden over. Lockyer out for 80 in just the 30th over. Matt Higgins also finished with impressive figures taking 3/1 from his three overs.
It was a stunning performance from the Warwick Bulls and a long trip back to Gatton for the Lockyer boys.
