By Casey O’Connor
After plenty of anxious moments, the Warwick Australia Day Cricket Carnival got underway Saturday morning. After weathering the challenges of holding a Cricket Carnival that is always very social in this Covid climate, on Saturday morning it looked like the weather itself might be the Carnival’s undoing.
Fortunately, the weather gods smiled kindly on the organisers and while the showers were persistent, they were not enough to disrupt play on and off the pitch throughout the day.
In the final of the Social comepitition on Sunday Rettke’s contained Hurricane’s to a score of under 50 and had little trouble knocking off the required runs to score a comprehensive victory in the Social competition.
After Saturday’s games in the main competition, the semi-finalists had an early start on Sunday. Stunned Mullets played Ross’s XI and scored a 55 run win.
At Slade Oval, Ring Ins had too much firepower with the bat for Maryvale Condi.
There were plenty of deliveries heading over the fence as Ring In’s booked their spot in the 2022 with a 50-run win.
In the other game Mitch’s XI had a 25-run win over Summers.
There was much less fanfare than normal at Slade Oval as the final between Ring Ins and last year’s winners Stunned Mullets got underway on Sunday afternoon. The comepitition was every bit as intense as both sides eyed off the lucrative prizemoney.
After an impressive performance in their semi-final Ring In’s found themselves under pressure early in the innings losing one of their openers (King) for a duck. Dean Butler held three catches early in the innings as the bowlers had the upper hand. Ring Ins were in a world of pain as the Stunned Mullets attack stunned opposition batsmen. Only two batsmen made it to double figures as wickets tumbled around them. Larreby (18) top scored while Myers made it to 12 before his dismissal. Ring Ins out for 73 leaving their bowlers a big job.
Chasing back-to-back Australia Day Carnival wins, Stunned Mullets had a shaky start losing three wickets after only a handful of balls were bowled.
At 3/14 a partnership was needed even though the total they were chasing was a small. Dean Butler (37) again proving his worth and Scott Young (25) combined to get the job done with plenty of balls remaining.
A comfortable win in the end for Stunned Mullets. Congratulations to the winners who are now turning their attention to 2023 and a possible three-pete.
Congratulations to the organisers who did a great job under very difficult circumstances. After a mammoth weekend, President of the Warwick Cricket Association, Andrew Bryson and his team could have been forgiven if they indulged in a little “happy dance” at the end of another very successful Australia Day Carnival.
However, I suspect Bryson and his team were looking forward to quiet drink and a good night’s sleep as the Carnival wrapped up.
