By Casey O'Connor
In the race to the finals of the 2021/22 Stanthorpe Cricket season RSL and Souths sit at the top of the competition table with 14 points. They are followed by Valleys on 10 and Wanderers with two points.
Last Saturday Wanderers and Valleys played on Sheehan Oval. Wanderers supporters would have been buoyed by their performance with the bat. After winning the toss and batting they set Valleys a run chase of 154. Batting down the order, Brendan top scored with 44. His runs coming off just 46 deliveries. Earlier in the innings, opener Eddie Filmer was lbw to Damien Anderson for 30. Brock Patti (11) and Andrew Einam (19) the only others to break into double figures.
Valley’s captain Damien Anderson led from the front with the ball taking four wickets. He was well supported by Wallis who dismissed Wanderers opener Mitch Drayton and first drop batsman Barry Bulow for ducks. Rutley also picked up a pair.
Not everything went Valley’s way in their run chase. Tod Beckett wound back the clock, opening the batting and set a solid platform before he was dismissed for 34. The score 2/42. Valleys went from a comfortable 2/42 to 4/64 before Anderson joined Rutley at the crease and steadied the ship. The pair took the score to 143 and in sight of victory before Brendon Barker got his man bowling Damien Anderson (46). Crome and Wallis getting the handful of runs required for Valley’s victory.
Meanwhile at CF White it was a top of the table clash between RSL and Souths.
RSL had no qualms about sending Souths in on the CF White turf.
The RSL bowlers grabbed two scalps in quick succession, dismissing openers Singh (8) and Mark Lanza (14) cheaply. Danny Folkers could add only 10 before he was back in the clubhouse (3/30) as Noah Mackenzie claimed his third wicket. The Lanza brother Jordan and Liam put together a nice partnership before Rohan Brady and Chris Haynes combined to dismiss Hayden for 37. The score was 4/87. Unfortunately for Souths supporters Liam was out in the next over. The score 5/89. Matt Burgess and David Burgess came together and took the score to 158 before first Matt (28) and David (22) were out. Souths final three batters were out without troubling scorers. South’s all out for 158. Noah Mackenzie the best with the ball. He finished with 4/17. His eight overs included two maidens.
RSL opener Sam Dowie returned to his best form and along with opening partner Duane Lihou put RSL in a great position. When Lihou (32) was bowled by Andrew Burgess, RSL were 1/97 in the 21st over.
Rohan Brady (27) joined Dowie (67) in the centre and the pair reeled in the required total in the 35th over. RSL losing only the one wicket on their way to a win.
This week RSL play Valleys and Wanderers will be searching for a win over Souths when they meet on Sheehan Oval.
