By Casey O'Connor
Following the final round the Stanthorpe Cricket Association fixtures at the weekend Valleys and RSL will go head-to-head this weekend in the preliminary final game. The winner will play Souths in the grand final at the CF White Oval on 26 March.
This week’s preliminary final a replay of Saturday’s game on Sheehan Oval and Valley’s will be hoping for a similar result. On Saturday, Valleys won the toss sending RSL in.
It proved to be a good call. Sam Dowie opened the batting for RSL with Chris Duff. Duff was out cheaply but Dowie went on to top score 40 off 50 deliveries. Unfortunately, when he was dismissed with the score at 3/56 it was all downhill. RSL collapsed to be all out for 76 in the 24th over.
Valley’s captain Damian Anderson stepped up with the ball in hand and finished with 5/19 from 6.4 overs.
The only hiccup in Valley’s run chase came with the loss of opener Chris Allen who was bowled by Will Dowie for six. Andrew Middleton remained unbeaten on 52 and Paton not out nine when Valley’s cruised to victory in the 18th over.
Valley’s should not be complacent heading into this week’s knock out round as RSL are capable of bouncing back.
On the CF White turf South’s had their final hit out before the final and scored a big win over Wanderers.
Wanderers batted first and were all out for 77 in the 38th over. It took Souths only 11 overs to reel in the total which included a nice innings from Lachie Pill who was unbeaten on 48.
