By Casey O'Connor
After a season interrupted by weather events and let’s not forget COVID, Saturday is grand final day for cricketers in Warwick and Stanthorpe.
In Warwick the action will centre around Slade Oval and the Queen’s Park.
In Stanthorpe all eyes will be on the action at the CF White Oval.
In Warwick last weekend, Minor premiers Redbacks suffered a heart-breaking loss in the Warwick semi-final.
In a nail-biting finish Colts scraped home by just one run to book a place in the 2021/22.
Redbacks won the toss and chose to bat.
Redbacks lost opener Ryan Clark for a duck in the second over but quickly regrouped. Captain Steve Grogan dug in and top scored with 70 before he was dismissed in the 37th over by an in-form John Cleary.
Following Grogan’s dismissal, the bowlers looked to get the upper hand. Despite some resistance from Clarkson and Mainey there was little sting in the Redbacks tail. At the end of the innings Redbacks had set Colts a moderate total of 160.
With some big hitters in their line up, Colts would have felt reasonably confident of reeling in the required runs.
Redbacks were not done with, despite a solid start from Colts openers. Colts were 2/52 in the 20th over when John Cleary, who is capable of some big and quick hitting, headed to the middle.
Cleary was out for just two when he was caught by Mainey off a Grogan delivery. The score 3/60. Grogan claimed the wicket of O’Leary just two balls later and Colts were 4/61.
Graham Bourke (33) joined Maugan Benn in the middle and the pair took the score to 114 before Bourke was caught by Dwan. With 14 overs remaining and 47 runs required the odds were in Colts favour.
While Benn looked solid at one end and ultimately top scored with 62 batting partners came and went in a procession.
When Tom Fern was run out by Mainey the score was 7/151. There were 14 deliveries remaining and 10 runs required.
It was heart in the mouth stuff for supporters of both sides when Costello was run out for a duck and the score 159.
A place in the final came down to the last ball of the innings. Maugan Benn smacked the Grogan delivery and scored two runs to sink Redbacks hopes of a final’s berth giving Colts the chance to take down the defending premiers, Maryvale this weekend.
Saturday’s grand final should be another great game. Maryvale had a slow start this season but have hit form at the right time and will be shooting for five on the trot and know how to win a GF.
Colts have also had an up and down season but have a powerful batting and line up. It will be no surprise if this game goes right to the wire. Play at Slade Oval starts at 10am.
Sovereign Animals had a comfortable win over Allora in the semi of the Warwick reserve grade competition.
Sovereign set Allora a 150-run chase set up in part by a great display with the bat by Mitch Hay who top scored with 60. Sovereign went on to have little trouble dismissing Allora in the 33rd over for 104. Sovereign’s Robert Wagner was out of a duck when he batted but made up for it with the ball taking four wickets in Sovereigns win. His figures 4/9 from 5.1 overs.
Sovereign play Wheatvale in the Reserve Grade GF at Queen’s Park. Play in the 40-over game starts at 10am.
