By Chris Haynes
Souths have written their names on the Lanza Family T20 trophy for the second year in a row defeating RSL at Sheehan Oval in the Stanthorpe Cricket T20 rand final.
RSL won the toss and sent Souths in to bat. Daniel Folkers and Liam Lanza getting Souths off to a solid start.
Ethn Mackenzie bowled Liam Lanza for 11 to help slow Souths scoring.
Dave Burgess was caught behind by Chris Haynes and RSL looked on the verge of taking control having Souths on the edge of being in trouble at 2/40.
However Alasdair Stewart joined Daniel Folkers and grafted a solid 51-run partnership.
Folkers 48 (64) not out, batted well with some controlled hitting and sensible batting. When Stewart went for 13, Tom Bonner finished the innings with some power hitting 15 off nine pushing Souths to a solid 3/111 of their 20 overs. Noah Mackenzie, Will Lawer and Anthony Dibella all bowled tight spells.
Souths started well with the ball getting Thomas Garland and Nick Lawer out early. Dave Burgess took some stick as Rohan Brady 19 and Noah Mackenzie 28 took control for RSL.
Will Sheather was doing a great job slowing the scoring, taking 2/6 off four overs.
Liam Lanza came into the attack and made the difference.
Lanza claimed Rohan Brady, Noah Mackenzie and the dangerous captain Luke Brady with the ball of the day and RSL had slumped to 5/65.
The RSL batters struggled to score runs as the Souths bowlers toiled hard and kept taking regular wickets.
Thane Hills held RSL together with 11not out off 14.
When Haynes came to the wicket RSL needed 24 from 18.
Liam Lanza bought himself back on but again was unable to remove Haynes.
When Haynes fell to Savannah Bamberry in the last over RSL were all out for 93. Liam Lanza stood out with the ball taking three wickets for 14 off his four overs.
A great win by Souths to win the Lanza family T20 trophy for the second consecutive year.
No cricket this Saturday due to the Apple and Grape Festival.
Cricket returns on the 9 March for the final round game before finals.
