OMG for Surfers teenage spin star
THE age of Oam has begun for Surfers Paradise, with the 15year-old hailed as the top junior spin weapon in the state after leading the Demons to an important win over Burleigh.
The week’s rainfall meant only two Kookaburra Cup matches could proceed in week six, with competition frontrunner Mudgeeraba and contender Helensvale forced to split points in matches they were tipped to win.
Both teams lost ground to Surfers and Palm Beach Currumbin, whose superior drainage helped them seize full competition points at home.
Left-arm orthodox spinner Patel was the star of the day for Surfers, shining in overcast conditions to put Burleigh’s top order to the sword.
Patel took all four of his wickets in the first three overs of his spell opening the bowling, conceding three runs.
Reigning Bulletin team of the week selections Scott Sanderson and Mick Spargo were dismissed for ducks.
Surfers coach Scott Day said Patel had no equal in Queensland junior cricket.
“He’s just performing outstandingly well,” Day said.
“He’s leading the whole Lord Taverner’s competition in wickets with Gold Coast and opening the bowling against senior men.
“The wicket was perfect – if we could play on that every week we’d be happy.”
Patel ensnared Burleigh’s openers lbw and bowled, No.3 Sanderson caught at slip and Spargo lbw to finish 4-17 from eight overs as Burleigh was bowled out for 73.
Surfers cruised to 0-51 before losing three wickets in a minor collapse, leaving Claye Beams and Steven van der Walt to overtake the total in the 18th over for a seven-wicket win.
Runaway Bay fell to backto-back defeats in difficult batting conditions against PBC.
The Lions chased down the Bay total of 74 in 20 overs for a six-wicket victory.
Opener Joel Harrison topscored for the Seagulls with 38, but no other batsman escaped the single digits.
Brent Anderson led the PBC bowlers with three wickets while Canning Mason (32 not-out) led the chase.
Second and third grade fixtures were completely washed out, but some lower grade matches did go ahead.
Jess Turner (84) led Coomera Hope Island to a 39-run victory over Alberton in fourth grade.
A half-century to Liam Bayley and strong performances from Coomera’s bowlers saw the Crocs’ fifth grade prevail over Alberton by 31 runs.
Runaway Bay’s Garred Birrell came within five runs of his third career century on the Gold Coast to beat Broadbeach by six wickets in fifth grade.
In sixth grade, Broadbeach picked up the division’s only win with a seven-wicket chasedown of Runaway Bay, who were all out for 95.
Brendon Sheldrick and Bailey McWilliams hit the winning runs.