BAIRD SPINS SIDE TO DECIDER
AN inspired spell from Helensvale Pacific Pines spinner Jack Baird has launched his side into the Taper Premier League grand final, where a vengeful Mudgeeraba Nerang await.
Baird orchestrated the demise of Palm Beach in their semi-final clash on the weekend, after the Lions were forced from the outset to dig themselves out of a hole.
Jared Neuhaus’s run out three balls into the contest set the tone for the Hawks, and Baird’s finish of 4/16 from 12 overs proved too much for the season’s T20 champions to overcome.
Having been bundled out for 96, Palm Beach were then met with stubborn resistance from Helensvale Pacific Pines opener and skipper Kaleb Day, who ground his way to 63 off 201 deliveries.
The triumph extends the Hawks’ winning streak to seven games, appearing to have peaked at the perfect time on the back of the form of all-rounder Harry Lickiss.
Lickiss sits atop of the wicket-takers tally with 45 scalps at approximately 13 runs apiece, while his 447 runs for the campaign has included three half centuries in his past six outings.
Meanwhile a defiant Lydon Gibbons ended Broadbeach Robina’s hopes of shocking the minor premiers, with a draw the clear mentality from the Bushmen.
The Cats set themselves up to have every chance of advancing to the decider, posting 9/203 on the back of Reece McDonald’s 55.
Teen gun michael Iffland, who starred in another losing cause in the under–18s semifinal against the same rivals, chipped in with a crucial 40.
However Gibbons was immovable at the crease.
The Mudgeeraba Nerang opener fought his way to an unbeaten 91 off 235 balls, ending the clash in a draw and giving his side the chance to redeem their heartache at the final hurdle of the T20 competition earlier in the season.