Five teams vying for four spots as last round looms
It all comes down to the final round for the top grades of Cricket Gold Coast as five teams fight for four spots.
Helensvale’s outright win in second grade have catapulted them into top spot while Queens outright win has earned them a spot back in the four in first grade.
Palm Beach, Surfers Paradise, Mudgeeraba are the three other teams eyeing off spots within the four.
PREMIER FIRST GRADE:
Southport 4-203 defeated Burleigh 10-153
Southport began the day on 1-48, needing just 106 to claim first innings points.
(29 from
29 balls) and (42 from 59 balls) started the day, plugging away at the deficit.
But it was Southport’s middle order of
64 balls) and (59 not out from 67 balls) that got them over the line.
Burleigh’s was the only bowler to pick up multiple wickets, finishing with 2-44 from 11 overs. (56 from
Alberton 10-163 Mudgeeraba 4-113
A late start on day one had the draw sitting favourites for this clash as Mudgeeraba looked to lock up top spot if they won.
Alberton batted first middle order batters
(45 from 121 balls) and (33 from 59 balls) batting them into mid afternoon of day two.
continued his form with the ball picking up 5-53 from 19 overs, while Rhys Finn picked up 3-33 from 10 overs.
In reply,
went at a run-a-ball 73 which included 12 fours, with both teams eventually calling a draw late on the day.
drew with
Palm Beach 3-75 drew Surfers Paradise 9(dec)-290
Surfers Paradise started the day at 7-205 and lost
early on day two. A partnership of 83 between
(53 from 116 balls) and (36 not out from 84 balls) gave captain Claye Beams confidence to call for the declaration.
In reply, Palm Beach lost an early one before tea was called before losing two more in the second session.
Captain finished with 26 not out from 71 balls and had support from opener (23 from 77 balls).
Queens 6(dec)-148 and 3(dec)-108 defeated Broadbeach 10-98 and 10-53
Queens needed an outright win to jump back into the four and it looked like it was not going to fall their way.
Broadbeach started day two at 2-5 and did lose a wicket early but a 55-run partnership between (38 from 64 balls) and (19 from 25 balls) looked to just hold momentum a bit.
But it was the only partnership of the day, with Queens bowler picking up 5-22 from 10.2 overs and
also picking up 3-20 from 10 overs. Looking for quick runs,
smashed a quickfire 53 from 29 balls to extend a lead to 158 before the declaration came.
did the damage with the ball in the second innings, picking up 6-22 from seven overs, with
picking up
3-16 from 4.1 overs.
THE RUN HOME:
another
Mudgeeraba – 112.6 points – Southport (h)
Surfers Paradise – points – Helensvale (h)
Palm Beach – 108.2 points – Alberton (a)
Queens – 101.00 points – bye Helensvale – 99.7 points – Surfers Paradise (a) 108.7
PREMIER SECOND GRADE:
Broadbeach 9(dec)-237 defeated Queens 10-159
Broadbeach left a decent total for the ladder leaders to chase as Queens looked to lock up top spot.
Sitting at 3-40, with match evenly poised,
(35 from 77 balls) and
(34 from 77 balls) gave Queens the upper hand before both were dismissed in quick succession.
showed some fight towards the end of the innings with 31 from 20 balls.
But day two belonged to Broadbeach bowler Michael Causer who picked up 5-20 from 8.3 overs.
The loss drops Queens to third as other results helped teams jump them with one round to go. the
Helensvale 7(dec)-151 defeated Coomera Hope Island 10-70 and 10-63
Coomera started day two at 2-11 in their second innings, needing a further 70 to make Helensvale bat again.
Helensvale captain
had other plans as he picked up 4-20 from 12 overs and picked up 3-15 from 7.5 overs.
Jorgensen picked up 10-31 from 20.4 overs for the match.
The outright win has shot them into top spot with one match to go before finals and will take on a finals contender.
Mudgeeraba 5-145 defeated Alberton 10-143
Alberton won the toss and elected to bat first, losing their first wicket for 17.
Captain was the only batter to get to 20, reaching the score from 40 balls.
Mudgeeraba bowler
was the pick of the bowlers with 3-25 from 13 overs.
In reply, with about 25 overs to play in the day, Mudgeeraba smashed their way to the win inside the 21st over. Opening bat belted 57 from 44 balls while
finished with 40 not out from 34 balls.
The win puts Mudgeeraba into second spot and potentially looking at top spot in both first and second grade if things go their way in the final round.
Surfers Paradise 10-190 defeated Palm Beach 10-132 and 4-75
Starting the day at 5-62, needing another 71 to win to keep their finals hopes alive, Surfers Paradise opener
(36 from 229 balls) and stand-in captain
(65 from 121 balls) put on a 62-run partnership to almost get them across the line.
Teenager combined for a 35-run partnership with Denham and also finished on 33 not out from 81 balls.
Palm Beach bowler
was the pick of the bowlers with 5-39 from 26 overs.
PBC went back in to bat for a second innings, finishing with 4-75, with opener top scoring with 34 from 89 balls.
Burleigh 10-117 9(dec)-165 defeated 10-84 and 6-114
Burleigh was looking at a potential outright win with Southport starting day two at 6-69.
They eventually picked up the final four wickets for just 15 runs to give them first innings points.
Bowler picked up 5-38 from 11.3 overs, while
claimed 3-26 from seven overs.
Going back out to bat, Burleigh opener smashed 66 from 46 balls which included two 4s and six 6s and it was clear what Burleigh were trying to do.
The wickets were shared by the Southport bowlers with
the pick of them with 3-7 from five overs.
Vincent picked up 4-29 from eight overs in the second innings including a wicket on the very first ball of the innings for Burleigh.
Southport batters (41 from
39 balls) and (34 from 35 balls) were the pick of the batters in the second dig.
THE RUN HOME:
and Southport
Helensvale – 104.1 points – Surfers Paradise (h)
Mudgeeraba – 95.1 points – Southport (a)
Queens – 93.4 points – bye Surfers Paradise – 91.2 points – Helensvale (a)
Palm Beach – 90.1 points – Alberton (h)
*Bulletin journalist Jake Garland is a member of Surfers Paradise Cricket Club