PBC in ripping victory
Lions jump into top spot to claim minor premiership
Palm Beach Currumbin have continued to find form at the best part of the year as they head into the Premier First Grade finals as the most in form team.
PBC were sitting third heading into the final round of the season, just half a point behind second place and were chasing a home final.
Instead of jumping into second spot, Cody Durante and his PBC Lions ripped through Alberton, winning outright and jumping into top spot to claim the minor premiership.
It sets up a mouth watering finals series for Coast cricket.
Mudgeeraba 9-196 defeated by Southport 8-209
Sitting top of the table heading into the final round, the loss to Southport has dropped Mudgeeraba to third and will travel to Surfers Paradise for the semi final.
Southport’s Dhanushka Mitipolaarachchi top scored in the run chase with 58 from 112 balls, but had plenty of support from Ryan Thorpe (48 from 53 balls) Rhys Horne (47 from 89 balls) and Phil Tunnicliffe (40 from 85 balls).
Alberton 10-156 and 9-113 defeated by Palm Beach 4-212dec and 1-58
Looking to get a home final,
Cody Durante took to the Alberton bowlers to give his side the chance to bowl them out again. Making light work of the run chase, Durante finished on 73 from 65 balls, with Michael Craig showing support with 51 from 99 balls.
With a lead of 53, Alberton’s openers got them to 43 without losing a wicket but it all went downhill from there. It was thanks to PBC bowler Brent Anderson who claimed 5-25 from his nine overs which included a hat-trick.
Needing 58 for victory, Anderson opened the batting with a quickfire 28 from 20 balls giving them an outright win.
It sets up a semi-final clash against Helensvale at Salk Oval.
Surfers Paradise 7-165 drew with Helensvale 10-243
Surfers were looking to remain in the top two, needing a win or a draw where Helensvale were looking to remain in the top four.
Batting on from day one, Helensvale added a further 47 runs to their overnight total.
Jack Charlton picked up match figures of 4-50 from 25 overs for Surfers Paradise.
In reply, Harry Lickiss picked up two wickets in his first two overs leaving Surfers 2-0 from three overs.
Harold Jones (54 from 97 balls) and Lachlan Diven (31 from 91 balls) spent time at the crease to stop the flow of quick wickets. Chandima Bandara did the damage with the ball through the middle order, picking up 4-63 from 26 overs for Helensvale.
The draw meant Surfers Paradise claimed enough points to remain second and will host Mudgeeraba while last year’s premiers Helensvale will take on Palm Beach.
Broadbeach 6-157 defeated Burleigh 10-138
Runaway Bay 10-200 defeated by Coomera Hope Island 10-232
SEMI FINALS
Palm Beach Currumbin v Helensvale at Salk Oval, Palm Beach
Surfers Paradise v Mudgeeraba Nerang at Cambio Group Oval
*Bulletin journalist Jake Garland is a member of Surfers Paradise Cricket Club