BIG BASH’S BEST SETS SIGHTS ON CLUB GLORY

DAYS after being named the Barrier Reef Big Bash’s Player of the Series, Andrew Phelps has shifted his focus to leading Barron River to glory in the Cricket Far North competition.

Phelps finished the Big Bash as the tournament’s top scorer, smashing 275 runs at an average of 68.75, as he and the Designer Homes Dare Devils lifted the trophy.

While his final could not have gone more awry – he went for a firstball duck in arguably his worst game for some time – nothing could hide the emotion he felt when teen Seth McGinty and veteran Tom Boorman steered the Dare Devils to victory on the last ball of the rain-affected decider against Halpin Hurricanes.

And it took nothing away from a season in which he dominated.

He was the only player with multiple half centuries, finishing with three from seven matches, while his average and strike rate were among the best in the competition as he spent almost 90 minutes more at the crease than any other batsman.

“It was a well-deserved title for the Dare Devils,” Phelps said.

“All the boys told me all along that I was in the running, and that the second highest was a fair way away, but things can always happen, especially when people are involved.

“I didn’t want to get my hopes up. “But it was an honour to claim that award, in front of a decent crowd, too, with family and friends there.”

As for McGinty and Boorman, who shared in an unbeaten 43-run partnership to take Dare Devils from 6-80 to victory off the final ball, Phelps could not be more proud.

“Seth, for a 15-year-old, a lot of kids crumble under the pressure in that situation but he was outstanding,” he said. “It looked well out of reach at 6-80, but I had slight hope when they got to about 30-plus from 24 balls.

“When they were comfortable, I thought we had a good chance.”

Phelps’ focus now switched back to his beloved Barron River, which sits second on the CFN A-grade ladder.

While comfortably second, Phelps is not interested in riding out the rest of the regular season in comfort.

“We don’t want to slack off. We had a bit of a chat the other night, and the boys have a clear view of what we want to achieve in the rest of the season,” he said.

“We have the team to beat.” The attack features some of the best bowlers in Far North Queensland cricket, with Jordan Fulton and Harry Gardner leading the charge, and there is plenty of batting power and prowess in an order that includes Phelps, Tom Dimaline, Tim Ward and Adam Trewin, who is in the midst of arguably the best A-grade campaign of his career to date.

Barron travels to Rovers, a team fighting for their finals future on Saturday, Mulgrave faces Cassowary Coast, while Atherton hosts Norths.

Relive every ball of the grand final at cairnspost.com.au/sport.