October 29, 2015
An understrength Nanango Scorpions downed Kingaroy in a gripping A Grade cricket game which came down to the wire at Lyle Vidler Oval on Saturday.
Although Michael “Freddy” Davies hit the winning runs, Nanango supporters were praising Dexter Calvert who held on at the other end to make the victory possible.
Kingaroy won the toss and elected to bat.
The Scorpions stung straight away, taking two wickets before a run had been scored.
At 4/18, Kingaroy looked to be in deep trouble before a partnership between Mark Schmidt and Brett Porter steadied the innings.
When Porter was out for 16, it was left to Schmidt to save the day.
He made a valuable half century before a turning ball by spinner Davies had him stumped for 58.
Caylen Brown made 12 valuable runs at the tail to help Kingaroy claw their way to 126 in the 32nd over.
The Nanango bowlers who ripped into Kingaroy were Dean Olzard (2/27 off nine overs), Dylan Gilliland (2/21 off four), Stephen Kirkland (2/15 off seven) and Michael Davies (3/30 off seven).
In reply, Nanango also lost early wickets and looked more than a little shaky when they were just 4 /15 in the seventh over.
But then Davies took strike and began his unbeaten run.
Partnering with Brendan Weil, the pair put on 26 runs before Weil was out to an easy catch at mid-off for 18.
A partnership which followed with Gilliland was starting to put the Scorpions within striking distance, but Davies was also beginning to run out of partners when Gilliland fell for 13.
Dexter Calvert came to the crease. He fended off the Kingaroy attack and worked to keep Davies on strike, allowing him to notch up a string of boundaries.
Calvert finished 0 not out but was the Scorpions’ hero of the day, providing the necessary support to allow Davies to hit the winning runs in the 43rd over.
The Scorpions finished 7/131 with Davies 61 not out.
Darren Geiger was the best of the Kingaroy bowlers (3/13 off nine overs) while Peter Hourn (1/21 off nine) and Brett Porter (1/13 off six) also gave Nanango a hard time.
* * *
In the other A Grade game, Wondai took on Wooroolin at Wondai.
Wooroolin batted first and finished with 9/190.
Taylor Hermann (51), Jackson Jay (27) and Cameron Groer (25) were the best of the batsmen.
Best of the Wondai bowlers were Rob Robarts (3/27 off nine overs), Kiall Rowberry (2/18 off five overs) and Toren Anderton (2/33 over nine overs).
The Wolves chased down the target for the loss of just four wickets.
Wayde Wust top scored, finishing not out 61.
Derek Sander (55) and Geoff Wallis (25) were strong at the other end.
Best of the Wooroolin bowlers were Jim Dundas (3/24 off 8.2 overs) and Tim Lianne (1/11 off four overs).
* * *
At Kumbia, the Rattlers faced Wondai in their B Grade game.
Wondai won the toss and elected to bat first.
The Wolves were all out for 90 after 31 overs.
Daniel Braxton and C Handford both scored 16, while Ryan Kelly was the best of the Kumbia bowlers, taking 4/30 off eight overs.
In reply, Kumbia overtook the target in just 24 overs, finishing 4/95.
Tavis Hartwig (37) and Ryan Kelly (26) were best with the bat.
For Wondai, Chris Bodey two 2/10 offsix overs.
Kumbia won by six wickets
* * *
Kingaroy RSL Services B Grade played Warriors at Taabinga State School oval.
Warriors won the toss and elected to bowl, a decision which paid off when Services were bowled out for 106.
Justin Labinsky (28) and Brian Walters (16) were the top scorers for Kingaroy.
Tyler Heness and Allen Ledger ripped through the batting, each taking three wickets.
Heness took 3/14 off six overs, and Ledger 3/30 off eight.
Warriors made the target in the 20th over for the loss of just two wickets.
Steve Heness (48 not out) and Kendall Siddans (36) did most of the damage.
Best of the Kingaroy bowlers were Brian Walters (1/6) off two overs and Lleyton Brown (1/16) off four overs.
* * *
In the third B Grade game, Cherbourg played a young Nanango side at Nanango.
After 40 overs, Cherbourg had racked up a hefty target of 292.
Nev Kratzmann (87), Bernard Hopkins (57), Tom Langton (40) and David Warner (34) kept the scoreboard ticking over.
Best of the Nanango bowlers were B. Hargreaves (2/24 off six overs) and S. Wilson (1/23 off three).
In reply, the Scorpions were all out for 63 in the 25th over.
Nicholas Scherger (23), B. Matthews (16) and B. Calvert (14) put on a brave effort in front of the Cherbourg attack.
Best of the Cherbourg bowlers were Gene Barrett (3/5 off 3.2 overs), Barry Fisher (2/9 off four), Wade Charles (2/13 off five) and Chris Osborne (1/9 off four).
* * *
This weekend:
A Grade
- Kingaroy RSL Services v Warriors
- Wondai v Murgon
- Nanango have the bye
B Grade
- Kumbia v Murgon
- Nanango v Wondai
- Cherbourg v Wondai
- Warriors have the bye
* * *
On Sunday, the first game in the Goodchild Shield series will be played at Lyle Vidler Oval in Kingaroy.
A South Burnett XI will take on Fraser Coast from 9;30am.
The team selected is:
Jason Webber (captain)
Wayne Kelly
Nathan Bain
Lehman Brunjes
Stuey Robinson
Troy Dennien (wicketkeeper)
Michael Davies
Graham Brown
Taylor Herrmann
Ashley Sippel
Rob Barts
Wayde Wust
* * *
Three South Burnett girls have been named in the 2015-16 Queensland Under-15 Girls’ Cricket Team.
They are Renee Irvine (Murgon), Courtney Sippel (Murgon) and Kathryn Kidman (Nanango).
The selections followed the Queensland championships in Mackay last week.
The National titles will be played from November 25-December 1.
* * *
The Wide Bay 12yrs girls cricket team was in action at the QSS 12yrs Girls Cricket Championship in Brisbane this week.
The championship was played at Brisbane Grammar from October 25-28 with several South Burnett players taking part.
* * *
Veteran Murgon cricketer Nev Kratzmann starred in the 2nd Test in the Over 70s series between Australia and England.
Playing on the hallowed turf of North Sydney Oval, Kratzmann took 2/16 off his five overs.
Opening the batting, he batted through the Australian innings, finishing not out 87.
(Ironically, the so-called unlucky number for Australia was the same total that Kratzmann finished with in the B Grade Cherbourg game on Saturday.)
Aussie captain Ross Chapman, from Gympie, finished 93 not out.
Australia and England are one-all in the series, with the decider to be played in Canberra next week.
* * *
Former Kingaroy cricketer Holly Ferling will be turning out for the Queensland Fire against defending champions NSW in the interstate women’s cricket one-dayer played in Sydney on Sunday.
Queensland are currently second on the table in the national competition, behind Victoria, after two wins and a loss so far in the series.
