February 25, 2020
Murgon Crusaders are through to the Grand Final of the A Grade Gympie cricket competition after a strong performance at the weekend.
Gympie Colts won the toss in the Qualifying Final at Murgon Sportsground, sending the home team into bat.
Dwayne Malone, who came in at number three, shone with the bat while opener Jason Webber was strong at the other end.
Malone was just shy of his century when he was caught by Dean Walker off a Sam Lang ball on 93.
Malone hit nine fours and four sixes during his 99 minutes at the crease.
Webber was the next best with bat, adding a valuable 46 runs.
Murgon were 8/215 at the end of 35 overs.
In reply, Gympie Colts were all out for 152 in the 28th over.
Top-scorer was Sam Lang with 37 off just 24 balls.
Lang had a strong day for Gympie, also taking three wickets (3/51 off seven overs) and catching out Murgon’s Kurt McArthur.
Graham Brown and Bryce Edwards shared the bowling glory for Murgon, each taking three wickets.
Edwards finished with 3/21 off six overs, and Brown 3/37 off 5.6.
Harry Sippel also had a good day with the ball. Although he failed to take a wicket, he bowled tight, notching up two maidens and conceding just 19 runs off his five-over spell.
Despite the defeat, Colts get to live again.
They will face the winner of the Elimination Final, Kenilworth, in Gympie on Saturday.
The winner of this Preliminary Final will then take on Murgon – who now have a week off – in the Grand Final on March 7.
* * *
After a few false starts caused by the weather, Round 1 of the South Burnett Cricket Association’s Carl Rackemann Junior Challenge was played at Lyle Vidler Oval in Kingaroy under lights on Friday night.
The Under 17s T20 game – made up of players from South Burnett clubs – was between the Northern Stars and Southern Bulls.
Stars won the toss and elected to bat and were 9/126 at the end of their 20 overs.
Harry Sippel top-scored with 62 and Jake Sippel finished 13 not out.
Nick Heness (3/12 off four), Jayden Heness (2/20 off four) and Fletcher Brown (2/20 off four) were the best of the Bulls’ bowlers.
In reply, Bulls were all out for 60.
Fletcher Brown (13) and Joe Steinhardt (11) were best with the bat.
Chris Kerkow (2/1 off 0.5), Jake Sippel (2/7 off two) and Riley Sippel (2/13 off three) did the damage for the Stars.
Stars won by 66 runs.
Game 2 in the Junior Challenge will be played on March 6.
