Sport
26 January, 2024
Kulpi are Central Downs champs!
A Kulpi team featuring two Oakey junior players braved the heat to lift the Central Downs T20 Trophy at Goombungee.
On Sunday (21st January) Central Downs Cricket staged two T20 finals on the same day at Goombungee in front of a significant crowd of cricket devotees despite hot and humid conditions.
The semi final of the T20 competition between Millmerran and Pittsworth was held in the morning and resulted in some impressive bowling stats from the match including a hat trick and a 5 for 7 in 4 overs.
Pittsworth won the toss and elected to bat.
Although Sam McGinn was bowled by Trent Mullins for 5 when the score was 15, Pittsworth made good progress taking the score to 73.
When Jordon O’Shea’s (44) wicket fell to Dom Briggs (caught by James Sinclair), Dom continued his attack resulting in a hat trick - Morgan Holcombe (0) and Harry Cooke (0). Pittsworth’s score was then 4 for 73.
After that effort Chris Devine took the next 5 wickets for 7 runs in 4 overs.
Pittsworth finished 9 for 127 in 20 overs and a fall of wickets - 1 for 15, 2 for 73, 3 for 73, 4 for 73, 5 for 95, 6 for 96, 7 for 104, 8 for 111, 9 for 117 leaving Shane Power (9) and Dominic Kirby (6) not out at the end of the overs.
Bowling figures for Mill-merran – Chris Devine 5 for 7 (4), Dom Briggs 3 for 17 (2) and Trent Mullins 1 for 6 (2).
Millmerran then polished off the runs in 11.4 overs finishing on 2 for 128 with James Sinclair on 79 not out, Alex Sinclair 22, Lachlan Kirby 12, and extras 15.
Fall of wickets was 1 for 98, 2 for 117.
Bowling for Pittsworth Dominic Kirby took both wickets for 24 runs in 3 overs.
THE GRAND FINAL
Kulpi won the toss and elected to bat with Marcus Frizzell and captain Corey Dioth opening the batting.
Together they put on 106 before Marcus was out, bowled by Chris Devine, caught by Trent Mullins for 62 off 31 balls.
Tim Dowe came to the crease and savaged the bowling making 85 from 36 balls while Corey Dioth continued to 101 not out making his century on the last ball of the 20 overs.
Final score was 1 for 264 off 20 overs.
Millmerran started its run chase brightly with Brett French and James Sinclair looking for quick runs but the run out of James for 7 when the score was 1 for 40 was not a good omen.
Alex Sinclair was out shortly after for 0 (2 for 41), the hill became a mountain.
Brett French was out for 25, Chris Devine (12), Trent Mullins was next to go for 1, Dom Briggs made 15 then Lachlan Kirby batted well to top score with 36 including 3 sixes, and Brendan Schaumburg made 2. Final score was 8 for 119 after 20 overs with Daniel Farrington and Stephen Lindeque both finishing on 3 not out.
Fall of wickets was 40, 41, 53, 53, 61, 89, 109, 115.
Despite a short shower which offered some respite from the climatic conditions when Millmerran was batting, players didn’t leave the field.
In the opinion of experienced observers heat certainly impacted Millmerran’s younger players in their second game for the day.
CDCA’s objectives to foster cricket were clearly demonstrated with 11 Under 18 players participating in the day of cricket – 4 each from Millmerran and Kulpi, and 3 from Pittsworth.
The connection with junior cricket is evidenced through Kulpi player Nick Spies who is the current coach of the Oakey Bears Stage 3 Blue Under 16 side of which Jake Spies (son) and Sonny McCormack are a part.
- Lindsay Evans
