Pioneer Valley Cricket Club are the newly-crowned Mackay Cricket Association
Poole Cup first grade champions for 2023-24.
In a dramatic title decider at Great Barrier Reef Arena on Saturday, March 16, the
Valley X1 staved off a spirited challenge from Souths to record a thrilling
six-run victory.
Chasing 199 for Grand Final glory, the Sharks fell agonisingly short of
their target despite superb half-centuries from Cameron Keene (74 not out)
and Shaun Austin (52) and a handy 22 from all-rounder Tom Bugeja.
Earlier Valley skipper Tim Cridland won the toss and batted and led the way
with a classy knock of 59 off 61 balls that included five boundaries and a
six in a tally of 7-198.
He was supported by prolific run scorer Cody Filewood (44 off 81) with four
boundaries and a six and the talented Bailey Camilleri, who hit an unbeaten
33.
The versatile Bugeja (3-23 off seven overs) and Austin (2-34 off six) were
the pick of the Souths bowlers, grabbing early wickets as the Valley were
left tottering at 5-77.
But a seventh-wicket union of 65 between Cridland and Camilleri helped the
Valley post a competitive total from their 40 overs.
Souths¹ number four Keene produced a mighty innings with the bat that
featured eight boundaries and shared valuable partnerships of 32 with Austin
for the third wicket; 49 with Kellon Powell (14) for the fourth wicket and a
fifth wicket stand of 35 with Bugeja.
Valley¹s experienced bowling attack kept their nerve in the pressure moments
with Dion Krisanksi-Kennedy (2-26 off five), Mahesh Rajaratne (1-23 off
six), Camilleri (1-36 off eight) and paceman Andrew McNichol (0-25 off six)
toiling hard to keep the Sharks (5-192) at bay.
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Devils Take DBCT Cup
Norths Devils clinched the DBCT Cup second-grade premiership with a
resounding 141-run triumph over Pioneer Valley at George Gorrie Oval.
Sent in to bat, the Devils smashed 6-237 with dashing half-tonnes from the
flamboyant Deane Cox (80), Shawn Day (64) and opener Duncan Sperling (63) in
a first innings run spree.
Cox was in scintillating touch clouting four sixes and ten boundaries
during an incredible 41-ball knock with number three Day hammering eleven
boundaries and a six off 78 balls faced.
Sperling and Day added 105 runs for the second wicket with Cox and Day
combining for a fourth-wicket stand of 65.
Valley had no answer to the Devils' attack and was bundled out for 96 in the
24th over with Mitchell Bourke (4-22 off eight), skipper Aaron Durelli
(2-17) and Haki Chauhan (2-29) the chief destroyers.
Skipper Dean Zeller was Valley¹s best returning 2-32 off eight overs.
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Roosters Rampage In Third Grade
Walkerston Red captured the Maurice Blackburn Lawyers Cup third grade
premiership trophy with a pulsating win over Magpies at Jack Lancaster Oval.
Opening batsman Michael Vella proved the hero cracking 72 off 62 balls
with thirteen boundaries to help the Roosters (7-144) eclipse the Magpies
(7-143) in a tense finish.
Former Toombul first-grade all-rounder Brendan Whitby shone for the Magpies
with 40 runs and four-wicket haul (4-17 off seven) with his wily off-spin
bowling.
Just as impressive was his 13-year-old son Jacob who hit a valuable 21.
Iqbal Singh (2-13), Max Campbell (2-28), Malkeet Singh (2-42) and skipper
Scott McPherson (1-14 off five) was the pick of the Walkerston bowlers.
DBCT Poole 1st Division Cup grand final action. Photo credit: Finer Photography
