A REJUVENATED Magpies first grade X1 are back in the hunt for the Mackay Cricket Association Twenty20 Division One Shootout title.
The reigning Poole Cup champions zoomed into trophy calculations after posting twin victories last weekend to grab a share of the competition lead with Pioneer Valley.
Both the Magpies and Valley are the current Shootout pacesetters on 24 points with four victories each after five rounds.
In a timely return to form the Magpies edged out the Valley at Great Barrier Reef Arena last Friday before rolling Walkerston the following day to climb their way back to the top.
Blake Ryan (32), Adam Zurvas (25 not out), Ben Zurvas (28) and Andrew Borg (24) steered the Magpies (3-124) to a win over Pioneer (3-123) – despite the batting heroics of in-form all-rounder Cody Filewood who smashed an unbeaten 71 off 67 balls.
Adam Zurvas clouted a stylish 59 and Ryan (25) and paceman Todd Dixon grabbed 3-33 as the Magpies (4-126) toppled Walkerston (5-125) after top knocks from Luke Jackson (50 not out) and Neil Gustavson (35).
A superb display by Masters representative all-rounder Chris Mceldowney piloted the Walkerston club to an impressive victory over Souths at George Gorrie Oval.
The Roosters skipper grabbed 3-11 off 24 deliveries to restrict Souths to 5-138, trapping hot shot Shaun Austin leg before wicket after a swashbuckling 96 off 60 balls that included thirteen boundaries and a six.
Mceldowney then hammered 59 off 31 balls with five sixes and three boundaries to guide Walkerston (6-140) to their second win of the series with support from Sam Vassallo (28) and Etienne Pretorius (27).
Norths (2-102) cruised to victory over Brothers (8-100) with classy knocks from Chris Day (48 not out) and Lane Kohler (42) who faced 19 balls and hit five boundaries and two sixes.
Pace duo Mason Kohler (3-31) and Kerrod Tortora (2-19) shone with the ball with the speed merchants also making an impact in Norths’ narrow loss to the Valley.
Skipper Tim Cridland (43 not out) and the prolific Filewood (26) helped the Valley register 9-126 despite a magic spell of pace bowling by Tortora, who snared 6-14 off four overs.
Mason Kohler took 2-31 then compiled an unbeaten 34 and Darryn Dyer (33) as the Devils (8-113) fell short in their run chase.
Brothers (1-98) notched a second triumph in the competition after skittling Souths for 94.
Joseph Hackney (41 not out) and Michael Dunn (29) set up the victory with an opening stand of 56 after Floris Duvenhage (4-22) and Mitch Wadsworth (2-23) had starred with the ball.
