There was plenty of cricket action on Saturday as the Stanthorpe cricket season swung back into action following the Christmas break with the start of the third round of the 2011-12 season and the first of the Twenty-Twenty matches. In round three all teams will play two matches each Saturday with full points available in both games.It was an entertaining afternoon of cricket as Souths took on Wanderers in their first game and RSL and Valleys got round three under way.
On Sheehan Oval Souths had the upper hand restricting Wanderers to a total of 155. Wanderers were unable to complete their 20 overs before being dismissed. Hayden Lanza was the best of the Wanderers batsmen top scoring with 24. Andrew Philippe (23), Tim Harlsett and John Featherstone made valuable contributions. Souths Danny Folkers took three wickets and looked the most dangerous of their attack. Souths went on to reach the required total with apparent ease as Dave Burgess (49) Mark Lanza (40); Dan Cameron (20) and Pat Cameron (30) piled on the runs and claimed the four points on offer.
On the CF White Oval Valleys lost early wickets in their game against RSL as players struggled to adjust to the T20 format. Valleys were dismissed in the 18th over for only 126. Top scorers for RSL were Anthony Marino and Alastair Middleton.
Despite giving away a couple of “free hits” RSL’s Luke Brady proved hard to score off and took wickets. Chasing a relatively low score RSL showed plenty of control in their run chase and in a well fashioned innings they reached the required total in the 19th over with wickets in hand. Todd Brady, Sam Dowie and Luke Brady did the damage with the bat for RSL. Bowlers Anthony Marino and Sandro Stefanon were the best of the Valleys.
Souths played RSL in the second of their games. RSL batted first and after 20 overs had piled on 192 runs for the loss of only one wicket as Sam Dowie got into some big hitting belting six sixes on his way to 59. However, it was Duane Lihou who top scored with an unbeaten 95 after Todd Brady was dismissed for 27.
Souths faced a big run chase. The Cameron brothers, Pat (44), Dan (25), Tom (30) all contributed runs early in the innings but despite some spirited bating from Scott Williams (22) and Mal Whitton (30) late in the innings Souths fell 11 runs short of the target.
A tight bowling performance from Luke Brady and Sam Dowie contributed to RSL’s second win for the afternoon.
Valleys were the team to go home without a win for the day as they fell well short chasing Wanderers somewhat disappointing 127 all out. At 2/92 Wanderers (Hayden Lanza 46, Jamie Carnell 24 and Tim Harslett 18) looked on track for a big score but lost eight wickets for only 35 runs giving Valleys a great chance for points. On a wicket that was offering variable bounce to the bowlers, Valleys struggled with their run-rate due to some fine bowling from Wanderers Hayden Lanza and Jamie Carnell. After 20 overs Valleys could only manage 5/102 after contributions from Alastair Middleton 39, Anthony Marino 16 and Brendan Smallmon 18.
