Cudgen into cricket final

By Jo Kennett

CUDGEN IS into the finals of the LJ Hooker Two Day League against Goonellabah after taking down Pottsville last weekend, with Tweed Banora Colts also bowing out.

Cudgen Captain Alec Williams said they lost the toss and Pottsville batted.

“We took a few early wickets and had them for 4/50,” Alec said.

“(Pottsville’s) Kai Allison scored 55 and batted well all day; he and Nathan Wilson put on about 70 runs for the fifth wicket and then James Julius broke the partnership.

Julius was in top form, taking 5/45 off 24 overs.

“Pat Rosser took 3/22 and bowled out. We bowled them out for 186 which we thought was well below a competitive score,” he said.

“We batted that night and ended up 0/40 off six overs. We thought we were in a pretty dominant position but we lost a few early wickets the next day.

“Nathan Pryke took three wickets, he took my off pole out of the ground which was fun! “He’s only 16 and he was a standout.”

Englishman Cory Chantrill scored 75 “batted beautifully”, Alec said..

“Pat Rosser came in and smashed them everywhere and got 45 off 20 balls but when he got out we still needed ten runs.

Then Cudgen lost three wickets for seven runs with an on-fire Kagisho Pedi bowling.

“Then we needed three to win with one in hand and James Julius came out to bat which is not a good thing for us because he is hopeless with a bat.

“He had two balls to face from Pedi, he played and missed both and was lucky not to get bowled. As batsmen go he’s a great bowler. Up the other end Jake Weir hit the winning runs with a boundary.”

Alec said both teams bowled real well, “a lot better than they batted.”

“It should be a good game at Oakes Oval against Goonellabah,” Alec said.

“I think if we play our best we will win. It’s our ninth straight grand final and only the second one away and we are going for six straight wins so we are pretty confident but we still have to do the job.”

In the other semi the Colts at 10/91 went down to minor premiers Goonellabah (10/334).

“We were completely outplayed,” Tweed Banora captain coach Adam Rogers said.

Tom Byrnes did a great job for the Colts taking 5/60 but Tweed Banora Colts were all out for 91 on the final day.

“Catching let us down; I think we dropped five catches but the heat was a huge factor after fielding for 96 overs on Saturday in Lismore’s 36 degree heat,” Adam said.

“We loved the season. Tom Byrnes was the stand out player of the competition and it was a break out year for Fletcher Koppel with the bat and outstanding fielding and Lewis Koppel who took 22 wickets.”

Well done to Potty and the Colts on another great year.