1st grade recorded their first loss on Saturday going down to Toombul by 7 runs at GMP but have still secured a quarter finals birth after winning in the first two rounds.
Wests elected to bowl first on a fresh wicket and were without two key players in skipper Paddy Dooley and alrounder Steve McGiffin who were unavailable. Wests got off to a solid start with the ball with star quick Blake Edwards knocking back the middle stump of opener MnNeilly for 7, then a solid partnership between former test opener Matt Renshaw and opener Nick McGill took Toombul to 2 for 109 when Renshaw top edged a sweep to fine leg off spinner Zac Beveridge for 63. Beveridge was very miserly taking 1 for 32 off his 10 overs. Toombul’s Preston White provided some middle to late order hitting making 57 off 56 balls to lift Toombul to 8 for 249. The returning Brendan Doggett bowled well to snare 4 wickets for 34 runs and Blake Edwards picked up 2 wickets from his 10 overs.
Wests set about the chase but lost opener Snell early for 2, but then opener Brendan Smith was joined by Sam Truloff with the pair producing a 105 partnership until Truloff was bowled for 39 leaving wests 2 for 112. Still looking comfortable to chase the total, last game century maker Paulsen came and went for a quick 22 off 20, then Smith fell shortly after for a well made 79 leaving wests 4 – 168. The wheels then fell off for wests losing 5 for 31 and in that period lost 4 for 2. Some late order hitting from Brendan Doggett 31 off 26 got wests close but it wasnt enough with wests being bowled out for 242 in the 47th over.
2nd grade had an early day but not in their favour being knocked over for a disappointing 61 and Toombul ran the total down with ease with the loss of only 3 wickets.
1st grade play a quarter final on Sunday at the Gold Coast to go one step closer in defending their one day title.
The first of the 2 dayers start this Saturday along with all the other senior mens games, with all grades taking on cross river rivals University.
Big weekend for the club!
