By Casey OÇonnor
The Stanthorpe Mitchell Shield side booked themselves a date with Lockyer at Cahill Park, Gatton for the Mitchell Shield final on February 12 after a dominant win over the Warwick Bulls in the day night Mitchell Shield game on Saturday at the CF White Oval.
Stanthorpe Captain Lachie Pill led from the front after winning the toss and batting.
Pill retired not out 134 as the home side set the visitors a massive run chase.
At the end of their 50 overs Stanthorpe had amassed an impressive 304 runs.
The star of the innings was undoubtedly Lachie Pill. His 134 runs coming off 123 balls and included 16 boundaries and four sixes.
He hit back-to- back sixes to bring up his ton in what was an impressive batting display.
Sam Dowie opened the batting with Pill and was out for 34 caught by Tom Allison off a John Cleary.
It might have given Warwick supporters some joy but at 1/64 things were about to get a lot worse.
While Lachie Pill turned on a batting master class at one end first Charlie Moncada and then Jordan Lanza (not out) each made 51 as the runs accumulated.
Stanthorpe did lose four quick wickets at the back end of the innings, but it was a cases of too little to late as the Stanthorpe batsmen made the Warwick attack look quite ordinary. There are probably a couple of well known bowlers who would not be keen to revisit their figures.
It was going take a mammoth innings from some to get Warwick into the game. They lost opener Sean Bryson with the score on 29 but the Stanthorpe attack proved too strong.
While John Cleary a noted big hitter was at the crease there was hope but he was bowled by Zechariah Kalo Shem with the score at 4/33. Mick Bourke made a solid 26 but fell victim to the combination of Liam Lanza and Aiden Halford. The score was 8/158 and Stanthorpe were preparing to celebrate a win.
Chris Cantwell and Jatinder Singh added another 14 runs before the fall of the final wicket. Warwick all out for 173 in the 42nd over.
Liam Lanza spearheaded the attack taking 4/23 from his 7.1 overs. Shem bowled well finishing with 3/25 from eight and Damian Anderson chimed in with 2/23 from his six overs.
