By Casey OÇonnor
RSL atoned for their 2021 grand final loss defeating minor premiers Souths by five wickets to hoist the Jim Mitchell Premiership Shield and win the 2022/23 Stanthorpe and District Cricket final on Saturday.
The final overs of the game were played under dark skies and with the lights on and a storm brewing. Fortunately the rain held off long enough for RSL to pass South’s first innings total of 126 with three overs to spare.
RSL captain Luke Brady won the toss and had no hesitation in asking the Minor Premiers Souths to bat first.
Souths have a very strong top order batting line up but on Saturday their big guns failed to fire in the one game of the season that matters most and the RSL bowling attack, led by the experienced bowlers Duane Lihou and Sam Dowie, took control early.
Lihou showed his experience and skill and claimed four wickets including the scalps of Lachie Pill and Callum Blake, both capable of putting together big scores.
Dowie was responsible for removing openers Sachepal Singh and the dangerous Jordan Lanza cheaply.
He then combined with bowler Rohan Brady to dismiss the Souths captain Danny Folkers. Youngster Ethan Mackenzie also bowled well and was rewarded with two wickets as Souths crashed to be all out for 128 in the 40th over.
But while 128 may not have looked many on the scoreboard, RSL had the job ahead of them as conditions deteriorated and rain threatened. Both sides had the Duckworth-Lewis par score front of mind.
South’s opening bowlers, Callum Blake and Zechariah Kalo Shem along with Jordan Lanza did their job making scoring early difficult for the batters.
They claimed a couple of early wickets and when Lanza had the inform Rohan Brady caught by Blake things looked to be swinging in Souths favour.
However, the Dowie brothers stood tall putting on a 43-run partnership Sam (38) and Will (36) to guide their team to a strong position.
It was left to Noah Mackenzie and Duane Lihou to bring the team home as RSL comfortably passed the required total in the 37th over for the loss of five wickets.
Sam Dowie was named Player of the Final. He took two vital wickets and a catch and led the batting charge with 38 runs. He received the “Keith Pickstone Memorial Shield.
