By Casey OÇonnor
A smashing innings of 66 off 56 deliveries by Tom Garland has set up RSL’s opening round Stanthorpe Cricket Association victory over defending premiers Souths at the weekend.
RSL won by 27 runs in a match that was changed to the T20 format and transferred to CF White Oval.
The changes came as association officials confirmed that Sheahan Oval was unplayable, however the drainage works that have been undertaken are beginning to show ground improvement.
CF White Oval pitch played evenly but was slow and the thick and damp outfield made scoring difficult in both games.
A youthful RSL side proved too strong for Souths who fielded an eight-man side.
RSL set Souths a 130 run target and although down on numbers they still had a formidable batting line-up.
Unfortunately, they were unable to score quickly enough to reach the required target. Tom Garland set up the RSL win with some lusty hitting at the top of their innings. The opener smacked 66 off 56 deliveries and was the standout batsman in both sides. Bowling honours were shared equally between the Souths bowlers.
Souths feel short of the target at the end of the 20 overs were 4/107. Lachlan Pill top scored with 48.
Both sides will be better for the outing as they blow away some cobwebs early in the season
In the second T20 game Wanderers cruised to victory over Valleys. Valleys were missing a host of senior players. The young guys that made up the Valleys line-up gained invaluable experience from the outing and the game was played in the in the right spirit.
Valleys won the toss and sent Wanderers in. The more experienced Wanderers set the young Valley’s side a target of 115. Opener Mitch Drayton fell for a duck but the remaining Wanderers batsmen all got starts and were into double figures before being dismissed.
The experience of Tim Harslett showed with the ball as he took three wickets for Valleys. Harslett stepped in and played for Valleys who were down on numbers against his own club.
Valleys struggled with the bat and were all out for 64. Brendan Barker doing most of the damage with the ball taking four wickets.
There are no regular matches this Saturday due to the Stanthorpe Races. However on Friday night a Possibles v Probables (Country v City) game will be played on Friday night under lights at the CF White Oval. The game starts and 6pm, and players will be hoping to work their way into sides for the upcoming representative season.
This how they will line up on Friday night: Possibles: Lachlan Pill (c), Matt Paton, Brendan Drayton, Barry Bulow, Aiden Halford, Tom Garland, Brendon Barker, Andrew Einam, Bill Sheather, Noah McKenzie.
Probables: Danny Folker (c), Jordan Lanza, Liam Lanza, Naveen Koppula, Nick Lawer, Sachie Singh, Isaak Wallis, Rohan Brady, Ned O’Reilly, Brody Parker, Luke Brady.
