By Casey OÇonnor
Souths Cricket Club have taken out the Stanthorpe and District Cricket Minor Premiership despite being beaten in the final round of fixtures on Saturday.
Souths finished four points ahead of Valleys who have been testing them all season.
On Saturday the minor premiers would have been anticipating a win over Wanderers at CF White Headquarters.
In quite humid conditions Souths, without one of the team lynch pins Lachie Pill, chose to bat first after winning the toss.
Danny Folkers captained the side in Pill’s absence and opened the batting with Sachepal Singh. Singh was out cheaply and Folkers found himself LBW to the opposing captain Brendan Barker when on 22.
Souths were 5/55 when Folkers was dismissed. Liam Lanza steadied the ship scoring a much need 42 before he was dismissed. Souths batted out their 40 overs but set Wanderers a very moderate target of 122.
Jamie Carnell (34) and barry Bulow (not out 34) set the platform for Wanderers win. An unbeaten 16 from Andrew Einam ensured a Wanderers upset in the 31st over. It capped off a excellent game for Einam who also took four wickets.
Meanwhile on Sheehan Oval Valleys Rohan Brady was busy scoring his first century in a grade cricket. The teenager was unbeaten on 104. His century coming off just 68 deliveries in an innings filled with power hitting. Brady smashed eight sixes and three fours on his way to the total .
Brady’s was not the only good innings. Sam Dowie fell just shy of his ton. Out for 94 caught and bowled by Anthony Coup. His opening partner retired on 52.
Valleys set RSL a mammoth 280 run chase.
It was a bridge to far for RSL who have been disappointing this season and they were dismissed for 63 in the 24th over.
Focus now turns to the finals which begin this Saturday when Souths and Wanderers will go head-to-head.
