Semi-final two of the Brisbane Premier league was a battle between the Gold Coast Waveriders, and the table topping Moreton Magic. The Magic have been in incredible form the entire competition, but it was the Waveriders who used last week’s ‘Moving Day’ to set up their clash with the competition leaders.
With both sides pushing for a spot in the Grand Final against the Darling Dingoes, Captain Harry McNeilly of the Waveriders won the toss and elected to bowl first on the day.
The decision to bowl first for the Waveriders was the right one, with Jackson Smith striking early to remove Magic openers Callum Stitt and Brenton Edwards. Cameron Trask and Preston White steadied the ship scoring 27 & 26 respectively. Jack Webster also chipped in with 37 runs from 20 balls, with two 4’s and three 6’s.
But it was the Matthew Schubert show, who belted 64 not out from 37 balls, featuring four 4’s and four massive 6’s. Moreton Magic flexed their muscles, led by Matt Schubert, as the Magic finished at 6/171.
Moreton Magic started their bowling innings as well as they finished their batting, with quick wickets from Preston White and Brenton Edwards pinning the Waveriders down at 2/2 from 2 overs. Hugo Burdon continued his incredible BPL form, scoring 44 runs from 37 balls to begin the Waveriders rebuild.
Nikhil Chaudhary took over the run chase with an incredible 47 runs from 24 balls, sending four balls out of the ground for 6. But Patrick Cotter was the man for the Waveriders, thumping 41 runs from 18 balls with five 4’s and a 6!
“We got a good over on the long side.. Which took a lot of pressure off. But we executed what we wanted in our surge” said Cotter after his incredible knock.
The Gold Coast Waveriders pulled off an incredible run chase, after being 2/2 from 2 overs, the Waveriders won by four wickets with three balls left in the game to go on to the Grand Final.
