Queanbeyan celebrates after its second grade Twenty20 grand final victory against Tuggeranong at Chisholm on Sunday. Photo: Andrew Johnston
ONE down, two to go was the message from Queanbeyan second grade captain Pete Coleborne after the Bluebags comfortable 28-run victory over Tuggeranong in Sunday’s Twenty20 grand final at Chisholm.
The win means Queanbeyan’s second grade side remains on track to emulate the heroics of last season’s first-grade outfit in uniting all three ACT Cricket titles under the Bluebags banner.
Queanbeyan has already qualified for the finals in the one-day competition and is also well in contention in the two-day format.
“We’re already through to the semis in the one-dayers and I think we’re third at the moment in the two-dayers so we’re right in the mix in both of those,” Coleborne said. “We’re still hoping for that perfect season and trying to win all three trophies.”
Queanbeyan’s victory on Sunday was set-up by an impressive batting display that saw the Bluebags pile on 6/168 from their 20 overs.
Simon Fahey’s quick-fire 39 off just 21 deliveries was the highlight for the visitors while Dave Corcoran (31), Adrian Brunker (26) and Coleborne (26) made solid contributions.
In reply, Tuggeranong was never in the hunt as paceman Darren Southwell claimed the first five wickets of the innings to leave the South Canberra club reeling at 5/47.
And the home side proved unable to recover with only Matthew Reynolds (30) offering any real resistance before Tuggeranong was eventually dismissed for 140.
“[168] is going to be competitive in any Twenty20 game so it was great for all the batsman really to go out there and get the job done,” Coleborne said following the victory.
“Big Simon Fahey’s power hitting really got the run rate up and then Southy came in with the ball and cleaned up their top order so they weren’t ever able to get going.”
In the third grade meanwhile, Queanbeyan was not so lucky as the Bluebags went down in a lopsided contest against ANU.
After being restricted to just 8/115 with the bat, Queanbeyan was outclassed as ANU cruised to an eight-wicket victory.