SENIOR GRAND FINALS SET TO PRODUCE EPIC FINISH

A thrilling finish to the Cricket Ipswich senior community season is on the cards if the tense scenes in the final round of fixtures are to be repeated this weekend at the Ivor Marsden complex.

This Saturday will mark the start of the Jets Leagues Club Division 1 and the ACS Group Division 2 grand finals.

Central Districts Cricket Club meet the Valley Vikings in the top-grade clash at Baxter Oval, while Redbacks play Brothers at Ray Walker Oval in Division 2.

The battle between Centrals and Vikings is the first four-day competition grand final between the teams.

While the Vikings were assured of a grand final spot heading into their final round game against the Laidley Mulgowie District Blue Dogs last weekend, Centrals were faced with a huge task to qualify.

The Kookaburras not only had to beat Brothers outright and secure enough bonus points along the way, but they also needed Laidley to lose or draw at Ropehill.

In an edge-of-your seat finish to the regular season, the Vikings tail kept a hungry Blue Dogs bowling group at bay in the final session to restrict Laidley to a draw.

Laidley District Cricket Club had earlier amassed 4-292 declared on the back of a brilliant Joe Sippel century.

Sippel hit 12 boundaries and a six on his way to 128, while Ben O’Connell struck a fast paced 69 to keep the runs flowing.

Vikings were in early trouble until Regan Hoger (63) steadied the innings.

Their run chase again hit trouble before lower order players Ezekiel Kugel (20 out from 79 balls) and Mason Kleidon (49 not out from 91 balls) defied Laidley late on day two.

While all of that was playing out, Centrals completed a massive outright win over Brothers at Limestone Park.

Centrals bowled Brothers out for 89, before posting 6-234 in quick time with Harry Dobson and Dom Donaldson both making 70s.

Charlie Utz (3-10), Alex Dell (2-4), Lachlan Vellacott (2-17) and Brendan Ashton (3-10) then combined to bowl Brothers out for 42 in the 20th over.

The size of the outright victory was enough for the Kookaburras to sneak into the grand final ahead of the Blue Dogs.

While disappointed at missing out, Laidley still had a lot to reflect positively on in 2024/25 after winning the one-day competition final in February.

All eyes will now be on the clash between the Vikings and Kookaburras commencing at 10am on Saturday.

In the Division 2 final, South East Redbacks Cricket Club will start hot favourites after a dominant season, which already includes a one-day title.

The Redbacks go head-to-head with Brothers, who held off Laidley in last weekend’s semi-final thanks to a marathon innings from veteran Shaun Madson.

Madson faced 234 balls for his 37 runs, as Brothers occupied the crease for 81 overs to record a draw, which was ultimately enough to seal their passage into the grand final.

The Brethren will need to produce their best against a strong Redbacks line up which has built their success around the form of Vaughan Oldham, Taylor Peach, Jarid Griesbach and Luke Griesbach.

All four players have posted more than 300 runs this season, while Jasbir Singh and Oldham have combined for 44 wickets.

This weekend will also see SSCC Lions play Fassifern Bushrangers in the Third Division semi-final, with the winner to play Redbacks the following Saturday.

The Fourth Division final will be played between Strollers Cricket Club and Redbacks, with the winner advancing to the grand final against Laidley.

CI senior subcommittee co-ordinator Darryl O’Sullivan acknowledged the contribution of all players, coaches, umpires and volunteers this season, especially the tireless efforts of all ground staff that have endured the wettest summer for a long time.

“We’ve witnessed some really competitive cricket right throughout the grades,” O’Sullivan said.

“And the best is yet to come across the grand final weekends. We hope to see as many people out at Ivor Marsden supporting their teams, who will enjoy the opportunity to play on grounds that are in excellent condition.

“Baxter Oval in particular has come up brilliantly since the rain and it certainly wouldn’t surprise if the First Division final goes right down to the wire.

“The Jets Leagues Club Division 1 competition has been fiercely fought all season with as many as four teams in grand final contention going into that second last round.”