Having lost their two matches so far in the competition, Takalvans Taipans must beat Searle’s RV Centre Vikings in the Bundaberg Cricket Aussie Bundy Big Bash T20 blast to keep their final hopes alive.
The game will be held at Salter Oval tonight at 6.30 pm.
After last week’s wash-out of the Betta Heat v Headlands Pies game, Heat are on top of the table with seven points.
They have only one match remaining, with reigning champions Pies on five, Vikings on three and Taipans on one.
The Pies and Vikings each have two games left, while the Taipans have three.
Vikings held on to beat Taipans 5-148 to 7-147 in a thriller in their one meeting to date, also their only win of this campaign.
Opener Lennon Childs paved the way with 50.
Another epic battle is expected with Taipans’ star-studded roster including Chris Duff, Mitchell Waters, Dale Steele, Luke Solano, Michael Loader and Dean Krebs.
Vikings will also be looking to a big score from veteran new recruit Scott Irwin, who has managed just 44 runs at an average of 14.7 this season after taking out the League Award for Most Runs in 2021-22 with 153 at 38.25 for Betta Heat.
Meanwhile, last Saturday’s Rum City Foods Premiership matches in the three grades were also washed out mid-afternoon, but not before Waves had powered to an eight-wicket triumph over Isis in Division 3.
All other games were declared as draws, with Norths robbed of a great chance to defeat Brothers in Division 1 after dismissing them for just 152 with veteran spin twins Bruce Worthington and Paul Jenner each bagging three wickets.
Big hitting East Bundy Magpies opener Ben Davey blasted 84 against Waves in a total of 209, but the competition leaders were well on track at 0-27 when play was ended.
Tomorrow at Salter Oval in Division 1 match-ups at 11 am, competition leaders Waves will be keen to continue their domination of their last season’s grand final conquerors Norths in 22-23.
Second seeds Brothers will be aiming to continue their also perfect record against the potent Magpies, who have plenty of batting fire-power but have struggled to bowl out the top two teams so far.
Softball
Coral Coast Softball fixtures will resume after the Christmas recess tomorrow.
While run-away A Grade Ladies League leaders Waves Tsunamis have a bye, third placed Terrors have a tough double-header at Brothers Sports Complex, taking on three-times defending champions and second placed Brothers United Firesticks at 11.40 am, before backing up against bottom of the table Western Suburbs Panthers at 1.15 pm.
In A Grade Men’s, reigning premiers Waves Schooners, who are currently second on the points table to Terrors three points behind them, will do battle with arch-rivals Brothers United Heat.
Terrors suit up against last placed Bargara Bombers, with both matches set down for 2.50 pm.
Here are all the scores from the weekend:
Cricket Bundaberg
RUM CITY FOODS DIVISION 1 PREMIERSHIP
Norths drew Brothers 152 (A Lankowski 37, M Parsons 31, S Pearson 29, B Worthington 3/8, P Jenner 3/45, C Napper 2/33).
East Bundy Magpies 209 (B Davey 84, T Seeds 25, C Duff 4/28, K Hard 3/34, S Stuchbery 2/42) drew Waves 0/27.
RUM CITY FOODS DIVISION 2 PREMIERSHIP
Waves 5/154(cc) (K Stallan 46, B Coates 38*, P Mudalige 2/12) drew East Bundy Magpies .
Brothers drew Norths 8/169 (D Hunt 37, J Hyde 28, J Balaam 27, J Bond 25, H Johnson 3/28, R Collin 2/34).
RUM CITY FOODS DIVISION 3 PREMIERSHIP
Waves 2/59 def Isis 56 (B Grey 3/8, C Medwin 2/10, J Kleidon 2/15).
Brothers drew East Bundy Magpies 5/180 (R Singh 80*, S Sidhu 36, X White 2/15).
Fishing report: Big mangrove Jack on fire in Burnett River
