Archie Clifford bags six wickets in Grammar’s 25-run win over experienced Brothers outfit

The schoolboys outfit took the honours after beating the experienced Brothers Rockhampton Blue by 25 runs on Sunday.

Dawson Valley Taipans beat Capricorn Coast by six wickets to win the reserve grade title, while Frenchville reigned supreme in the A-grade decider against Gracemere.

It was a weekend to remember for young guns Riley McDonald and Sam Gassman who won premierships with both Frenchville and Grammar.

Victorious Grammar coach Todd Wells said it was a great result for his team, who finished the regular season as minor premiers.

“We knew we were up against a team with a lot of finals experience and guys who have played a lot of high-level cricket well supported by a group of younger players,” he said.

“The final was a very high standard; both teams played really good cricket and it was a closely contested match that could have gone either way.”

Grammar batted first and despite at one stage being 6-76, managed to post a score of 139.

“We were able to chip away and keep the scoreboard ticking over, even though we were losing wickets more regularly than we would have liked,” he said.

“At one stage there it didn’t look like we were going to get 100 so I was very happy with the way we grafted with the bat to get to 139.

“We thought runs on the board in a grand final is always good and while 139 is not a big total, it’s something that you can defend with our good bowling attack.”

Grammar struck early with the ball and had Brothers reeling at 3-8 before an 83-run partnership between Nicholas Osborne and Terry Tummon got them back into the contest.

Grammar’s bowlers then went to work, skittling the remaining Brothers’ batters for just 24 runs to claim a memorable victory and cap an impressive season.

Bowler’s sensational figures

Medium pacer Archie Clifford saved his best for last, taking an incredible 6-17 off six overs, which included two maidens.

He took the wicket of Terry Tummon to break what was shaping as a match-winning partnership for Brothers and then proceeded to plough through the rest of their line-up.

“Archie came on and ripped through that middle order,” coach Todd Wells said.

“He got the important wicket of Terry and after that, he basically got a wicket off every over he bowled.

“It was a fantastic effort.

“He just kept it really simple at the weekend; he just tried to bang a length and bowl top of off and he was able to do that

“He’s a young cricketer with a bright future and he took his opportunity in the grand final.

Top-order destroyer

Opening quick Cayden Kent did the early damage with the ball, anchoring his team’s brilliant bowling display.

He took the wickets of Liam Mulry, Deacon Maguire and Richie Pershouse, finishing with 3-13 off six overs.

“Archie’s great performance was really set up by Cayden who got three wickets to start the innings and three big wickets in the top order,” Wells said.

Vital innings in the middle

Oliver Bennett showed his mettle, top-scoring with 22 off 52 balls.

The number six batter came to the crease with his team at 4-31 and his composure under pressure helped steady the ship.

“Oliver did a great job in stemming the fall of wickets and helped turn it around for us,” Wells said.

The team’s wicketkeeper, he also took three catches.

Last-wicket heroics

Tom Macrae and Josh Peckett shone with the bat in the closing stages of the innings.

They were the team’s second and third highest scorers, with Tom 19 not out and Josh 17 not out off 15 balls.

Wells said they were outstanding.

“We had a last-wicket partnership of 24 and ended up winning by 25 runs so it was pretty significant,” he said.

Originally published as Archie Clifford bags six wickets in Grammar’s 25-run win over experienced Brothers outfit