The Glen’s Capricorn Challenge season ended in last weekend’s preliminary final.
A disastrous batting performance proved costly for the Gladstone-based club, who mustered just 86, in the eight-wicket loss to Frenchville at Rockhampton Cricket Ground No.2 on Saturday, 16 March.
Every batsman from The Glen was dismissed either lbw or bowled, as the Falcons “Mac Attack” ran riot.
Teenage talent Riley McDonald produced yet another telling performance after the earlier good works of opening bowling pair Callum McMahon (2-6) and Joe McGahan (2-8).
McDonald has produced some sparkling displays in recent weeks, and signalled why he is a player of genuine promise, collecting 3-6 in 3.1 overs.
Frenchville set the tone early, leaving The Glen in more strife than Flash Gordon.
McGahan sent opener Waqar Yunus back to the pavilion for a duck before McMahon claimed the prized scalps of Kelly Searston and David Heymer in quick succession.
Searston was trapped lbw for two, having faced 26 deliveries, with the classy Heymer bowled for a fifth ball duck.
The unflappable Jeff Case played one of the knocks of his career as his teammates came and went with great regularity.
Case faced 79 balls for an outstanding half-century, with six the next best effort by one of The Glen’s batsmen.
He proved the last man to go, lbw to young McDonald, having scored 58 per cent of his side’s total score.
Frenchville didn’t bat like they had an appointment to be at, but comfortably overhauled the target in 23 overs.
Openers Jack Harris and Ben Howard saved any early nerves with a 71-run first wicket partnership.
Howard reached 33 from 52 deliveries (four fours) when he was bowled by Yunus.
Yunus then claimed his second wicket when Glenn Bauer (five) was caught by Heymer just two runs shy of the winning target.
Skipper McGahan hit the winning runs and Harris finished unbeaten on 41, having faced 73 deliveries, a knock highlighted by five boundaries.
Yunus (2-24) enjoyed some reward for effort.
The win books Frenchville a grand final showdown with minor premier Gracemere Bulls this Saturday, 23 March.
SCORES
A GRADE PRELIMINARY FINAL
The Glen 86 (Jeff Case 50, Riley McDonald 3-6, Callum McMahon 2-6, Joe McGahan 2-8) lost to Frenchville Falcons 2-87 (Jack Harris 41no, Ben Howard 33, Waqar Yunus 2-24).
