Surprise packets into final

CUDGEN star Connor Ziebell is looking forward to the grand final.

CUDGEN’S under-12s won the unwinnable against South Tweed on Saturday to book an unlikely berth against Terranora in this weekend’s Tweed District Junior Cricket grand final.

On each occasion the two sides had met previously, it was the powerful South Tweed side that had prevailed – but when it mattered most, it was the Cudgen clan which rose to the occasion.

Several early wickets had Cudgen on the back foot, staring down the barrel of another bitter loss but when the going got tough, the tough got going and Cudgen’s mid to lower order carried them to a competitive 170.

Competitive, maybe, but past results had shown that anything less than 200 was unlikely to be victorious. With rain imminent, South Tweed began well and the openers showed good touch. But some brilliant bowling and equally fantastic fielding restricted the runs and soon frustrated the favourites.

The wickets began to tumble and it wasn’t long until South Tweed were all out for just 130, 40 runs shy of the target.

Cudgen coach Luke Arnold was elated. “Some of the boys were actually hoping for some rain as they thought it was the only way of avoiding a loss,” he said.

“We batted quite well but going into field we still weren’t confident. However, our ground fielding was excellent and we put them under pressure. When we managed to bowl them out for 130, it was amazing and the boys were beside themselves.

“Now we have to get it right again for Terranora. It’s the first time these boys have played Terranora on their home ground and we know it will be a tough game.”

The grand final at Bilambil Sports Complex begins at 8.30am.