Black Stars have advanced to the Mount Isa 40 over cricket final after a semi final win over Western Bulls on Saturday at Sunset Oval.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Black Stars won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket that was lively all day.
Opener T Cameron was dismissed cheaply for just eight runs off the bowling of Jones but fellow opener Andy Cullis made a solid 41 to anchor the innings - a score that only one other player would better during the day and that only by one run.
Ash Benson was out for 20 off the bowling of Hussain to make it 2/54 though skipper Cam Conlan chipped in for what would prove to be a handy 30 runs, finally out to A. Morrisby.
Jerome took two wickets in quick succession, first Cullis then Spooner for a duck.
When Hussain took his second wicket taking out Scotty Kyle for just nine runs the game was finely balanced at 6/129 but Jamie Stewart came to the rescue compiling a steady knock of 38 not out to steer Black Stars home.
They finished all out for 193 with Hussain and Jerome the pick of the bowlers with two wickets apiece.
It wasn't just the Starries who would struggle with the bat in hot and steamy conditions.
Opener Nick Donker was the exception and his stand-out innings of 42 was the best score of the day for either side.
But the rest could only muster 26 runs between them as they were skittled easily in under half the allotted overs.
No one else managed doubled figures with Ramachandran second best with seven and Jerome making six.
J. Diffenbach was the star with the ball taking five for 15 in a devastating spell of six overs.
Spooner and Conlan chipped in with two wickets each as the Bulls crumbled.
They were dismissed for 68 with Black Stars winning by 135 runs.
In the other game at Captain Cook Oval Panthers beat Cavaliers.
That result means Cavaliers exit the competition and Western Bulls play Panthers this coming Saturday at Sunset Oval.
The winner of that game will play Blackstars the following Saturday, March 23 in the Grand Final at Sunset Oval.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
