Kent duo reach Queensland First Grade semi-finals

Brendan Nash and Daniel Bell-Drummond’s Northern Suburbs reached the Queensland First Gradesemi-finals despite a first-innings loss to fourth-placed Valley.

The two-day semi-finals will be played next Saturday and Sunday.

Adam Ball took another two wickets to take his winter tally to 22 as Redlands Tigers edged a dramatic last-gasp win to finish above Sam Northeast’s Sunshine Coast Scorchers.

Ball’s side were losing on first innings against sixth-placed Wynnum-Manly until Ball took 2-43 as Tigers reduced their opponents to 105-6 in the second innings forcing a declaration to set up an unlikely run chase.

Tigers openers hit an unbeaten 124 off 59 balls with Peirson scoring 88 not out off just 59 balls to seal victory to leapfrog their opponents into the top four.

It was heartbreak for Sam Northeast’s Scorchers side as they dropped from third to sixth with defeat at home to Toombul.

The Kent vice-captain’s side was set a total of 323 to chase but Sunshine Coast fell 178 runs short with Northeast scoring 25 off 59 balls and Kent pace prospect Ivan Thomas sidelined.

In New South Wales, Mitch Claydon led a Newcastle City side featuring Kent colleagues Ben Harmison and Matt Hunn in the league closer versus Wallsend.

Harmison and Hunn opened the batting to get some vital competitive practice before the county cricket season and compiled a stand of 95 for the first wicket.

Harmison hit 50 off 56 balls with four fours and two sixes and Hunn scored 45 off 40 balls with six boundaries in his cameo.

City skipper Claydon played an equally attacking innings with 31 off only 13 balls featuring three fours and two sixes in just ten minutes at the crease.

The trio fly back next week to begin preparations for the new season.