Queensland Fire v Queensland Veterans

T20 Friendly

8 September 2023 at Peter Burge Oval

A beautiful spring day greeted the players at Peter Burge Oval for the second annual clash between the two sides. Jess Jonassen “won the toss” and elected to bat.

There was a little “rust” early for the gents in the form of some wides, but not so Georgia Voll who clubbed a couple of boundaries in the second over to set the Fire on track. Voll and Georgia Redmayne (returning from injury) compiled 38 for the opening stand, before Redmayne popped one up to Vic Shumilin off the bowling of Wayne Leonard in the 6th over. Skipper Jonassen, joined Voll in a run-a-ball 47 for the second wicket, but just as a 50 appeared imminent for Voll, Andrew Steindel enticed an aerial shot and Phil Pullar nabbed it to dismiss Voll for 46 from 42. A good throw by Garry Lovett from the mid wicket boundary in the 16th, caught Charli Knott short of her ground, attempting a second. Then, Jonassen (33) skied one off Shane Riley in the last for Leonard to pouch and the Fire were done at 4/122.

There was trouble early in the chase as Nicola Hancock claimed two top order scalps to reduce Veterans to 2/13 in the fourth. Veterans skipper, Mark Kratzmann, fought back with a belligerent 26 from 24, but got a glove to Redmayne in Charli Knott’s first over to make it 3/38 in the 8th. Rob Laing smashed one into the deep off Lily Bassingthwaite a few overs later only to see it land safely in the hands of Zoe Cooke; 4/51. Phil Pullar and Roger Lonie then breathed life back into the Veterans innings with 30 from 32 for the 5th wicket. Then, Lonie chopped one from Zoe Cooke back onto his stumps at the beginning of the 17th and the equation became a formidable 42 from 23. Phil Pullar and Garry Lovett managed 35 of these including a four and two sixes in the last over, but it was not enough; The Fire home by 6 runs.

The hospitality from the Redlands Tigers Cricket Club was outstanding and all were hopeful of continuing the fixture in years to come.