The first round of the Queensland Premier Grade Cricket competition kicked off last Saturday with the first limited overs round. The Queensland Premier competition is the first southern capital city competition to start in 2017/18, almost 3 weeks before the start of any other grade competition.

Sunshine Coast visited Ian Healy Oval to take on Northern Suburbs and came away with a tight 10 run victory. Leo Carter top scored with a massive unbeaten 156 including 18 fours and 5 sixes. No other player passed 50 while Jack Prestwidge and Bernard Bester both took two wickets. In reply Northern Suburbs came close and finished their 50 overs at 8 for 268. Michael Dawson top scored with 81 while former Australian Test player Joe Burns made 51. Alecz Day was the best of the bowlers with 5 for 47 off his 10 overs.

Toombul hosted Sandgate-Redcliffe but it was the vistors who came away with a large bonus point victory. Sent in, Sandgate-Redcliffe made 5 for 339 off their allocated overs. Charlie Hemphrey top scored with 143 while Matt Doran and Zac Keune supported him with half centuries. In reply, the home side could only manage 196 before being bowled out in the 41st over. Captain Cameron Leeder top scored with 57 while Nathan Rimmington took 3 for 28 off 8 overs and Charlie Hemphrey backed up his century with 3 for 33 off his 10 overs.

Valley hosted Ipswich/Logan and the home side came away with a strong bonus point victory. Sent in, Ipswich/Logan made 8 for 228 off their allocated 50 overs with opener Daniel Wilson top scoring with 117. No other batsmen passed 30 while Josh Dascombe took 3 for 43 off his 10 overs. Valley made the chase with ease, passing the Ipswich/Logan total in the 30th over, three wickets down. Captain, Andrew Gode dominated the innings making an unbeaten 139 off 89 deliveries with 11 fours and 10 sixes.

University of Queensland hosted Western Suburbs at WEP Harris Oval and came away with an easy eight wicket victory. Winning the toss and batting first, Western Suburbs made 7 for 221 off their 50 overs. The captain Patrick Collins top scored with 60 with Anthony Atkinson supporting the total with an unbeaten 56. Jack Carty and Devon Endersby both took two wickets for the home side. Captain Scott Henry batted through the innings with an unbeaten 102, putting on an unbroken partnership of 149 with Jano Coetzee who made 64. Blake Edwards was the only wicket taker with 2 for 42.

Wynnum/Manly hosted Gold Coast in their opening round clash but was unable to come away with the points. Batting first, Gold Coast made an impressive 8 for 291 with Cameron Francis top scoring with 89 and new recruit Lewin Maladay making 69. Cameron Trask was the top wicket taker with 4 for 52 off 10 overs. In reply Wynnum/Manly were dismissed for 203 in the 38th over. Nicholas King was the top scorer with a big hitting 72 off 36 overs with 10 fours and 4 sixes. Jason Floros was the second highest scorer with 44 after taking 2 for 33 with the ball. Matthew Kuhnemann was the best with the ball with 3 for 26 off 8 overs.

In the final match, South Brisbane hosted Redlands at Peter Burge Oval. After being sent in, South Brisbane made 6 for 342 off their 50 overs. Captain, Ben Cutting top scored with 100 off 63 balls, Emmanuel Peterson, Jamie Eccles and Jake Cross also made half centuries. In reply, Redlands made a valiant response before being dismissed for 299. State batsman Marcus Labuschagne top scored with 101 off 104 balls, while wicket-keeper James Peirson made 70 off 49 balls at the top of the order. Michael Wells-Peris was the best with the ball with 3 for 54 off his ten overs.