Cricket: Glasshouse is the first team into the Caloundra Events Centre T20 final after a well-timed win over Caboolture in round three at Henzell Park.

Winning the toss and bowling first, Jeremy Schultz’s Rangers kept the Snakes to 8/131 and reached the target with four balls to spare.

Full of confidence after wins in the opening rounds, Glasshouse applied pressure from the start, with spinner Heath Fisher dismissing both openers by the fourth over. From 2/10, Ryan Baker settled in, first with Andy Schablon, then Jayden Coffin, but watched both fall to Ash Baartz, with Coffin’s wicket vital as the Snakes looked to build at 3/85.

When Baartz demonstrated his value again to bowl Baker for 34, just six overs were left at 5/88 for John Flew to hit out in an unbeaten 31 while Caboolture closed at 8/131.

Five wickets between them for Baartz and Fischer proved their accuracy and line.

The Rangers now knew what they needed, and after losing Liam Moffett at the end of the first over, Brett Milini and Schultz showed the patience the situation required, with Milini the main scorer as they stroked at run-a-ball rate.

When an always0nagging Matt Anderson frustrated Schultz to hit the stumps in his 2/13 spell, new Ranger Dan Cahill took over to move the board to 103 with his 26.

While Milini was there the chase was secure and the Snakes would have rued a third-over miss. Steve Forster passed the baton to Lachie Pill, and though a pair of edgy dismissals at 130 gave Caboolture a glimmer, the final over saw two runs needed.

A single each to Bryce Smith and an unbeaten Milini lifted the Rangers to a third consecutive final next month, leaving Baartz and Milini to debate whether 3/22 or 63 not out deserved Man-of-the-Match.

Source: Caboolture News