Big Ben strikes them down | Rockhampton Cricket | Cricket in Rockhampton

Frenchville pace bowler Brock Siegert thinks he has a Gracemere wicket but the umpire did not agree during Saturday’s match at Rockhampton Cricket Ground.

CHRIS ISON

GETTING a six-wicket bag is good against any opposition but when they are the prize scalps of the leading team in the Southern Star Sports Shield then you know you have had a good day at the office.

Milne finished his bowling stint with 6-24 off his 10 overs in a performance that destroyed the Frenchville victory chase.

Gracemere set just 163 runs for the victory against a powerful Frenchville batting line-up.

Making the cause harder for Gracemere was its lack of a recognised wicketkeeper.

First choice gloveman, and number three bat, Mark O’Keeffe, has made himself unavailable.

That left Gracemere captain Michael Harth with a problem which was compounded by Alex Raguse, stand-in keeper and the team’s opening batsman, playing rugby for the Young Brahmans.

Harth took over the opening batsman duties and did a good job for his side before lofting an ambitious shot which Jason Wells collected brilliantly to send the captain back to the sheds for a score of 31 runs.

Most of the Gracemere batsmen got a start with Aaron Harmsworth again the team’s top scorer with 36 from just 28 deliveries.

A knock of 19 not out from Rhys Philp got Gracemere to its score of 162 which, in good playing conditions, and a pitch that was getting easier for batting, did not seem to be overly difficult.

It was Aaron Harmsworth who took the job behind the sticks and with Frenchville at the crease, the Milne success story began.

Milne and Harmsworth combined, the keeper taking a catch, to dismiss Trent Kenny with the score on 28 as Frenchville failed to put together significant partnerships.

With the score on 32, Milne struck twice in an over, trapping the brilliant Michael Simmers in front and then sent the luckless Jason Wells back to the sheds for a duck with a ball that was almost unplayable.

Joe McGahan did his best to turn the game around with his innings of 82 runs but it was the only contribution of any note as Frenchville was all out seven runs shorts of its target.

“It’s the best we’ve had out of Ben,” Harth said.

“He was bowling fast and moving the ball.”

Not all the Gracemere work was of the highest order.

“Joe (McGahan) rode his luck a bit but batted very well,” he added.

“We just kept breaking their partnerships, their best was between Joe and Brendan Handley worth 68 runs.”

Harth said Todd Harmsworth also did well with the ball, taking three wickets to help mop up the tail.