Sport
9 February, 2023
Caboolture teen relishes Queensland cricket title win
Caboolture Div 1 cricketer Carter Simpson (pictured) made a decisive contribution in a semi-final before being part of the Queensland team which took out this year’s U17 National Championships in Hobart.
The championships took place from January 16 to 23, with Queensland losing two of its first three matches before going through the remainder of the competition unbeaten.
Carter earned selection after he was identified as an emerging Queensland player through the Lord Taverner’s one-day competition, while representing Sandgate-Redcliffe.
This led to Carter being chosen in a squad of 20, and ultimately in the final 13-player squad.
With the matches comprising 50 overs per side, Queensland began with a six-run loss to Western Australia when chasing a target of 176.
Carter and his teammates followed up with a seven-wicket win over Northern Territory which was dismissed for 79, before Queensland succumbed for 242 when chasing a target of 264 against Victoria Metro.
Carter had not had a happy time at this stage, having been dismissed without scoring in both defeats and recorded figures of 0-22 from two overs on the latter occasion, while not batting or bowling against Northern Territory. Nonetheless he held a catch in each of Queensland’s first two matches, and also had a hand in a run-out against Northern Territory before taking two catches against Victoria Metro.
Carter scored eight and held a catch in Queensland’s next match, with the team amassing 269 runs and then dismissing Australian Capital Territory for 124.
The Caboolture cricketer’s impact against Victoria Country in the semi-final could not be underestimated, as he came to the crease with Queensland in dire straits at 6-70.
Carter top-scored with a patient 34 not out from 72 balls without hitting a boundary, and helped the lower order boost the total to 177.
None of Victoria Country’s batters passed 21, with Carter holding another two catches as Queensland recorded an 86-run triumph to book a spot in the championship decider.
NSW Metro appeared certain to be a formidable opponent in the decider, having won all five of its matches and dished out a few thrashings.
Carter held another catch but was not required to bat or bowl in the decider, which turned into something of an anti-climax.
After both openers were out for ducks, NSW Metro was uncharacteristically tied down before being dismissed for just 92 in 43.2 overs.
Queensland reached the target in 28.4 overs for the loss of just one wicket.
