New look a hit as Lincoln Tuna snare thrilling Quality Wool Cup

LINCOLN Tuna Kings have snared the 2020 Quality Wool Cup in Port Lincoln after a thrilling final‑day finish that saw the Twenty20 tournament's top four teams separated by percentage only.

With Lincoln Tuna, Eastern Eyre, Tumby Bay and Great Flinders locked on six points after each recording three wins from their four matches, Lincoln Tuna's superior for and against saw them take home the silverware in the cup's ninth year.

Eight under‑14 teams from across the Eyre Peninsula (EP) took part in this year's competition, with matches played last Thursday and Friday at Centenary Oval, Poole Oval and the Ravendale Complex in front of the biggest crowds in years.

Rather than the usual oppressive January heat, this year's competitors were greeted by pleasant, cool conditions which saw high‑scoring, free‑flowing cricket played by all eight teams.

Some outstanding individual performances were also rewarded, with Wally Parkyn (Far West) compiling 110 runs from four innings to take out the batting trophy, Kai Davies (Lincoln Tuna Kings) and Hamish Turner (Eastern Eyre) snaring five wickets each to lead the bowling and Dusty Symonds (Lincoln Great Whites) leading the fielding with 11 votes.

The Quality Wool Cup's revamped look was also a hit, with the shirts and colours of the eight teams brought into line with franchises from the Big Bash League (BBL).

With the competition set to celebrate its tenth anniversary in 2021, Quality Wool's Kane McKay said buy‑in from the EP's cricket associations and junior sporting community had been the key to the cup's longevity.

"We had our best crowds in some time this year, and the way all the associations and families involved have embraced the tournament is the main reason for its success over close to a decade," Kane said.

"Our new shirts were well‑recieved by the kids and parents, and we look forward to celebrating 10 years of the Quality Wool Cup next January".

Results from the competition will be published on the Eyre Peninsula website (http://eyrepeninsula.sa.cricket.com.au) and can be accessed from the ‘MyCricket’ menu by navigating to ‘Matches’ and then ‘Fixture’, and selecting ‘2019/20’ and ‘Quality Wool Cup’ from the drop down menus.