Last Man Stands Capricornia

🏏🏆 LMS ROCKHAMPTON 2026 — 20 SUNDAYS, COUNTLESS MEMORIES, ONE INCREDIBLE SEASON 🏆🏏

How do you put a season like this into words?

For 20 Sundays, players, captains, umpires, volunteers, families and supporters turned up and gave everything to this competition.

We saw close finishes.
We saw home runs.
We saw hat-tricks.
We saw young players coming through.
We saw experienced players guiding the next generation.
We saw teams fight until the final ball.
And we saw sportsmanship that reminded us exactly why we love cricket.

Some Sundays were easy.
Some were stressful.
Some nights captains probably spent more time calculating points and bonus points than sleeping. 😄

There were countless messages, team lists, changes, rain worries, ground preparations, umpiring duties and behind-the-scenes work.

It was overwhelming at times.

But looking back now…

What a season. What a journey.

🏆 CONGRATULATIONS ZERO EXPECTATIONS — 1ST DIVISION CHAMPIONS

What a way to become champions.

A nail-biting final, pressure everywhere, and a game worthy of deciding the First Division title.

Congratulations to Zero Expectations on becoming our 2026 First Division Champions.

A massive achievement and a fitting finish to an incredible season. 👏🔥

🤝 THUNDER vs BULLS — WHEN THE SPIRIT OF CRICKET WON

One of the most beautiful moments of Finals Day came from Thunder and Bulls.

Their match finished TIED.

They had the option of a Super Over.

But both teams decided they didn’t want one.

They were happy to leave the game tied.

In a world where everybody talks about winning, these two teams reminded us that sometimes cricket is about something much bigger than the result.

Respect.
Friendship.
Sportsmanship.
And understanding the true spirit of the game.

That moment summed up LMS Rockhampton perfectly.

Nobody lost that game. Cricket won. ❤️🏏

🏆 CONGRATULATIONS GORKHALI WARRIORS — THIRD DIVISION CHAMPIONS

A huge congratulations to Gorkhali Warriors for winning their first Third Division Championship.

A wonderful achievement for the team and another chapter added to their LMS journey.

Enjoy it boys — you earned it. 👏🏆

🙏 TO EVERY PLAYER AND CAPTAIN

Thank you.

Captains can make plans, organise teams and set strategies…

But ultimately it is the players who walk onto the field and bring those plans to life.

Every player who turned up this season contributed something.

Whether you scored a hundred, made a duck, took five wickets, didn’t bowl, ran the boundary, kept wickets, supported teammates or simply showed up when your team needed you…

You were part of this season.

To every captain — thank you for the countless hours behind the scenes.

Organising players.
Chasing availability.
Counting points.
Counting bonus points.
Checking eligibility.
Dealing with changes.

People see the Sunday game.

They don’t always see everything captains do during the other six days.

Huge respect to every one of you.

📸 THANK YOU RUPESH

A special thank you to Rupesh for capturing some incredible photographs throughout this journey.

Years from now the scores may be forgotten.

But those photos will bring the memories back instantly.

The celebrations.
The friendships.
The disappointment.
The laughter.
The kids.
The families.
The beautiful moments around cricket.

Thank you for capturing our season through your lens. 📸❤️

👏 THANK YOU TO OUR UMPIRES

Massive appreciation to:

Mitch Kydd
Eddie Evers
Brucy
Cameron Evers

Umpiring is one of the hardest jobs in cricket.

Every decision will make somebody happy and somebody disappointed.

But without umpires, there is no game.

Thank you for giving your time, handling difficult situations and helping keep our competition moving every Sunday.

🧭 THANK YOU TODD

A very special thank you to Todd.

Whenever the path wasn’t clear, you helped point us in the right direction.

Whenever there was uncertainty, your experience and advice gave us clarity.

Sometimes one piece of advice at the right moment can save hours of confusion.

Thank you for being there whenever we needed guidance.

🏟️ THANK YOU NORTH ROCKY CRICKET CLUB

Thank you to North Rockhampton Cricket Club for allowing LMS Rockhampton to use Juds Park and your cricket facilities throughout the season.

Without grounds, facilities and the support of local clubs, competitions like ours simply cannot happen.

We genuinely appreciate your support.

🏟️ THANK YOU GRACEMERE CRICKET CLUB

The same enormous appreciation goes to Gracemere Cricket Club for allowing us to use your grounds and cricket facilities.

Week after week these grounds became home to LMS players, families and supporters.

Thank you for welcoming our competition.

❤️ AND FINALLY… THANK YOU TO EVERYONE

Players.

Captains.

Umpires.

Volunteers.

Photographers.

Supporters.

Families.

Kids running around the grounds.

People helping with the canteen.

People setting up boundaries.

People putting stumps out.

People arriving early.

People staying late.

Everyone played a part.

At the start of the season everyone wanted to win.

Of course we did.

That is competition.

But after 20 Sundays of cricket, you realise something.

Trophies eventually sit on shelves.

Statistics eventually get broken.

Results eventually become old stories.

But the friendships, laughter, arguments that became handshakes, young players getting their first opportunity, families spending Sundays together and the feeling around the grounds…

Those things remain.

And that is why, after everything that happened this season, there can only be one true winner.

🏏 THE GAME OF CRICKET.

LMS Rockhampton 2026 was not perfect.

It was crazy.
It was exhausting.
It was emotional.
It was overwhelming.

But somehow all of that made it beautiful.

From the first ball of the season to the final ball of Finals Day…

Thank you for one hell of a season.

We came for the competition.

We stayed for the memories.

And together, we made cricket the winner.

❤️🏏

LMS ROCKHAMPTON 2026 — THAT’S A WRAP.

Until next season. 💚

🏆🔥 CONGRATULATIONS GORKHALI WARRIORS — LMS ROCKHAMPTON 2026 THIRD DIVISION CHAMPIONS! 🔥🏆

What a way to finish the season. The Third Division Final delivered exactly what a final should — pressure, momentum swings, big individual moments and a finish that stayed alive until the final over.

Gorkhali Warriors defeated Beers and Boundaries by 2 wickets, chasing 146 and getting home at 146/6 in 19.1 overs after Beers and Boundaries had posted 145/3 from 20 overs.

Beers and Boundaries came into the final ready for battle and built their innings around two outstanding unbeaten knocks.

Justin Steel showed tremendous patience and maturity, carrying his bat for 50 not out from 42 balls, including 2 fours and 1 six, at a strike rate of 119.05.

Then Shane Haylock changed the tempo completely. His unbeaten 53 from just 29 balls came at a strike rate of 182.76, with 6 fours and 1 six. His acceleration gave Beers and Boundaries the platform to reach a competitive 145.

Mitchell Kydd also provided an important late contribution with 17 not out from 11 balls, striking at 154.55.

With 146 required in a final, Gorkhali Warriors knew there was very little room for error.

The chase didn’t start perfectly. Beers and Boundaries kept striking and refusing to let the Warriors settle.

Nathan Cowie was excellent with the ball, taking 2/19 from 4 overs at an economy of just 4.75.

Matt Gregson picked up 2/31 from 4 overs, while Thomas Zarb also claimed 2/39. Those wickets kept dragging Beers and Boundaries back into the contest.

But finals are often decided by the players willing to absorb the pressure — and then attack when the moment arrives.

Binay Acharya gave the Warriors vital momentum with 28 from only 15 balls, smashing 2 fours and 2 sixes at a strike rate of 186.67.

Then came the defining innings.

🔥 LIPIN KUMAR — 50 NOT OUT FROM JUST 23 BALLS! 🔥

Six fours.
Two sixes.
Strike rate 217.39.

With wickets falling around him and the final hanging in the balance, Lipin produced an explosive unbeaten fifty and powered Gorkhali towards the target.

At the other end, Laxman Kafle’s unbeaten 25 from 24 balls was equally important. While Lipin attacked, Laxman stayed composed and helped make sure the chase didn’t collapse under pressure.

But the match had another hero.

⭐ PLAYER OF THE MATCH — SAILESH KHANAL ⭐

Sailesh may have scored only 10 from 10 balls, but his major impact came with the ball.

He delivered a brilliant spell of 4 overs, 2 wickets for just 17 runs, with an economy of 4.25.

In a final decided by only a handful of runs, restricting a strong Beers and Boundaries batting lineup while taking two wickets proved absolutely crucial. That all-round contribution earned him a deserved Player of the Match award.

⚔️ THE TURNING POINT

Beers and Boundaries had done enough to make 145 look defendable, and their bowlers kept taking wickets during the chase.

But once Lipin Kumar launched his counterattack, the pressure suddenly changed sides.

His 50 from 23 balls transformed the required rate, and with Laxman holding firm beside him, Gorkhali Warriors crossed the line with 5 balls remaining.

🏆 GORKHALI WARRIORS — THIRD DIVISION CHAMPIONS, LMS ROCKHAMPTON 2026.

Massive congratulations to Suraj Pathak, Sailesh Khanal, Lipin Kumar, Laxman Kafle, Binay Acharya, Bishal Pandey, Prashant Baral, Bipin Siwakoti and the entire Gorkhali Warriors family. A championship won through resilience, belief and fighting until the very end.

And huge respect to Beers and Boundaries. Justin Steel, Shane Haylock, Mitchell Kydd, Nathan Cowie, Matt Gregson, Thomas Zarb and the whole team contributed to a brilliant final and a fantastic season.

Most importantly, thank you to every player, captain, umpire, volunteer, supporter, family member and sponsor who contributed to the LMS Rockhampton 2026 season.

The trophy belongs to one team.

But days like this belong to everyone who helped make cricket the winner. 💚🏏

Congratulations, Gorkhali Warriors! THIRD DIVISION CHAMPIONS 2026! 🏆🔥

🏆🔥 ZERO EXPECTATIONS ARE THE KINGS OF ROCKHAMPTON! 🔥🏆

2026 LMS ROCKHAMPTON FIRST DIVISION CHAMPIONS

ZERO EXPECTATIONS 124/6 defeated NEW NEIGHBOURS 109/8 by 15 runs

The name might be Zero Expectations… but on the biggest day of the LMS Rockhampton season, they delivered the ultimate expectation — a FIRST DIVISION TITLE. 🏆

This wasn’t a comfortable stroll to the trophy. This was a final full of pressure, punches, counter-punches, a hat-trick, two fighting 48s and one championship-defining collapse.

Zero Expectations batted first and immediately discovered that New Neighbours had arrived ready for war.

Chad Charlesworth threw the first punch with a rapid 20 from 12 balls at 166.67 SR, before Josh Hamilton added 15 from 11.

Then came the innings that gave Zero some stability.

Hayden Busk — 33 from 30 balls, absorbing the pressure while wickets threatened around him.

Captain Budd Payne suffered the nightmare of a final — 0 from 1 — and Mick Dawson also departed for a first-ball duck.

Suddenly New Neighbours had their opportunity.

And then came GAURAV GOEL. 🎩🔥

On the biggest stage of the season, Gaurav produced a moment that will be remembered from the 2026 LMS Rockhampton First Division Final — a HAT-TRICK.

His final figures:

4 overs | 3 wickets | 23 runs | Economy 5.75

That spell ripped through Zero Expectations and threatened to completely change the final.

Sachin Dhatterwal also bowled superbly with 1/21 from 4 overs (5.25 economy) while Mani Chahal returned an economical 1/18 from 3 overs.

But champions somehow find runs when they desperately need them.

Cody Patterson stayed there for a crucial 26 from 31*, while Darren McDonell provided the late explosion — 20 from only 12 balls, including a six, at 166.67 SR.*

That late resistance pushed Zero Expectations to a defendable:

124/6 from 20 overs

And then New Neighbours came charging.

⸻

⚔️ MANJINDER & TAJVINDER REFUSED TO SURRENDER

New Neighbours needed 125 for the First Division crown.

And Manjinder Singh came out swinging.

🔥 48 from 26 balls
🔥 4 fours + 2 sixes
🔥 Strike rate 184.62

At the other end, Tajvinder Singh produced another massive-final performance:

🔥 48 from 32 balls
🔥 3 fours + 1 six
🔥 Strike rate 150.00

Between them they scored 96 of New Neighbours’ 109 runs.

For a period, the championship looked like it could be ripped straight out of Zero Expectations’ hands.

But this is where the final turned.

⸻

💥 THE TURNING POINT — ZERO ATTACKED EVERYONE AROUND THE TWO GIANTS

While Manjinder and Tajvinder kept fighting, Zero Expectations simply refused to allow anyone else to settle.

Mani Chahal — 2 from 3
Pawan Choudhary — 4 from 5
Mohit Bhairo — 0
Aman Rupal — 1 from 3
Sachin Dhatterwal — 2 from 3
Gaurav Goel — 4 from 6

The supporting cast simply couldn’t break free.

And Zero tightened the screws.

Terry Tummon delivered one of the spells of the final:

2 overs | 2 wickets | 12 runs | Economy 6.00

Cody Patterson: 1/10 from 1 over
Mick Dawson: 1/17 from 2 overs
Hayden Busk: 1/30 from 4 overs

Josh Hamilton also kept things controlled with 0/13 from 2 overs at 6.50 economy, while captain Budd Payne bowled 3.4 overs for 27.

New Neighbours kept swinging.

Zero kept finding answers.

Eventually the resistance ended at:

NEW NEIGHBOURS 109/8 in 14.4 overs

And that was it.

🏆 ZERO EXPECTATIONS WON BY 15 RUNS!

The First Division crown belonged to them.

⸻

⭐ PLAYER OF THE MATCH — TAJVINDER SINGH

Sometimes the Player of the Match doesn’t come from the winning side.

This was one of those occasions.

Tajvinder Singh produced a huge all-round contribution under finals pressure:

🏏 48 from 32 balls — SR 150.00
🎯 3 overs for just 15 runs — economy 5.00
🙌 2 catches

With the ball he applied pressure.

In the field he created chances.

And with the bat he almost dragged New Neighbours across the line.

A complete big-match performance deserving of Player of the Match. 👏

⸻

👑 ZERO EXPECTATIONS — 2026 FIRST DIVISION CHAMPIONS 👑

They lost early wickets.

Their captain made a duck.

They survived a Gaurav Goel hat-trick.

They then watched Manjinder and Tajvinder launch one final assault at their total.

And still…

they found a way.

That’s what finals cricket is about.

Not perfection.

Not reputation.

Not what happened during the league.

It’s about who stands tallest when the trophy is sitting on the boundary waiting to be claimed.

Congratulations to Budd Payne and ZERO EXPECTATIONS — LMS ROCKHAMPTON 2026 FIRST DIVISION CHAMPIONS! 🏆🔥

And enormous respect to New Neighbours for producing another huge finals fight and helping deliver a fitting finish to the 2026 LMS Rockhampton season.

FINAL:
🏆 Zero Expectations 124/6 (20)
⚔️ New Neighbours 109/8 (14.4)
🔥 ZERO EXPECTATIONS WON BY 15 RUNS

🏏🌭 CALLING ALL LMS ROCKHAMPTON SUPPORTERS! 🌭🏏

Tomorrow is our big LMS Finals Day, and we would love to see as many friends, families and supporters there as possible.

Along with some great cricket, we will also be running a sausage sizzle fundraiser, with all money raised being donated back to the respective cricket clubs.

So come down to Juds Park or Gracemere, bring your family and friends, enjoy some great cricket and grab a sausage sizzle while you’re there.

Every sausage sold helps support the local cricket clubs that provide the grounds, facilities and opportunities for us to enjoy this great game.

❤️ A small contribution from each supporter can make a big difference to our cricket community.

Come down tomorrow, support your team, support local cricket and help us make Finals Day a memorable one.

Let’s fill the grounds, enjoy the cricket and get behind a great cause! 🏏🌭🙌

Hi Captains and players

As many of you may have seen, Nepal is going through a devastating period with severe flooding affecting many communities. Thousands of people have been impacted, many are still missing, and some of our own friends and families are going through an incredibly difficult time.

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has lost loved ones, homes, livelihoods, or is still waiting for news about family members.

As a small mark of respect, we have decided to observe one minute of silence before the start of each semi-final this Sunday.

We would also like to invite all teams and players to wear a black armband during Sunday’s matches as a gesture of respect and solidarity with those affected by this tragedy.

I humbly request each captain, where possible, to organise black armbands for their players so that together, as one cricketing community, we can pay our respects to the families who are suffering through this heartbreaking time.

Sometimes cricket brings us together for competition, but moments like this remind us that humanity comes before the game.

This is only a humble request. If you or any members of your team are not comfortable wearing a black armband for any reason, that is completely understandable and will be fully respected.

Thank you, Captains, for your understanding, compassion and support. 🙏

Our prayers are with Nepal and everyone affected. 🇳🇵🖤