ATHERTON BATS STAR IN T20 WIN
CRICKET Far North clubs made a welcome return to the region’s pitches at the weekend, following a drizzly December and a lengthy Christmas break.
With wet weather washing out eight of the 12 scheduled first-grade games for last month, players were eager to get out in the middle once again and relished the ideal conditions.
In Saturday’s first-grade T20 action, Atherton’s Dan Parnell was impressive with both bat and ball to lead his team to victory over Barron at Loder Park.
Opening the batting for his side, Parnell scored a whopping 97 runs off only 54 deliveries.
After belting nine fours and five sixes on his way to the nineties, Parnell looked almost certain to notch up his second ton of the season, but succumbed to a peach of a delivery from Barron offspinner Adam Trewin.
It was one of Trewin’s three wickets on the day.
Atherton’s Tom Boorman (20) and Mick Raso (11) were able to make starts, but runs went begging in the middle order, where four batsmen were dismissed for scores of four runs or less.
Despite this, and thanks to Parnell’s heroic opening knock, Atherton still managed to post a healthy total of 7/159 after 20 overs.
Barron started the run chase with intent, but momentum shifted after Ben Shrimpton was trapped in front for nought off the bowling of Guisseppe Barletta.
Andrew Phelps (38) and Kishan Metzeling (21) fought hard at the crease to give Barron a fighting chance, but that came to an abrupt end when Atherton took both their wickets in quick succession.
Parnell and Boorman were the pick of the Atherton bowlers, taking three scalps each.
Also on the weekend, at Innisfail TAFE, Mulgrave did enough to get the win against a battling Cassowary Coast.
Mulgrave skipper Justin Reid continued his 2018 form, contributing with the bat and ball, scoring 20 runs and taking the tidy figures of 2-13 off his four overs.
Meanwhile, Rovers made light work of Norths at Griffiths Park. Rovers bowled Norths out for just 54 runs to be in a commanding position at the innings break.
Brendan Smith (18) was the only Norths player to reach double digits.
Rovers cruised to an easy win in the 11th over, with opener Bobby Brix (18) and Brenton Edwards (26 not out) leading the way.
First-grade teams will have next weekend off, with several players selected to line up in the Cricket Far North’s President’s Shield City and Country teams.