FULL RESULTS FROM CAIRNS CRICKET
ATHERTON has spun its way to the top of Cricket Far North’s one-day ladder with an emphatic win over reigning 40-over champions Norths.
Off spinner Michael Salerno returned match figures of 4-8 and leg spinner Daniel Parnell claimed 4-10 on a dry wicket at Griffiths Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Tablelanders won the match by 142 runs after they made 204 batting first.
Norths were bundled out for 62 runs in 22.1 overs, surrendering victory on an afternoon they’d rather forget.
Salerno said, despite his bowling figures saying otherwise, there wasn’t that much spin in the wicket.
“It wasn’t like it was a turning wicket or anything like that,” he said.
“It was probably poor shot selection more than anything.
“It was just one of those days where they (Norths) had a bit of an off day and we were able to capitalise on that,” Salerno said.
After making 204 with the bat, Atherton’s bowling attack went to work – and it didn’t take long at all for the wickettaking party to begin.
“When we put 200 on the board, they needed to go at a good clip – nearly a run a ball,” he said.
“Whenever you put a score like that on the board, your bowlers have to back it up and we were lucky to do that.
“Danny took a wicket with his first ball of the innings and from there we just got on a roll and the boys bowled and fielded really well.
“To bowl them out for 60odd was a great achievement.”
While Parnell and Salerno’s bowling figures stood out on the scorecard, Atherton also got value from their top order, with Parnell (38), Chris Adams (44), Mason Blaney (22) and Paul Nasser (41) all contributing to the side’s total.
“That’s the thing with our side this year,” Salerno said.
“We’re not relying on one or two blokes, like a few of the other teams.
“When one guy misses out, another guy stands up and I think it’s a credit to the club and the way that we’re going at the moment. Everyone’s willing to play for each other and not leave it to the next man to get the job done.”
The double bonus-point win puts Atherton on top of the one-day ladder on 18 points and will go a long way to securing a top-three finish and a spot in the one-day finals with one round of matches remaining.
“We’ve been playing aggressive cricket all year and that was our second biggest game of the year, apart from that grand final,” Salerno said.
“We needed to win that game, or we could’ve gone from second to fifth with how close the competition is.
“The boys really stood up.”