WET WICKET NO WORRIES AS WARD BELTS WHOPPER
A SLOW, wet wicket failed to stop Barron River’s Tim Ward from scorching Norths’ bowlers left, right and centre on the weekend, and the opener hopes it is a sign of what’s to come over the rest of the summer.
The Bulldogs all-rounder walloped 116 off 119 balls in Saturday’s first-grade 50-over clash at Crathern Park but it wasn’t enough for the home side because it lost the match by five wickets.
Centuries do not come as easily to Ward as he would like, but he was pleased to be able to get one under his belt.
“I see myself as being in a really good place this season with my skill set,” he said.
“Hopefully, I can contribute more for the team and get some wins on the board.”
A wetter-than-usual pitch on the day gave cause for a more concerted effort at the crease, according to Ward.
“It made me concentrate a bit more and I made it through some tough periods to get the score on the board, which was really pleasing,” he said.
“There was probably a bit more water in it than usual, which made the ball behave a little bit more differently and made it more challenging to bat first on. I just had to watch the ball closely. There was a bit of luck in there as well.”
Ward has been with Barron Rivers for about seven seasons, paired with stints for the Halpin Hurricanes and Designer First Homes Dare Devils in the Barrier Reef Big Bash T20 competition.
“It (Barron River) is hands down the best cricket club in Cairns and the people around the club make it a pleasure to be a part of week in, week out,” he said.
“It’s a long process when rebuilding a club, but it makes it all the more rewarding when you start to get good results.
“You start to see the time and effort everybody puts in and it just makes it great to be a part of.”
Barron River sits in third place on the Cricket Far North ladder with two wins and two losses, two points ahead of Norths, who have the same record.
“(It’s) not the ideal start, but we’ve got enough depth of talent that we’re able to make a good run at the premiership this season,” Ward said.
Ward is expected to take the field for the Designer First Homes Dare Devils when they take on the Hurricanes at Griffiths Park this Friday night.
He and his Barron River teammates will then make the trip down to Tully’s Miller Oval to face Cassowary Coast in Cricket Far North first-grade action this Saturday.