NO PLACE LIKE HOME
SOUTHPORT’S BOOST
HOME ground advantage.
Those are the three words underpinning Southport Labrador’s finals hopes.
The Tigers are part of a congested Cricket Gold Coast mid-table but their skipper Nic Peterson feels they have an ace up their sleeve compared to their rivals.
An anomaly in the draw means the 2015-16 runnersup will play 10 of their final 12 regular season games at their GUGC Sports Oval track.
Saturday’s win over Runaway Bay was their first chance to play at home all season, with the only game scheduled there in the previous nine rounds rained out.
“Our mindset has been the same the last few years, to be there or thereabouts at Christmas and then set yourself up for a big end of the season basically,” Peterson said.
“And especially for us, we play nine out of 11 games at home after Christmas so we really want to be within striking distance and make sure we use our home ground advantage to finish the year off strong.
“Pretty much with the guidance of (sponsor Austspray) we have been able to create a really hard and fast, good batting deck which suits our side.” Peterson capitalised on the batsman-friendly surface on Saturday to be at the crease for the entire 40over innings, finishing with an unbeaten 112 in a team score of 4-204. It proved too many for Bay, who were dismissed for 149 to fall to a bonus point loss.
Peterson’s success came after moving to the top of the order from his customary No.3 or No.4 spots.
“I just thought I had been putting a bit of pressure on myself batting four,” he said.
“I thought that if I opened I could play my natural game and build into an innings rather than have to attack from the very first ball.”
Elsewhere, Alberton (6-193) nabbed their second win of the season in a tense encounter against Coomera Hope Island (9-188).
“They needed 10 off the last over and I think eight off two balls,” said Force captain Corey Galloway.
“It was tight all the way through.
“It just showed if everyone plays their part we can win.”
Elsewhere Queens, Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach Robina also chalked up victories.
Surfers young gun Aaron Densley, who still plays under-15s, put in an outstanding performance of 5-14 to rip through the Palm Beach Currumbin middle and lower order.
I THOUGHT THAT IF I OPENED I COULD PLAY MY NATURAL GAME AND BUILD INTO AN INNINGS RATHER THAN HAVE TO ATTACK FROM THE VERY FIRST BALL NIC PETERSEN