Tigers take aim at four
Peterson believes finals realistic
PREMIER batsman Nic Peterson feels a move to open the batting for Southport Labrador is providing a double bonus for the Tigers in the Kookaburra Cup.
Peterson, who led the way for Southport with a knock of 59 against Coomera Hope Island at GUGC Sports Oval on Saturday, now believes a place in the top four is a realistic target for the Tigers.
Over the festive season break Peterson decided to promote himself up the list to open and in two innings he has contributed 87 runs.
“It’s been all good on the team front and personally,” Peterson said.
“I didn’t have the start to the season that I would have liked but there has been a shift in mindset and a change in the batting order.
“I was batting three and four but I decided that since the games are one-dayers it would do best for the team to go in at the top.”
Southport made 8-176 and restricted Coomera Hope Island to 147 for vital premiership points that pushed the Tigers to sixth on a tight ladder middle order.
“I think the top two (Queens and Broadbeach) are sealed so we’re looking at three and four,” Peterson said.
Burleigh are third, Helensvale Pacific Pines are fourth,
followed by Mudgeeraba Nerang, Southport, CHI and Surfers Paradise with only 16 points separating third from eighth.
“That’s why next week is such a massive game because we play Mudgeeraba,” Peterson said.
Queens (3-107) took two bonus points from their win against Surfers (104) at David Johnston Oval to take advantage of Broadbeach Robina’s demise against Mudgeeraba Nerang at Voice Print Data Oval.
Broadbeach made 8-143 but the Bushmen had no problems with their reply of 2-145.
Up at Alberton the home side noticed their third win of the season against Palm Beach-Currumbin.
Five wickets from Nick Yule and Tom Eyley’s three-for steered the Force (8-225) to a big victory over the Lions, who were all out for 131.
At Sam Loxton Oval, Burleigh made 144 (Nick Burton 44) and dismissed home side Runaway Bay for 111, keeping the Bullsharks third on standings.
THE Gold Coast Dolphins had some rousing news yesterday when their seconds won the Brisbane Premier Grade T20 final.
Playing Valley at Allan Border Field in Brisbane the Dolphins kept their opponents to 8-165 and replied with 7-166 with five deliveries remaining.
Lachlan Ford (3-24) and Jackson Smith (2-29) dominated the bowling for the Dolphins, then Smith hit a priceless 34 not out from 15 deliveries (two fours and three sixes) after opener Scott Palombo made 45 from 35.
On Saturday, the Dolphins firsts kept South Brisbane to 262 at Norman Gray Oval and were well in the match at stumps when they had reached 2-66.