Densley’s five-wicket haul in vain as side capitulates
AARON Densley’s inspired five-wicket haul is on the brink of being in vain, as his Surfers Paradise side capitulated with the bat on day one against Coomera Hope Island.
Densley led from the front with the ball in the Round 16 Taper Premier League clash, finishing with 5/79 and a run out to put the brakes on his rival’s pursuit of a mammoth total. The Crocs batsmen made plenty of starts to threaten the Demons, with Kushaal Ram (34), Alastair Fitzpatrick (38) and Matthew Phillips (47) all looking good at times before falling.
However Coomera Hope Island’s 205 could prove far too great a climb for Surfers Paradise after they were reduced to 7/90 at stumps.
Despite a fighting 37 from Michael Waldren the Demons could not bounce back from an early Crocs onslaught, with Joshua Henderson and Andrew Poeppmann taking two wickets apiece to have them on track for triumph.
Meanwhile a classy 76 from Burleigh skipper Scott Sanderson and a fighting half century from Robert Lord have put them in a strong position against Palm Beach Currumbin. The pair guided their side to 8/248 at the close of play.
A brilliant spell from Mackenzie Barclay put Mudgeeraba Nerang in the box seat against Runaway Bay, taking 4/21 to orchestrate the Seagulls’ demise at 132. Runaway Bay managed a crucial scalp in the shadows of stumps, with the competition’s leading wicket taker Steven Graham clean bowling the Bushmen’s danger man Lydon Gibbons for four to be left at 1/23.
Barclay’s efforts were matched across town by Southport Labrador quick Mitchel Johnson, who snared four wickets to have Helensvale Pacific Pines at 7/153. Johnson claimed the first three wickets and had the Hawks on the back foot at 3/30, before returning to claim Harish Kumar’s wicket for a duck.
Elsewhere, Alberton Ormeau will have a battle on their hands with Queens, falling for 184 courtesy of Joel Lawson’s 4/32. Jordan Renau then got Queens off to a flyer, striking 64 from just 62 deliveries, however his side closed the day at 3/89.