BROTHERS BATTERS MUST STEP UP TO WIN
IN Townsville Cricket A Grade, Brothers will need to score close to 200 runs without their skipper and two other vital players to topple undefeated Norths.
In the first day of action, Norths batted through the day and put up 194 runs thanks in part to a 64-run partnership between Adam Zabala and Joshua De Munari.
Brothers captain Craig Mcelligott will miss the second half of the two-day match due to his selection in the North Queensland Country team playing in Mackay.
Herbie Heuir and Bailee Brown will also miss the clash, leaving a question mark over which players can step up and score the runs needed.
Brothers coach Bob Haylett said it presented an opportunity for the younger members of the squad to put their hands up and prove they can score in the middle.
“We’ll have a pretty young batting line-up, but we’re looking forward to the challenge of playing a great cricket side in Norths,” Haylett said.
“The young guys will have a good opportunity to test themselves.
“We’ve got young Sammy Jarrett and Ieuan Harker who will be keen to take that challenge on and a bit of experience in the squad as well with the likes of Justin Rawlins and Hayden Searle.”
Meanwhile, Wests will be missing last year’s MVP Sam Lowry against Wanderers, with impressive B grade bowler Chris White set to make his A Grade debut.
Wests skipper Jack Raffles said it was a well-deserved call-up for the left-arm spinner.
“He (White) has just come to the club this year, he’s a pilot that has ended up in Townsville here and he’s had a couple of good performances in ressies – he took a four-fer in ressies on Sunday,” Raffles said.
“Overall, he’s a very good player and he’s come in for Lachie Ford (also out playing for North Queensland Country), so it’s a likefor-like swap in a way, a spinner that’ll come in and take that bowling role for us.
“We’ve also got some experience in Shaun Curnow and Tony Hampson there, they’ve been able to put plenty of runs on the board previously. They’re both experienced campaigners and class players, so although we lose Sam (Lowry) and Fordo to rep cricket, those guys have played a lot of cricket themselves, and it will be good for them to get a chance to have a decent bat and spend some time in the middle.”