Twenty reasons behind a rise

ALBERTON Ormeau’s Twenty20 premiership triumph has provided the impetus for opener Matthew Yiend to become one of the Kookaburra Cup’s most feared batsmen.

Playing on the Coast for the first time this season, Yiend has amassed 357 runs at an average of 35.7 to sit eighth on the first grade runscorers’ list.

The 33-year-old was one of the stars of the pre-season T20 competition, scoring 211 runs at 42.2 including a matchwinning 60 in December’s final against Southport Labrador.

After a slow start to the season in the other formats, he has carried that form into the second half of the campaign, posting 142 against Runaway Bay three weeks ago.

He has also set up the Hurricanes’ push for outright points against Mudgeeraba Nerang (148) today, smashing 74 from 59 balls on day one to lead the home side to 2-148.

“I was very happy with the T20 form but I was disappointed with the first half of the season. It’s nice to get into a bit of rhythm now,” he said.

“It was handy to have that T20 final smack bang in the middle (of the season). That got me to reset to what I was doing at the start of the season.

“In T20 cricket you stop thinking about it so much. Since then it’s clicked and maybe I’m playing a bit more freely.”

Born and raised in Zimbabwe to English parents, Yiend moved to the UK at the age of 20 before uprooting to Sydney six years later.

He spent four seasons apiece with Randwick-Petersham and Eastern Suburbs in the Sydney competition, mixing his time between first and second grade before arriving on the Coast two years ago.

He was swiftly brought to Alberton Ormeau by allrounder Shane Connors after crossing paths during a winter season with Springwood, and is adamant the Hurricanes can build on their current position of second.

“It’s a talented bunch. The guys at the club, most of them, have been there a long time.

“We don’t really know what we will consider a success this season, coming from bottom place last season. We have got Surfers Paradise (in a onedayer) on Sunday but then Queens, Southport and Burleigh to finish in two-dayers.

“If we can get a couple of wins it will go a long way towards (making finals).”