Tigers baring teeth in T20
SOUTHPORT Labrador’s stunning pre-season T20 form has come as no surprise to player-coach Simon Belston, who says the Tigers have the talent to carry their momentum into the Kookaburra Cup.
Sixth overall in Cricket Gold Coast’s first-grade competition last season, the Tigers made it three T20 wins from three on Saturday with bonus-point victories over Runaway Bay and Mudgeeraba Nerang at Arundel.
The results leave Southport and Alberton Ormeau, who thumped Broadbeach Robina at Trevor Hammel Field, as the only unbeaten teams heading into the T20 competition’s third and final round this Saturday.
While others can mathematically catch them, the two sides now have one foot in the final, to be played at Metricon Stadium on October 13.
For Belston, who has joined the Tigers after steering Burleigh to last season’s Kookaburra Cup crown, success has never been in question.
“I’m not surprised, I’m put in there to do a job. It’s a good place to be around,” he said.
“Over the last 12 weeks I’ve been around the club in pre-season and they’ve made me feel welcome, which is very important to me, the
boys are right behind us. It’s free-flowing.”
The Tigers made light work of Runaway Bay, skittling them for 62 inside 19 overs before cruising to victory with seven wickets and more than 12 overs to spare.
Having secured a double bonus point, Southport (6-141) then backed it up against Mudgeeraba (8-91) on the back of an 87-run opening stand from Nic Peterson (45) and Harry Maher (42).
Oliver McGee also shone with 4-9 from four overs.
Alberton (6-214) flexed their muscles with a bonuspoint win over Broadbeach (7-114), with top-order batsmen Matthew Yiend (86) and Josh Kelly (59), and mediumpacer Shane Connors (3-17) the standouts.
Ben O’Connell top-scored for the Cats with 49, while Jack Kann took 3-44.