Parnell side set for late charge

NORTHS and Mulgrave are in the best positions ahead of tomorrow ’s Cricket Far North T20 grand final, but with six round games still to be played across Cairns today, their spots in the decider are anything but locked up.

The Cairns Post has crunched the numbers and found that, with two wins and a bit of luck today, Atherton could snatch second place in the final T20 standings.

To make a surprise appearance in the grand final, Atherton, currently on 33 points, will have to down ladder-leaders Norths and second-placed Mulgrave, both on 42 points, in back-to-back games today.

They will also need Rovers to defeat Mulgrave at Miniecon Gregory Oval this afternoon.

Taking down the competition’s top teams in one day will be a titanic task, but one that isn’t impossible for Atherton.

Led by skipper Dan Parnell, the competition’s leading T20 run-scorer (429) and T20 wicket-taker (14), Atherton has been the form side in recent rounds.

Parnell said it was important to keep that momentum going into today’s final round of T20s.

“Pete Sceresini’s back for us and I think Paul Nasser’s going to hit a bit of form – he’s been looking good in the nets,” Parnell said.

“Mick Salerno is back after representing Queensland Country, so he should be in a bit of good form, too. We’ve also got this young gun, Joel Poggioli.

“He is up from down south and is going to play for us.

“He’s been in pretty good form in the Brisbane comp.

“He’s a bit of an all-rounder. He bats at four and bowls a good chinaman, so we’re keen to see how he goes.”