Lions facing big test

PALM Beach Currumbin captain Samuel Jarrett admits today’s Kookaburra Cup battle with a resurgent Runaway Bay is significant in their finals mission but insists defeat won’t be their death knell.

Already 16 points adrift of the top four, the eighth-placed Lions will return to Sam Loxton Oval at 12.15pm with their season balanced on a knife’s edge against a Bay outfit riding a three-game winning streak.

With Jainam Patel (34) leading the way on day one, Palm Beach posted a belowpar 122 before clawing their way back into the contest to have the hosts 4-69 at stumps.

With five games left to play at the conclusion of Round 12 fixtures today, time is running out for the Lions to mount a serious playoff push but Jarrett said a loss to the Seagulls would not be terminal.

“I don’t think it is the end if we lose but it is a big game for us. It is pretty important,” the 24-year-old said.

“It’s pretty even, I’d probably say they’re just in front. Overall we probably left another 40-50 runs out there (so) I think they’re in front but if we get an early one or two (wickets), it’s really game on after that.

“We’ve got a very young side – a lot of guys would be around that 19 (age) and younger – but they put pressure on themselves (to make finals). They expect us to make the top four and so do I.”

Jarrett played four seasons of Kookaburra Cup with Palm Beach before joining the Gold Coast Dolphins, where he was a third-grade regular over the 2017-18 and 2018-19 campaigns.

The opening batsman took over the captaincy from Ryan Kettle upon his return to Salk Oval this season and has enjoyed mixed fortunes, with a knock of 97 against Surfers Paradise the highlight among 174 runs at an average of 17.40.

His inconsistency is symptomatic of the Lions’ performances and he is all too aware he and his teammates need to lift.

“We’ve had a few good games where we put on nice scores and bowl well but then others where we let ourselves down for the bowlers and don’t give them enough runs to defend,” he said.

“My form personally, not really (happy) … a bit inconsistent, I haven’t capitalised on some starts. I’ve been training hard, it’s just the way it goes sometimes.”

The Lions will again be without fast bowler Rory Hanley, who is playing for Scotland at the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa.