Two-day clashes fire up for Coast cricketers

Two-day matches, the third format of SCCA Division One competition, begin this weekend, bringing an increase of points and raised mobility for clubs as the end of the year approaches.

Tewantin/Noosa’s Jarrod Officer is on track to pass a career 6000 runs. Picture: John McCutcheon

Two-day matches, the third format of SCCA Division One competition, begin this weekend, bringing an increase of points and raised mobility for clubs as the end of the year approaches.

An uncertain season’s beginning of three losses has not affected table leaders Caboolture, who did not taste defeat in the next eleven rounds to lead the table from reigning premiers Maroochydore.

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Tewantin-Noosa and Glasshouse complete the top four, spaced over just seven points, a margin small enough to guarantee fluidity.

Maroochydore's Blaine Schloss (centre). Picture: Patrick Woods.

Currently, third placed Tewantin-Noosa travels to Kev Hackney Oval to challenge the Swans for their second position, with both sides on a roll after strong finishes in the OD section. With Reid Anderson back and firing plus Luke McInnes, Blaine Schloss and Zane Gilder in the top five wicket-takers, the home bowling stacks up well against the visitors’ Jake

Dennien, Tom Freshwater and Dom Taylor.

The competition’s top bowler for the past two years,

Scott Aufderheide, quiet so far, is expected to revel in his preferred format against a team from which he has taken 16 wickets in the pair of two-day matches since 2018.

Bowling first with low chases distorts batting performances, though the Thunder’s now-veteran class Jarrod Officer is having a stellar season after a brilliant T20 opening.

More sedate in the one-dayers, this season’s second-highest scorer is set to pass a career

6,000 runs soon, with 5,820 on board now, and the milestone would be a nice Christmas present.

Tewantin/Noosa’s Jarrod Officer is on track to pass a career 6000 runs. Picture: John McCutcheon

The clash presents a danger for the loser, as a tight leaderboard could see a drop to fifth if both Glasshouse and Gympie gain points.

The Rangers face Nambour, a side they have beaten only five times in the last ten 2D meetings, with a young batting list that has matured as the season rolls on.

Against a Glasshouse top five that produced just one 50-plus score in the seven one-dayers, but is far better than the current slump, the Cutters may just fancy themselves.

Gympie hosts Coolum, and at home the Gold would look to exert some dominance over the Sharks, whose batting has lacked stability under the pressure of runs in white-ball cricket.

The ability to now build an innings and occupy the crease should be high on the visitors’ wish list for the festive season, and is one that will only benefit a side requiring runs to

progress up the ladder.

Facing the Gold, whose higher order can build big scores, the Sharks will be boosted by the return of senior players Tim Hynes and Sam Curtis, who have the experience needed

to raise competitive totals.

Caloundra is at home to Caboolture, who have some batting problems in the absence of Glen Batticciotto and Jayden Coffin, and need skipper Matt Schubert to lead from the top.

The Lighthouses are capable of big runs at Henzell Oval, and a good day from Wally Wright and Tom Cain at the top of the order would set up their challenge, despite the efforts of

Snakes’ Mitch Lee, the competition’s leading bowler.

With time a lesser factor, all batting sides have a chance for completed innings without the pressure of looming closures, and with fine weather around, the wisdom of the oldies’ adage “get your runs before Christmas” will apply.

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