Townsville Cricket: Three burning questions ahead of round 3

Round 3 of Townsville Cricket’s senior competition rolls around this week with two highly anticipated first grade clashes headlining the action. Catch up on the key storylines around the league.

Townsville A Grade Cricket match between Wests and Suburban Parks at Cutheringa. Suburban Parks's Jarrod Green. Picture: Evan Morgan

Round 3 of Townsville Cricket’s senior competition rolls around this week with two highly anticipated first grade clashes headlining the action.

Brothers host Norths at Lakeside Park in a match that could well see the winner finish the weekend atop the standings, while Suburban Parks chases its first win of the summer when the team visits Wanderers at Gill Park.

Suburban Parks play Wanderers on Sunday in round 2 of the women’s league from 6pm at James Cook University’s cricket oval.

These are three of the biggest storylines at ovals around Townsville this weekend.

Who can overtake Tony Hampson in scoring while Wests have the bye?

Western Suburbs’ Tony Hampson is leading the way in first grade this summer with back-to-back half-centuries lifting the veteran to 105 runs so far from two games.

Townsville A Grade cricket between Wests and Suburban Parks at Cutheringa, November 2022. Wests Tony Hampson. Picture: Evan Morgan

Just five batsmen have breached the 50-run mark this season, and with both Hampson and Wests skipper Sam Lowry enjoying a week off it’s the perfect chance for one of Patrick Jamieson (69), Andrew Mansale (58) or Cooper Guest (51) to strike.

Can Suburban Parks secure its first win of the summer?

Suburban Parks was defeated last week after a round 1 bye, and while Saturday is still just their second game of the season they are the only club yet to register a win.

The longer that goes on, the more pressure will grow, making a victory against Wanderers imperative.

Townsville A Grade Cricket match between Wests and Suburban Parks at Cutheringa. Suburban Parks's Jarrod Green. Picture: Evan Morgan

Wanderers openers Philip Angel and Taj Petersen did the damage in their round 2 upset win, creating a 66-run partnership at the top of the order as the side chased down Brothers low total of 88.

Suburban Parks will likely roll out their dangerous early bowling attack of Daniel Gartrell and Sam Woodbury, who bowled the first 11 overs of their last match and combined for 2-30.

Which second grade side can remain undefeated?

Townsville Wests cricketer Jaecob Prien has been named in the Queensland team for the National Indigenous Championships later this month (Feb, 2024). Picture: Evan Morgan

The two frontrunners of second grade go head to head on Sunday with unbeaten Norths playing Wests CBD in a game that promises to be a belter with some of the region’s best young talent on display.

Norths scored a whopping 410 runs through their first two victories including an eye-catching 73 runs off 84 by opener Jarrod Camer last week against the Northern Beaches Barra.

Western Suburbs young gun Jaecob Prien was equally impressive in his side’s high-scoring triumph over Saints, thumping 68 runs off 55 balls without losing his wicket while opener Beau McCarron hit a quick half-century off 50 off 50 balls, before falling two deliveries later for 54.

Originally published as Townsville Cricket: Three burning questions ahead of round 3