Rovers earn a close win over the Cyclones in Cricket Far North

Rovers took another step towards a Cricket Far North grand final berth but captain Brenton Edwards wasn’t exactly stoked with how his side performed in their win against Cassowary Coast.

ROVERS took another step towards a Cricket Far North grand final berth but captain Brenton Edwards wasn’t exactly stoked with how his side performed in their win against Cassowary Coast.

The competition-leading Green Machine entered the contest off the back of two intense, finals-quality battles against Mulgrave (2nd) and Atherton (3rd), and Edwards said that may have taken its toll on his side as they fronted up against the bottom-placed Cyclones at Griffiths Park.

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Cassowary Coast's Luke Corlis. Picture: Stewart McLean

”I wouldn’t say I was happy with the way we played,” Edwards said.

“I think it’s the product of a tough month of cricket. We had a few finals-quality games coming into this.”

Edwards was impressed by the fight shown by the visitors, but the gun all-rounder was never nervous the Cyclones would spring an upset.

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A leading innings from Finn Churchward (72) and strong support from Edwards (39) and Nathan Crane (21) helped lift Rovers to 188 from their rain-restricted 42 overs.

Luke Corlis took 4-36, Luke McAvoy had 3-34 and Pavneet Singh finished with 3-30 to spearhead the Cyclones bowlers, before they showed plenty of fight with the bat.

Rovers' Brenton Edwards. Picture: Stewart McLean

Taj Kumar (33), Leon Walker (32) McAvoy (24) and Ranbir Singh Basra (22) all made starts but the visitors simply couldn’t overhaul the Green Machine’s total.

“They played really well; I was impressed with the way they played,” Edwards said.

Rovers maintain a five-point lead atop the CFN first grade ladder, and must win both of their remaining games (against Barron and Norths) to finish first and qualify for the March 6 grand final.

Edwards will have one eye on Rovers’ clash with Barron at Crathern Park as he prepares to lead the Designer First Homes Dare Devils in their first game of the Barrier Reef Big Bash campaign.

Dare Devils face Twomey Schriber Thunder at Griffiths Park on Friday night, with the game shown live on the Cairns Post website.

Originally published as Rovers earn a close win over the Cyclones in Cricket Far North