Alberton Force skipper Craig Mitchell hopes for more variable bounce in H&A Oval wicket

ALBERTON skipper Craig Mitchell is banking on a bowler-friendly H&A Oval wicket to aid the Force’s chances of grabbing a needed win against Broadbeach-Robina today.

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ALBERTON skipper Craig Mitchell is banking on a bowler-friendly H&A Oval wicket to aid the Force’s chances of grabbing a needed win against Broadbeach-Robina today.

After last weekend making only 154 on the first day of the Kookaburra Cup clash, Alberton now have to find ways to restrict Broadbeach (1-8) to a losing score.

And a now-regular H&A Oval pitch could be their saviour.

“The Broady wicket has been a bit up and down and last weekend it was bowler friendly,” Mitchell said.

“I’m hoping our 154 is enough remembering Broady made only 156 against Southport the previous match there.”

Down the road at Avid Concrete Oval, home side Burleigh are in with a huge chance of an upset win against reigning premiers Coomera-Hope Island.

Last weekend the Bullsharks dismissed the Islanders for 139 and will return to the crease today at 0-14.

CHI skipper Brad Ipson concedes his side was in a touch of strife.

“Absolutely we’re in a tight spot,” Ipson said.

“They’ve got 130 runs to play with and it only takes a couple of blokes to dig in and we’re in a bit of trouble. But if we can bowl as well as they did last weekend we can get ourselves back in the game.”

In other games Southport-Labrador (7-316) are in the box seat against Palm Beach-Currumbin at Maurie Glasman Oval; Queens (2-49) should have enough batting to get past Runaway Bay’s 111 at Arthur Angove Park; and Surfers Paradise (9-234) are well on top of Helensvale-Pacific Pines (1-3) at Dave Johnston Oval.