Burleigh’s Kookaburra Cup cover being blown after impressive win over Alberton Ormeau

THEY have been happy to fly under the Kookaburra Cup radar but Burleigh’s cover could soon be blown after downing one of the competition heavyweights on their own turf on Saturday.

THEY have been happy to fly under the Kookaburra Cup radar but Burleigh’s cover could soon be blown after downing one of the competition heavyweights on their own turf on Saturday.

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Coming off a six-wicket thumping of Surfers Paradise in their season opener, the Bullsharks made an even bigger statement in their second outing with a 41-run triumph over 2018-19 grand finalists Alberton Ormeau at Trevor Hammel Field.

Led by a firing top order of Jasper Schoenmaker (47), Michael Spargo (39) and brother Jimmy (31), they posted 181 before Ryan Grey (3-20) did the damage with the ball to help dismiss the Hurricanes for 140 in the 35th over.

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The victory was all the more impressive given the absences of key trio Mark Cummings, Rhys McCarthy and Lachlan O’Keefe, with Jimmy Spargo (2-23) and Nathan Janes (2-27) stepping up to provide Grey with valuable support.

While Burleigh were the 2017-18 premiers and set the pace for majority of last season, much of the pre-season title talk has centred around Mudgeeraba Nerang and Southport Labrador.

Burleigh batsman Jasper Schoenmaker hits a six against Alberton Ormeau on Saturday. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Player-coach Jimmy Spargo said the Bullsharks were only too happy to avoid the spotlight but was confident they could have a major impact in the premiership race.

“All the talk has been about Mudgee and Southport so we’ve been happy to just go about our business and do our thing. I think we’re building something really special,” Spargo, who joined the club from Queens in the off-season, said.

“We’re just trying to keep things simple and it’s a real back-to-basics approach for us. It’s a very young and energetic group of players there, everyone is a sponge and willing to learn and buying into the culture that we’re trying to create.

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“There’s always room for improvement but it’s been a really good, promising start to the season for us.”

Alberton Ormeau looked capable of chasing down Burleigh’s total as Mitchell Nolan (30) and Simon Mills (17) steered them to 2-60, before a middle-order collapse of 5-34 – highlighted by the run out of key batsman Shane Connors for 3 - all but ended their hopes.

Jimmy Spargo bats for the Bullsharks. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Most pleasing about Burleigh’s victory, Spargo said, was their ability to overcome the Hurricanes’ early onslaught.

“I was really rapt with how we played, it was good to get a win against a top side. (I was impressed with) how we stuck to keeping things simple when we were bowling,” the Australian Country representative said.

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“Alberton got off to a bit of a flyer and we were bowling a bit of loose stuff early but we settled into what we’ve been training for with bowling tight lines and building a bit of scoreboard pressure, and it came up trumps for us. It was really good to see.”

Connors (5-32) starred with the ball for Alberton, while captain Corey Galloway (24, 2-25) had a solid all-round game.

Nick Yule bowls for Alberton. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Mudgeeraba opener Kevin Chapman produced the performance of the round with an unbeaten 105 in a 99-run win over Helensvale Pacific Pines, while Broadbeach Robina’s Dhanushka Mitipolarachchi finished with the extraordinary figures of 5-4 in the Cats’ victory over Queens.

THUNDER REVEAL SIDE FOR SCHAEFFER SHIELD FIXTURES

KOOKABURRA CUP ROUND 3

■ Burleigh 181 def. Alberton Ormeau 140

■ Runaway Bay 168 def. by Palm Beach Currumbin 6-169

■ Coomera Hope Island 168 def. Southport Labrador 118

■ Mudgeeraba Nerang 1-255 def. Helensvale Pacific Pines 7-156

■ Queens 75 def. by Broadbeach Robina 3-76