Runaway Bay batsman Rhys Howarth hoping to reproduce T20 heroics in new pre-season comp

HE was the star of last season’s Kookaburra Cup Twenty20s and Runaway Bay master blaster Rhys Howarth is hoping a repeat performance can carry him all the way to Metricon Stadium.

HE was the star of last season’s Kookaburra Cup Twenty20s and Runaway Bay master blaster Rhys Howarth is hoping a repeat performance can carry him all the way to Metricon Stadium.

Having amassed a competition-high 154 runs at 38.5 in four 20-over appearances in 2017-18, the 27-year-old opener looms as a key figure for Runaway Bay in first grade’s new pre-season T20 competition beginning today.

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While the Seagulls finished seventh overall on last season’s Kookaburra Cup ladder, they showed their prowess at the shortest form with four wins from as many games.

With the grand final of the six-week T20 competition to be played at Metricon on October 13, Howarth is desperate to strut his stuff on the city’s biggest stage.

“I’m really pushing the boys to get to the final because that will be a pretty surreal experience to play one of the first games at Metricon Stadium. There’s a trophy at the end of it so it gives us more motivation,” Howarth, whose top score of 70 was the second-highest in last season’s T20s, said.

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Runaway Bay batsman Rhys Howarth was the leading runscorer in last season's first grade T20s. Picture: Jerad Williams

“Last season I trained quite hard — I made the effort to get to training twice a week instead of none — and I think that made me have quite a good season. I batted well in the T20s and made a couple of scores in one-dayers.

“I think I matured a lot more last year with my batting and not throwing away my wicket. Short forms do suit me a lot better but moving into this year what I’m trying to do is bat 30 or 40 overs (in two-dayers) and get off to a good start.

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“We have got quite a good team on paper, we have just got to put it together now.”

Runaway Bay will welcome back UK imports Matt Allen and Alex Watkins this season, and have also picked up fast bowlers Michael Graham and Stuart Frost and Mudgeeraba Nerang batsman Lydon Gibbons.

CRICKET GOLD COAST T20 FIXTURES:

TODAY 10AM

■ Helensvale vs. Runaway Bay

■ Albert Ormeau vs. Surfers

■ Burleigh vs. Palm Beach

■ Coomera vs. Broadbeach

TODAY 2pm

■ Queens vs. Broadbeach

■ Albert Ormeau vs. Mudgeeraba

■ Runaway Bay vs. Burleigh

■ Southport vs. Coomera