Surfers Paradise with plenty to play for in final round of Kookaburra Cup T20 fixtures
A TOP-two finish may be out of reach but Surfers Paradise quick Mike Waldren insists there is no shortage of motivation for the Demons in tomorrow’s final Kookaburra Cup Twenty20 fixtures.
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A TOP-two finish may be out of reach but Surfers Paradise quick Mike Waldren insists there is no shortage of motivation for the Demons in tomorrow’s final Kookaburra Cup Twenty20 fixtures.
Having fallen to Broadbeach Robina in their opening game of the pre-season tournament, Surfers’ hopes of reaching the final were officially extinguished last week as Palm Beach Currumbin cruised to a nine-wicket win at Greg Chaplin Oval.
The defeats have left the Demons with little to play for in tomorrow’s dead rubbers against Helensvale Pacific Pines and Runaway Bay, with the three sides yet to register a T20 win in eight games between them.
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But having claimed the wooden spoon in the 2018-19 season proper, Waldren said the outings would be crucial in their bid to climb out of the first grade cellar.
“We’re still trying to take (these games) importantly. It’s a bit of a precursor to the actual season,” the 23-year-old said.
“That’s the priority for us, to build up a bit of momentum and take it into Round 1. It’s all about building momentum for the main part of the season, getting prepared and making sure we’re ready to go for Round 1.
“We just want to continue to improve. We beat some of the top teams last season so if we can play some of our best cricket against the best teams, there’s no reason why we can’t play finals.”
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With captain Claye Beams part of a newlook Demons side, they appeared well in the hunt against Palm Beach after posting 7-120 from their 20 overs.
But things quickly unraveled with the ball as the Lions cruised home with five overs and all but one wicket to spare.
“We batted really quite well, we just let it ourselves down with the bowling. We bowled both sides of the wicket and it allowed Palm Beach to score pretty freely,” Waldren, who finished with 0-24 from two overs, said.
At the other end of the ladder, unbeaten Southport Labrador can book their ticket to a second-straight final with victory over Queens, with the Centaurs and Mudgeeraba Nerang also in contention for a top-two berth.
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ROUND 3 FIXTURES
■ Saturday 10am – Queens vs. Alberton Ormeau
■ Saturday 10am – Coomera Hope Island vs. Burleigh
■ Saturday 10am – Helensvale Pacific Pines vs. Surfers Paradise
■ Saturday 2pm – Queens vs. Southport Labrador
■ Saturday 2pm – Mudgeeraba Nerang vs. Burleigh
■ Saturday 2pm – Palm Beach Currumbin vs. Broadbeach Robina
■ Saturday 2pm – Runaway Bay vs. Surfers Paradise
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