Barrier Reef Big Bash: Nasser ready to go boom for Thunder

Twomey Schriber Thunder superstar all-rounder Paul Nasser is all set to light up the Barrier Reef Big Bash this Friday night.

Twomey Schriber Thunder superstar all-rounder Paul Nasser hopes the wait is finally over.

The Atherton product is all set to light up the Barrier Reef Big Bash this Friday night when the Thunder take on the Badgers at Griffiths Park.

The Thunder are the only side yet to take the pitch in the new Twenty20 tournament, after their Round 1 clash against the Dare Devils was washed out last month.

Nasser has a reputation as one of the Far North’s biggest hitters, with an explosive power game that is well suited to the shorter format.

Atherton's Paul Nasser bats in the Cricket Far North match between the Norths and Atherton, held at Griffiths Park, Manunda. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

The right-hand batsman has been the leading run-scorer in back-to-back Cricket Far North seasons, and hits more boundaries than any other player in the competition, with a total of 64 (44 fours and 20 sixes) in 14 matches this summer.

But he insists there’s nothing fancy about the way he plays.

“It’s pretty straightforward cricket,” he said.

“I just wait for it in my arc and try to hit it out of the ground.”

He said he was hoping to contribute with the bat on Friday night.

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“Hopefully I can get off to a start,” he said.

“I’m not sure where exactly I’ll come in but I’ve been told I’ll definitely be in the top four.

“I’ll just go out and play whatever role the team needs at the time, whether I need to consolidate or just go out there and get on with it straight away, I’ll be ready to do whatever.”

Nasser said he had confidence in the Thunder’s “deep” batting line-up.

“We’ve got Danny Parnell, Leesy (Darren Lees), Phelpsy (Andrew Phelps) and Finn Churchward, but also guys like Mick Raso, Peter Sceresini, Jacob Stanton and Tommy Maher, who can bat,” he said.

Paul Nasser bowled for Atherton in the Cricket Far North match between Rovers and Atherton at Griffiths Park, Manunda. Picture: Brendan Radke

“I think that was the best way of picking it, everyone can sort of bat and everyone can sort of bowl, because sometimes in T20 it can go pear-shaped real quick and you need to have a back-up plan in place.”

He said fans could expect to see some “positive cricket” on the night.

“We all get on so it will be pretty good to watch I reckon, because we’ve got pretty good culture in such a short time,” he said.

“There’s a few of us up here (Atherton) so we’ve had a few catch ups and a few beers together. It’s been good.”

The Thunder will play three games in as many days this weekend, including their rescheduled Round 1 clash against the Dare Devils on Sunday afternoon.

The sides were also set to play each other in the fourth round of fixtures on Sunday morning but, rather than play each other twice in the one day, the early match will be declared a draw and both sides will receive two competition points each, as agreed to by the franchise owners.

WEEKEND DRAW

Friday, March 12

6.30pm: Badgers v Thunder

Saturday, March 13

2.30pm: Dare Devils v Badgers

6.30pm: Hurricanes v Thunder

Sunday, March 14

1pm: Badgers v Hurricanes

4.30pm: Thunder v Dare Devils

All games at Griffiths Park 1.

Originally published as Barrier Reef Big Bash: Nasser ready to go boom for Thunder