Brothers miss chances

Brothers bowler Robbie Fitzgerald collected a four-wicket bag against Norths on Saturday.

CHRIS ISON

NOT many players appear in a tied game but while it made for an exciting afternoon for Brothers captain Richie Pershouse, he would have settled for maximum points.

Brothers and Norths Tigers met at the Rockhampton Cricket Ground on Saturday but few would have predicted the outcome to be so close.

“We looked to have had the game won,” Pershouse claimed.

A partnership of 43 runs between Les Berryman and Rhys Williams had got the depleted Brothers close to the target set by Norths of 154 runs.

Thirty-three runs from Adam Matthews and 31 from Ray Stanley had given the Norths total a little substance but a score of 154 runs is always classed as beatable.

Brothers bowling had put Norths on the back foot with Robbie Fitzgerald the pick, taking 4/48 from a long spell of 20 overs.

Tim Reid didn’t have quite so much work to get through but he too did the job for Pershouse, with figures of 4/14 from just six overs.

“He bowled well at the death,” the captain said.

Brothers’ chances of victory had been spoiled by the dropping of a number of chances but Pershouse said the main offender, his wicketkeeper Brent Hanschen, could be excused as he was ill.

That sickness also cost Brothers in the run chase as he was also forced to withdraw before his turn at bat.

Pershouse said the wicket held few threats, with batsmen being the architect of their own demise.

He was one of them.

When Norths brought on spin bowler Justin Peacock, Pershouse set out to dominate him, hitting the first ball, a full toss, for four.

The next was also a poor delivery, a half tracker, but Pershouse only managed to get an edge and was caught behind for 20.

Peacock went on to record his best figures of the season, taking 5/35 off his nine overs.

Top-scorer for Brothers was Mitchell Roberts with 30, but in the end neither team could get the win and had to share the points.