Wicket and toss come into play

Norths batsman Josh Forrest was in aggressive form against Gracemere last weekend.

CHRIS ISON

What better way to finish the season than toppling the champion Frenchville side?

That is what will be going through the minds of the Norths Tigers players as they head into their final match of the season at Rockhampton Cricket Ground.

It has not been the best season for the club and yet a glimpse at their playing roster might suggest the side has been under performing.

Frenchville captain Todd Wells thinks so and he will not be over confident as he is well aware that too many good players are in the Norths line-up to allow for complacency.

“They started the season slowly but if they get it right on the day can beat anyone,” he warned.

Wells is especially wary about what Norths bowling attack can offer as the team usually has a quality medium pace line-up which could rival any of the other teams in the competition.

Stuart Keene and “Big Bob” Keiler spearhead the Norths attack while they are well backed up by James Parr and Greg Sorrensen. Balancing the attack there are also two good spin bowlers in Justin Peacock and Kris McDonald.

The Norths batting has stuttered along this year. Last week Josh Forrest and James Parr fought a rear guard action to add respectability to the Norths total against Gracemere.

While Forrest and Parr showed a bit of form in the lower order there were top order batsmen who will be wanting to do a lot better.

One is opener Craig Wilkes who departed after facing just the one ball against Gracemere.

The big unknown, however, is what effect the weather has had on the pitch.

“It could be a bit bowler friendly,” Wells reported.

“Captains normally have a look at the pitch and have a bat but this time they might have to think about it.”

The experienced Frenchville captain is expecting the wicket to be a little slower than normal and take a bit of cut early in the game.

Also, if the match is played in humid conditions, there might be a bit of swing and that could suit Falcons medium pacer Chaice Bidgood.

In a preview to the semi-final Gracemere meets Brothers in the other match of the round.

This is a match that could go either way and is one that may be settled by the win of the toss.

Gracemere captain Michael Harth is optimistic that the pitches will have dried out sufficiently to provide a hard and true track that will be a challenge for batsmen and bowlers alike.

Harth is cagey about today’s opponent Brothers Southside.

“I think they have a pretty good all round game,” he said.

“I’ll be looking for a tough game against them.”

The two sides sit at two and three on the Southern Star Sports Shield ladder and this match may be seen as a preview of what can be expected in the semi-final later this month.

The Gracemere side has been going along well in recent weeks and their captain believes that will not change as he is able to report no changes in the line-up for today’s game.

In the Gracemere middle order, Aaron Harmsworth has enjoyed a fantastic season and so if Brothers can get rid of him cheaply then they could restrict Gracemere to a total they are able to chase.

Brothers have the bowlers to do the job with Robbie Fitzgerald always impressive.

State of play

Day one of two-day matches in the Southern Star Sports Shield games at Rockhampton Cricket Ground today.

Frenchville v Norths Tigers.

Gracemere v Brothers Southside