Batsmen to face minefield

Always a top bowler Robbie Fitzgerald will now be looking for form with the bat.

CHRIS ISONCI--

ROB Fitzgerald put his back into 23 overs of pace bowling last week for his Brothers team and now his side will look to him to dig them out of a whole lot of trouble with the bat in the second day of the match with Gracemere.

Most players are quick to point out that the Rockhampton Cricket Ground wickets are a paradise for batsmen at the moment.

However, last week the top order of both Gracemere and Brothers made the strip look like a minefield as the strike bowlers went about their work.

Gracemere crumbled to be at 5-39 before the middle and lower order batsmen spared their blushes with good knocks from Aaron Harmsworth and captain Michael Harth, plus some little cameo innings from the tail to get Gracemere to their total of 211.

While Lachlan Collins took the glory for Brothers with five wickets it was Rob Fitzgerald who provided the hard yards bowling 23 overs in the oppressive conditions.

When play resumes today Brothers will be looking for Fitzgerald to perform another mammoth task, as he is one of the few recognised batsmen left as five top order players were sent back to the sheds after young Gracemere speedster Ben Milne destroyed them.

His captain Michael Harth said Milne was almost unplayable as he cut the ball in off the seam to trap the unsuspecting batsmen.

Harth said even quality players were trapped not offering a shot as Milne produced figures of 5-17 from just seven overs.

The bad news for Brothers is that the ball is still only 14 overs old and so Milne might be able to extract something more before the ball is too old.

Harth is not of the opinion Brothers are out of the contest yet, but it will need a few players to show they have the character and ability to accumulate their runs while building partnerships if Brothers are to be competitive in this match.

When play resumes Josh Sinnamon will still be at the crease on 20 not out, having scored the lions share of the Brothers total.

The other match in the Southern Star Sports Shield competition looks more clear cut with Frenchville having amassed a huge total of 341 runs in its 80 overs.

Scoring a massive total like that is tough enough, but having to get the runs at close to four-and-a-half an over could well be beyond Norths Tigers.

Not that Trent Kenny had any problems in keeping up a brisk scoring rate as he slammed 164 not out in Frenchville’s first innings. However, scoring runs against Frenchville’s bowling attack is a different proposition as the team contains some of the big guns of local cricket.

Brock Siegert is not just a dangerous strike bowler but also miserly when it comes to giving runs away.

He also has some handy bowlers to give him support.

If the conditions assist swing then Chaice Bidgood will be among the wickets while Karl Batey and David Goltz are two more in the pace attack who can get something out of the Rockhampton track.

Even if the Norths batsmen see the speedsters off, there are still the subtle skills of spin bowlers Jason Wells and Brent Rothery to come.

This is the final weekend of the main program before the competition moves into the finals series.

Next weekend the semi-finals will be held at the Rockhampton Cricket Ground with play on both Saturday and Sunday.

The final of the A-grade is then played on March 27 and 28.

STATE OF PLAY

- Frenchville v Norths Tigers

Frenchville First innings 7-341 from its 80 overs.

(Trent Kenny 164 not out, Brock Siegert 44)

North Tigers bowling Greg Sorrensen 2-61

- Gracemere v Brothers Southside

Gracemere first innings 211 all out

(Aaron Harmsworth 56, Michael Harth 36

Brothers bowling: Lachlan Collins 5-58 and Richie Pershouse 2-36)

Brothers first innings 5-31

(Josh Sinnamon 20 not out, Rob Fitzgerald 0 not out

Gracemere bowling: Ben Milne 5-17)