Sport
17 February, 2025
Local cricket sides routed
CRICKET returned to the Far North on the weekend after two weeks of cancelled matches due to the wet conditions, but both local A Grade cricket clubs had no luck on the field.
Mareeba Bandits went down to Barron River in a rout, while Atherton also failed against the Rovers.
Atherton missed their captain Tom Boorman, only managing to make 83 runs in 35 overs, with the two openers Charlie Lawrence and Alexander Nasser, going cheaply to Rovers’ key bowler Tom King who also claimed the scalp of Mathew Coleman.
Only two batsmen, acting captain Cameron Davis (28) and Tallas Blaney (11) got into double figures.
Joshua Chadwick was instrumental in taking the Atherton batting apart, notching up 3/11 off five overs.
The Rovers batsmen were untroubled by the Atherton bowlers, losing three wickets before they surpassed Atherton’s score. In the end, the Rovers scored the winning runs in just 13 overs. Top scorers were Andrew Phelps (28) and Marcus Berryman (28 not out).
Luck was also not on Mareeba’s side in their match at Borzi Park against Barron River, with the visitors batting first and notching up a winning score of 7/186 off 40 overs.
Ruku Chilia and Angus Campman were the best of the Bandit’s bowlers, each taking two wickets.
But with David Coulthard smashing the ball around to score 94 not out (off 110 balls), and Braydn Croft tipping in 31, Mareeba was unable to hold their opposition back.
Charlie Howard (4/20) and Sean Prior (3/18) were the best of Barron River’s bowlers, while Remo Esposito (13) and Brendan Payne (18) were the only batsmen for Mareeba to get into double figures.
In the end, Mareeba were all out for just 62 runs in the 23rd over.
Next week, the local derby will see Atherton go up against Mareeba at Loder Park. Atherton is currently sitting third on the ladder, with Mareeba in sixth spot.
