Brothers' risk earns reward
BROTHERS' brave decision to send Centrals in to bat despite missing two frontline bowlers proved a masterstroke on day one of their Ipswich Logan Premier League contest at Mark Marsh Oval.
A final session bowling blitz saw Centrals bundled out for 166 after going to the tea-break at 4-141 and seemingly in control of the match.
The rout started two balls into the final session when Craig Mackay removed the dangerous Tyrone De Silva for 77, which was quickly followed by the run-out of Indy Singh for a duck in the same over.
De Silva's seven boundary, three six performance - together with Rohan Lutter's 40 - looked to have set the home side for an imposing first innings total. But Brothers' attack, missing representative pacemen Craig Cumming and Mark Sharrad, took control.
Veteran paceman Craig Mackay said a team talk during the tea-break had the desired effect.
"At tea Tyrone De Silva was hitting the ball rather well," Macakay said.
"He and Rohan (Lutter) were well set and could have taken the game away from us but I think the tea break came at a good time.
"We spoke as a team at tea about the next hour being make or break.
"Then those two wickets in the first over put them on the back foot."
The post-tea performance has Brothers in a strong position for this week when they will welcome back Cumming Sharrad and English teenager George Crowdy.
Mackay said the decision to bowl without the two frontline bowlers was a calculated risk.
"We spoke about that and we thought our batting would be stronger next week with Shardy, Craig and Crowdy coming back in," he said.
"So we thought we had enough bowlers to restrict them to a target we could get and we've done that."
Centrals' batsman Wayne Jones was less pleased with his team's performance on their home ground.
"Brothers stuck to their task really well and we just didn't take out chances," Jones said.
"We lost 6-25 after tea which pretty much says it all."
While De Silva's wicket two balls after the break proved the turning point, Jones said it was the top order that let the game get away.
"You always have to be careful after a break but Tyrone batted well for his 77," he said.
"It's more about the other four or five up the top that didn't do much.
"If we'd batted half well we could have put up a score and made it hard for them next week.
"Now we are just going to have to bowl extremely well.
At Strollers, Swifts and Taipans are locked in a tight battle for first innings points.
Swifts battled to 109 all-out batting first with the home side going to stumps at 3-54 in reply.
Laidley has dismissed Alberton for 187 in their first trip to Eagleby.
In reply the Blue Dogs at 2-78 at stumps with Mick Sippel leading the way with an unbeaten 36.
STATE OF PLAY
- Brothers are in a powerful position halfway through their Premier League match with Centrals.
- Craig Cumming and Mark Sharrad will return for Brothers from SEQ duty, while Centrals will welcome back Luke Barrett, Rhys O'Sullivan and Ben O'Connell.
