Off the hook
THE reigning champions got a touch-up in round three of the Ipswich Logan Premier League at the weekend.
On day one of the first two-day fixture of the season Northsiders were pushed to the point of frustration as Central Districts compiled 7-283 (declared) at Jensen Oval.
With only five overs of the day left they reduced Northsiders to 3-20.
Things started well enough for the home team with the top four, including in-form captain Ben O'Connell (16), gone for 57.
But a hot day and a lifeless pitch began to take their toll.
Northsiders concentration waned and Centrals middle-order pair Sunny Manghera (70) and Luke Barrett (103 not out) made the most of it.
"We started off alright," Northsiders captain Paul Milne said.
"But a couple of mistakes - dropped catches - cost us.
"We dropped Sunny when he was in single figures, but they batted quite well."
Barrett survived a run-out chance when he too was still in single figures.
"Once we gave them chances we released the pressure a bit," Milne said.
"We spoke about it afterwards and the boys weren't too happy.
"We bowled two sides of the wicket. The boys have got a bit of work to do."
Not helping the cause was injury to pace spearhead Kev Cumming and an unresponsive pitch.
"It wasn't really good for our bowlers," Milne said. "It had low bounce and was really dry.
"We probably need a bit of life in the wicket and the boys probably need to be a bit more patient.
"We've gone from one to two-dayers and suffered from lapses in concentration.
"It's not an issue or something to be worried about."
Barrett's innings was reward for dogged persistence.
"He batted really well," Milne said. "We put him under a lot of pressure when he first came in and he struggled to start with.
"Then he knuckled down and did a good job. We bowled a lot of maidens to both (Barrett and Manghera) in a 10-over spell.
"Every couple of balls it looked like we could have got them out.
"But they battled through; our boys got tired and there were a couple of misfields. If our catches were taken we could have knocked them over for under 100."
So it was a somewhat tired and dejected Northsiders that took to the crease with five overs remaining.
They survived the first three but in the last two overs lost three wickets, with Centrals quick Sean Lutter claiming two.
"It's not ideal," Milne said.
"But we've got good enough players to get the 260 runs needed."
Barrett wasn't the only centurion form the weekend's matches.
Mick Sippel hit 131 not out, to go with his 3-23 with the ball, as Laidley (5-242) put Swifts (101) to the sword at Bichel Oval.
In Saturday's other game Brothers (7-168) claimed first innings points against Eastern Taipans (118) at Strollers.
