Players showing enough, says coach
THE Sunshine Coast has snared first-innings points just once in its past 13 two-day outings, but coach Brad Murphy believes the side is "ready to click".
The Scorchers, who are more renowned for their Twenty20 exploits, are desperate to prove they can be highly competitive in the traditional format.
They have a chance to do that on home soil today when Sandgate-Redcliffe will resume its innings at 9-198.
Murphy believes his players have shown enough in recent weeks to suggest they can capitalise on an opportunity.
"We nearly got the points in the last round against Norths (a rare first-innings tie), so we weren't far away then," he said.
"I'm pretty confident. We've been hitting the ball pretty well and we aren't in bad form - we're mid-table (eighth).
"I think we're ready to click."
Significantly, Murphy believes his batting line-up is primed to fire.
"We're all hitting the ball pretty well," he said.
"Julian (Nielsen) is hitting the ball really well and Jimmy Henry too.
"Steve Ledger is due for a score - he's been a little bit out of knick, but I'm confident they're all ready to go.
"Our bowlers have done their job and now it's time for the batters to do their job."
His batting line-up will, how-ever, have to contend with former Scorchers seamer Wade Johnston - the XXXX Gold Premier Grade's leading wicket-taker this season. with 18 scalps from six matches (all formats). He also boasts the best average (11.94).
However, Murphy said his players should "play the ball and not the bowler".
"We're not even worried about Wade. We're worried about ourselves and getting in and batting all day," he said.
"There's no targeting of other bowlers, there's no worries about other bowlers. We just need to worry about ourselves.
"It's a pretty slow wicket and a slow outfield with the sand, but it's still a pretty good wicket, so we have just got to make sure we get in and be patient."
First, the Sunshine Coast must break a last-wicket stand between Ben Gledhill (64no) and Johnston (2no), who showed resolve last weekend.
"I don't want them to bat for half an hour. I want to tidy them up straight away," Murphy said.
GAME DAY
SUNSHINE COAST v SANDGATE-REDCLIFFE
Today, Buderim, 10am
