His side resumes at 5/110, and fine weather will already have eased any disappointment at not having gained the lead on day one. Unbeaten on 65 himself, he has to decide how long the Snakes will bat on to maximise the chances of a much needed outright win. The extra points may lift Caboolture into third place, and a last-round win over second placed Tewantin could even snatch a valuable second position if the cards fall nicely. Tewantin had the same decision last round, and batted on for 12 overs to post an eighty-odd lead, only for the Sharks to bat out the day to 7/185 in a gutsy display.
A loss this round could threaten hopes of that fancied status, as all four face sides out of finals contention. Last week giant-killers Nambour showed that none is immune to upset with their outright defeat of Caboolture, while the other three on the second shelf demonstrated enough batting talent and determination to stifle complacency. Up at Gympie, Caloundra s Brendan Kelly raised 163 on a painfully slow outfield as the Lighthouses were able to declare on 273, and though only Andy Batten s unbeaten 96 was a credit in the home side s first innings response, Steve Brady s 101 to dispel any idea of outright defeat showed the quality available.
The Cutters set the Sharks a chase of 234 last Saturday on the back of 116 from their skipper Steve Ledger, and after resuming at 1/26, the visitors will be needing at least one big innings to reach the finish line. Coolum senior coach and captain Sam Curtis. Picture: Warren Lynam
Apart from early season T20s, Coolum’s two wins have been against Nambour and Gympie, and in each of those games, the driving force has been runs from Sam Curtis, 100 no and 161. The former Wairarapa first class captain in New Zealand officially retired back in 2012 after repeated knee and lower leg problems, and thought after his knock against Gympie that his Achilles tendon was saying the time is up again.
The Thunder would love to continue a bumper season by heading the competition into 2021 after securing the T20 premiership, and victory would do that, plus add a little more security to the lead on a ladder congested at the top.
Glasshouse are under two points behind, with wins by Maroochydore and Caboolture enough to scramble ahead of the loser of the top two clash, a change demonstrated by Caboolture’s demotion from first to fourth after last weekend.
Little separates the sides, with Steve Heise and Heath Fischer leading strong back-up from Joel Owen and Jett Taylor with the ball for the Rangers, while Tom Freshwater and Scott Aufderheide, supported by Jarrod Officer and Dom Taylor, have served the Thunder well.