Saturated Salter a bog after rain

Brothers Blue batsman Warren Shipley will be a key player against Brothers Bolters on Saturday.

Max Fleet

Poll

Who will win the division one premiership?

This poll ended on 14 March 2010.

Brothers

37%

Country Wests

37%

Wash out (Brothers win)

25%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

CRICKET: The fate of this weekend’s cricket finals may have been decided overnight, with forecast showers perhaps putting the nail in the coffin at the saturated Salter Oval.

While ovals two and four are seemingly fine, the outfields of the main oval and number-three field, near Takalvan Street, are extremely wet.

Curator Paul Denning said the outside fields looked fine for play, providing the rain kept away, but he held grave fears about the state of the main oval, in particular.

“I’d say any more rain and play on that field would be unlikely,” Denning said.

“The centre of the wicket is fine, but there has been so much water fall that it’s a bog at the moment in the outfield.”

Bundaberg Cricket Association president Les Bennett, who will umpire the division-one final between Brothers and Country Wests on Sunday, was more optimistic.

“I walked on that pitch this morning and the 30 metre circle is fine.

“The outfield doesn’t concern me,” he said yesterday.

“Unless I class it as dangerous we are fine, and at the moment it is not dangerous.”

He said at this stage, if play was abandoned on the main oval, Brothers would win even if other fields remained playable.

“The feeling from the committee at the moment is that we won’t be shuffling games,” he said.

“If the main oval is too wet then it’s a washout and the other grades continue to play.”

Before Sunday’s action begins, though, semi-finals in division two, three and four will be played to determine the finalists.

Warren Shipley’s return for Blues in division two could be the difference against Bolters, with the all-rounder a proven match winner this season.

Sean Parter and Michael Lovett hold the key for Bolters, and this should be a close match.

The hot-and-cold Burnett Heads seem to be hot at the moment, which is bad news for Brothers Bulldogs in division three.

The plucky Sam Burtt is in good form with the bat for Burnett Heads and, when they are on their game, they are unbeatable.

Division four’s semi between Brothers Pink and Brothers Bashers is somewhat of a lottery, according to Brothers cricket president Vince Habermann.

“They are both quite inconsistent, but Pink are probably the form side and Kevin Bawden has been a much-improved cricketer for them this season,” he said.

If rain does force the abandonment of finals, the minor premiers will automatically be crowned the victors.

Even if play does get under way, players can expect a green pitch to greet them when they mark centre.

“I think, like it or not, the pitch will play a big part in the game and it’s going to be tough to score runs,” Habermann said.