English import to boost bowling

A WAGGING tail enabled Surfers Paradise-Benowa to knock up a fairly respectable 145 on day one of its Gold Coast Cricket encounter with Palm Beach-Currumbin, at Sir Bruce Small Oval on Saturday.

The home side looked to be heading for a low score but digs of 27 and 35 by their number 10 and 11 batsmen ensured the visitors would have something to chase when the game resumed on Saturday.

At stumps, Palm Beach was 2-31, with opener Matthew Hicks on 17 and Jamie Tripp just off the mark with a single.

Gareth Richardson, who opened the innings with Hicks because he would be unavailable for the second day of the match, was dismissed for four.

Palm Beach captain Ryan Armstrong was confident his batting lineup could snare first innings points and then go on to set a big target, so his bowling lineup can have another go at the Surfers Paradise batsmen.

That bowling line-up will be boosted by English import Mark Wood. Wood, who has been recovering from a nagging knee injury, hasn't bowled this season although he has proven capable with the bat.

"We're all so excited about seeing him with the ball in hand," Armstong said.

"From what we've seen of him in the nets, when he is nowhere near top pace, he looks as though he's capable of sending the ball down in excess of 140."

A dry pitch prompted Armstrong to open the bowling, with the spinners operating from one end, while the medium pacers dominated the other. Armstrong failed to nab a wicket but helped tie down the batsmen, conceding just 34 runs in 22 overs, including eight maidens. Peter Hill (2-36), Gareth Richardson (3-12) and Steve Brett (3-21) claimed the lion's share of wickets.