Pitch report: Marlow Park Oval, Coastal League final
By Priya Natarajan · Date: 25 October 2026 · Venue: Marlow Park Oval, Harbour City · Start: 7.00pm local
Bowl first. The surface has a tinge of grass and the forecast dew after 9pm will make the ball skid on in the chase, as it did in four of the last five night games here.
Ground in numbers
The surface
Head groundsman Alan Pettifer has left more grass than for the semi-final, about 4mm across the square, and the strip was rolled for 40 minutes this morning. It is the same strip used for the opening round in September, when Northgate Rovers made 172 for 5 and the ball carried through to the keeper all evening. Expect the new ball to swing for three or four overs under the lights and the spinners to get little turn until the 15th over.
Weather and conditions
| Hours | Forecast | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 7pm to 8.30pm | Clear, 19C, light onshore breeze | Seam movement early, swing for the new ball |
| 8.30pm to 10.30pm | Clear, 16C, heavy dew likely | Wet ball for the side bowling second; spinners struggle to grip |
Recent matches here
- 18 October: Harbour City Gulls 187 for 6 beat Riverside Kestrels 183 for 9
- 11 October: Northgate Rovers 159 for 7 lost to Eastvale Strikers 162 for 4
- 4 October: Riverside Kestrels 171 for 8 lost to Northgate Rovers 174 for 3
- 27 September: Eastvale Strikers 148 for 9 lost to Harbour City Gulls 151 for 5
The toss
The captain who wins it should bowl. Par is around 170: the Gulls' 187 in the semi-final came on a drier strip, and both of the last two chases here were completed with an over or more to spare. A side batting first needs 180 to feel safe once the dew sets in.