12:00a.m. 5th October 2008

| By Jon Tuxworth

Sunshine Coast Scorcher's v Gold Coast at John Blank Oval, Buderim. Ashley Noffke Photo: Cade Mooney/ 178686r

It was billed as the battle between arguably the two best all-rounders in the country.

In the Sunshine Coast Scorchers corner was Ashley Noffke – a player considered by most to be desperately unlucky not to be touring India right now.

The Gold Coast corner featured Andrew Symonds – who would be in the subcontinent if it weren’t for a well-publicised lapse in discipline.

And it was Noffke who delivered the knockout punch on the opening day of the two-day clash between the Scorchers and Gold Coast at Buderim’s John Blanck Oval yesterday.

The healthy crowd of around 200 that fronted to watch ‘Roy’ bat had to wait patiently as the Gold Coast’s top order dug their heels in.

After openers Luke Gleeson (61) and Andrew Robinson (67) put together an opening partnership of 121, Symonds didn’t stride to the crease until just after tea, with the visitors in control at 2-151.

His appearance was almost an anti-climax. With just two runs to his name, Symonds was handed a ‘life’ when Baden Matheson spilled a difficult outfield chance off the bowling of offspinner Jason Johnstone.

Not long after, first slip Julian Nielsen grassed another chance to dismiss Symonds off the bowling of Noffke.

That miss was exacerbated when Symonds smacked back-to-back boundaries later in that Noffke over.

But, eventually, Noffke got his man.

After a quickfire 27 off only 25 balls, Symonds top-edged a Noffke short ball straight down the throat of Luis Reece at fine leg, who made no mistake.

That was Noffke’s only wicket for the match, the Queensland paceman taking 1-82 off 28 overs.

The dismissal was also the cue for about half the crowd to leave.

A strong lower order knock from Michael Neser allowed Gold Coast to reach 9-328 at stumps, setting up a challenging run chase for the Scorchers next week.

Noffke and Symonds won’t feature on the second day due to Queensland Bulls commitments.

“I think we missed a few opportunities catching-wise during the day and it could have been a different story,” Noffke said. “There was plenty of other wickets (other than Symonds) to get out there and it would have been nice if we had gotten them a little earlier than we did, but not to be.

“I’m pretty sure I haven’t bowled at him (Symonds) in a game before. He’s an exciting cricketer and it’s always good to see him down at club cricket and the kids loved it, so it’s excellent.”

While he won’t be there to help out, Noffke is confident his team-mates can chase down the target next week.

“I think we can definitely chase these runs down,” he said. “The wicket was a little two-paced and a bit slow, which made it hard to blast wickets out.

“Hopefully the guys can get in and score runs.”

The Scorchers host Andy Bichel’s Souths in a one day match today.