Diggers take on Laidley to keep Harding-Madsen Shield hopes alive

CRICKET: The Harding-Madsen Shield picture will become a lot clearer after a pair of monster clashes this weekend.

Blake Anderson. Picture: Kevin Farmer

CRICKET: The Harding-Madsen Shield picture will become a lot clearer after a pair of monster clashes this weekend.

The hopes of Northern Brothers Diggers come down to a must-win encounter with Laidley.

Diggers have been one of the form teams in recent times, winning their last five games, including a 191-run demolition of Brothers last weekend.

They face their toughest test to date however, facing off with ladder leaders Laidley at Bichel Oval.

Laidley is yet to drop a game, and sits three points clear at the top of the standings.

Diggers currently sit nine points off top spot, and anything short of a win would see them drop out of contention with four rounds left to play.

The other game with title implications takes place at Harristown Park, with last year’s semi finalists Metropolitan-Easts and Western Districts coming together.

Wests are currently three points off Laidley. A loss to them and a win to Wests would see them move into top spot.

Met-Easts on the other hand can push their way back into contention for a top-two berth among Toowoomba teams with a win and a Diggers loss.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Metropolitan-Easts vs Western Districts at Harristown Park; Highfields-Railways vs Thunder at Highfields Sports Park; University vs Brothers at USQ; Southern Districts vs South East at Middle Ridge Park; Laidley vs Northern Brothers Diggers at Bichel Oval. All games at 10.30am tomorrow.

SHIELD STANDINGS

Laidley 58, Wests 55, Diggers 49, Centrals 37, Thunder 34, Met-Easts 34, Northsiders 26, Highfields 19, Brothers 12, South East 8, Souths 4, University 2

Originally published as Diggers take on Laidley to keep Harding-Madsen Shield hopes alive