University records back-to-back wins, Wests holds top spot in Harding-Madsen Sheild

UNIVERSITY captain produces a stunning knock in the heat to lead his side to a Harding-Madsen Shield victory.

Nick Brown celebrates a wicket for University. Photo: Nev Madsen

CRICKET: University has continued its surging finish to the Harding-Madsen Shield.

Picking up their first win of the season last weekend, University backed it up against Southern Districts at Middle Ridge Park, coming away with a 78-run victory.

The victory was set up with two key partnerships, with Tully Willson (122 not out) and James Bidgood combining for 77, before Willson and Alex Taylor (85) added a further 146 to help University to 3/280.

Souths tried gallantly to bat through to hot conditions, amassing 9/202 from their 45 overs.

“It’s good to see us put a few runs on the board and some fellas score a few,” University captain Willson said.

“We’ve been able to build partnerships in the top six and when you have a few guys firing, it really helps.

“It was good to finally score some runs. I needed something and hopefully it can keep going.”

Willson praised the way his bowling attack was able to stem the flow of runs in the middle of the innings to help set up victory.

“We got off to a bit of a slow start but in the middle Hemal Shah and Jacob Littleproud bowled spin and didn’t really give them a chance to score many runs,” he said.

“We just have to build on this bit of momentum and take it into the two-day competition.

“We’re looking to take the positives out of each game and build on what we’re doing.”

OTHER RESULTS

Western Districts remained on top of the standings after downing Highfields-Railways on the road.

Brian May’s scintillating form with the bat continued with an unbeaten 90 as Wests claimed a 127-run victory.

Northern Brothers Diggers extended their unbeaten run with a huge 185-run defeat of South East at Rockville Oval.

Chris Hall (107*), Cody Walker (84*) and Blake Anderson (75) exploded to help Diggers reach 2/292.

Anderson capped off a man of the match performance with 5/31 with the ball.

HEAT ELIMINATED AT THE DEATH

The Brisbane Heat fell agonisingly short of making their third-straight WBBL grand final, falling to the Sydney Thunder by 12 runs.

The Heat were travelling along nicely throughout their chase of 144 for victory.

Toowoomba’s Georgia Voll shared a 34-run partnership with Laura Kimmince, before the teenager was run out for eight.

The Heat were unable to recover, dropping their next five wickets for 11 runs to fall short.

Originally published as University records back-to-back wins, Wests holds top spot in Harding-Madsen Sheild