Showers dampen two-day openers
CRICKET: Rain has wreaked havoc with Harding-Madsen Shield fixtures to start the season, and it kept its form up with the start of the TCI A-grade.
The two-day competition began on Saturday with all three games impacted by the conditions and a late burst of rain that forced the covers to remain on the pitch.
Defending premiers Northern Brothers Diggers picked up where they left off with a strong opening day against University.
After bowling first, Kris Glass tore through the top order, claiming five wickets from his 12 overs, while Dane Hutchinson returned from injury to claim one of his own early on.
Before the rain set in, University were on the ropes at 6102 from 33 overs.
Honours were split between Met-Easts and Western Districts after their first day of play.
Met-Easts opted to bat after winning the toss, and found themselves under the pump at 3-37 after a devastating spell from Daley Martin saw him take the trio of wickets in his opening eight overs of the contest.
The Trojans were able to steady the ship with Dan and Liam Brown enjoying an extended stay at the crease.
After Liam retired, play didn’t last too much longer with deteriorating conditions, as Met-Easts finished the session at 3-106.
Over at Middle Ridge Park, Southern Districts won the toss in their home game and made the most of their time on the field.
After sending Highfields-Railways in to bat, the Magpies had their opponents reeling at 4-47 before the skies stopped play after 36 overs.
SCOREBOARD
TCI A-grade - Round one, day one Metropolitan Easts vs Western Districts at Harristown Park
MET-EASTS 1st innings M DENNIS ct b Martin ........ 4 C RATHIE ct wk b Martin..10 D KOCH lbw Martin ............ 0 D BROWN not out ............. 54 L BROWN retired ............... 27 P van der KOOIJ not out ...... 6 Extras (1b, 1lb, 3 nb) .............. 5 Three wickets for ............. 106 Fall: 4, 5, 37 Bowling: D Martin 14-237-3, M Hallas 8-5-13-0, L Neale 9-2-19-0, C Brimblecombe 8-1-17-0, J Gill 3-0-12-0,
S Neale 7-5-6-0. Overs: 49 University vs Northern Brothers Diggers at USQ
UNIVERSITY 1st innings B PRIEBE lbw Glass ........ 23 P BOURKE b Hutchinson . ............................................ 0 T WILSON ct b Glass ...... 35 J BIDGOOD ct b Glass .... 0 K WAGSTAFF ct b Glass ... ........................................... 15 R SMITH b Glass .............. 6 J LITTLEPROUD not out .. ............................................ 9 B POTTER not out ............ 9 Extras (3lb, 1w, 1nb) .......... 5 Six wickets for .............. 102 Fall: 5, 59, 59, 64, 80, 88 Bowling: K Glass 12-1-34-5, D Hutchinson 14-3-42-1, J Neundorf 4-1-7-0, J Barrett 30-14-0. Overs: 33 Southern Districts vs Highfields-Railways at Middle Ridge Park HIGHFIELDS-RAILWAYS 1st innings Four wickets for .............. 47 Overs: 36