Familiar foes ready for battle
CRICKET: By the end of this weekend Western Districts and Northern Brothers Diggers will know each other inside out.
Currently locked in a twoday battle, the Toowoomba cricket foes will clash again tomorrow in the Harding-Madsen Shield final.
Western Districts clearly took the honours on the first day of their match last week, finishing play with more than 300 runs on the board.
Chris Gillam (175) and Brian May (135 not out) were the chief destroyers guiding their side 3-330.
Captain Luke Neale was impressed by the batting display but was not taking anything for granted.
“They were hitting it fairly well,” Neale said.
“I don’t think they (Diggers) were at their best bowling though, so we’re not getting too excited.”
Speaking after day one earlier this week, Neale had yet to decide how his team would approach today’s play.
“We’d like to keep them out in the field for bit longer today to tire them out,” Neale said.
“But then I’d like to give our bowlers some time out there as well.”
Regardless of today’s outcome, Western Districts will take nothing for granted ahead of the shield final tomorrow.
“Just because we’ve played them a few times and scored some runs doesn’t mean anything,” he said.
“Finals are completely different. They’re a good side and they will just as keen to win as us.”
FINAL: The final will be played at Captain Cook Reserve from 10am tomorrow.