Nic Maddinson stars as Australia A dominate Gloucestershire at Bristol

 

Nic Maddinson smashed his second swashbuckling century in successive innings for Australia A as the tourists ran up 331-4 declared on the opening day of the match with Gloucestershire at Bristol.

The 21-year-old New South Wales opener followed up his blistering 113 not out against Ireland at Stormont with a breathtaking career-best 181 off 143 balls, with 22 fours and nine sixes.
Maddinson received good support from Jordan Silk (41) and Phil Hughes (47) as Australia A batted positively from the start on a true pitch, having won the toss in warm sunshine.
Silk contributed freely to a century first-wicket stand and the total had reached 103 in the 19th over when he was bowled by fellow Aussie Dan Christian, making his Gloucestershire debut prior to representing the county in the Friends Life t20 competition.
Maddinson reached his hundred early in the afternoon session off 106 balls and required just 20 further deliveries to get to 150.
Hughes departed just before that milestone, caught behind cutting at the medium pace of Benny Howell to make it 236-2. The left-hander had faced 68 balls and hit eight fours and a six in a typically chirpy innings.

Extraordinary

The most extraordinary of Maddinson's nine sixes was the last as he advanced down the pitch to launch Howell straight back over his head and onto the third floor of the new flats being constructed at the Ashley Down Road End of the County Ground.
Howell got revenge next ball as Maddinson was caught at long-on off by Christian, having eclipsed his previous best first-class score of 154 for New South Wales against Tasmania at Hobart last February.
Australia A skipper Steve Smith was caught behind down the leg side, glancing Gidman, for 10 and opted to declare at tea, with Usman Khawaja unbeaten on 29.
It proved a sound decision as by the close Gloucestershire had struggled to 104-5 in reply, Chadd Sayers claiming 3-24 from seven overs while Howell was unbeaten on 27.