Friday 12 March 2010

Toombul and University of Queensland have been bolstered by the return of their State representative batsmen for the XXXX GOLD Grade semi-finals tomorrow and Sunday.

Recent century-makers Chris Lynn and Wade Townsend have been named to play for Toombul in the clash at Ken Mackay Oval as they tune up for the Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield final in Melbourne starting on Wednesday.

Toombul go into battle with the experienced veteran Jimmy Maher back at the helm.

Young leg-spinner Cameron Boyce, who only bowled a total of 12.1 overs in the just completed Shield game against WA, will also play for Toombul.

Middle-order batsman and regular matchwinner Craig Philipson returns to lead University, with debonair all-rounder Nathan Reardon also playing.

Red-hot batsman-keeper Chris Hartley will be given the weekend off, however, given his heavy workload for Queensland over the past month.

Similarly, in-form paceman Chris Swan will be missing from his beloved Gold Coast Dolphins when they tackle Wynnum-Manly at Kerrydale in the clash between the second and third placed teams.

Swan’s absence means the Dolphins could bolster their batting line-up after taking a heavy-artillery bowling attack into the one-day final a fortnight ago.

Batsman Luke Gleeson missed out on that triumph but will be a key part of the middle order, while the Dolphins still boast great firepower with an attack featuring Chris Slattery, Mick Durbridge, Alister McDermott and spinners Dan Doran and Brad Ipson.

Wynnum-Manly welcome back opener Ryan Broad from Bulls duties, although State skipper Chris Simpson won’t play.

As the lower ranked sides, University and Wynnum-Manly must win on the first innings if they wish to advance to the final, with a draw not enough.

The semi-final teams are:

Toombul: Maher.J (C), Murphy.K, Milini.S, Townsend.W, Lynn.C, White.P, Sabburg.C, Fitness.G, Boyce.C, Carlson.S, Voros.J

University of Queensland: Philipson.C (C), Farrell.S, Brundle.M, Reardon.N, Turner.J, Philipson.M, Stevens.L, Nissen.K, Fry.M, Burman.P

Gold Coast: Doran.D (C), Robinson.A, Gleeson.L, Daniels.A, Milenko.S, Neser.M, Ipson.B, Slattery.C, Durbridge.M, Wallis.D, McDermott.A

Wynnum-Manly: Poole.R (C), Broad.R, Waters.L, Prowse.W, Lester.F, Paulsen.G, Floros.J, Seven.J, Poole.R, Laughlin.B, Evans.T, Tyler.H (12th man)