Saturday 13 March 2010

Queensland Bulls young guns Chris Lynn and Wade Townsend warmed up for their Sheffield Shield Final baptism of fire this week with a pair of slashing centuries today in the XXXX GOLD First Grade cricket semi-final at Ken Mackay Oval.

The Toombul pair lifted the home side to 3-308 at stumps against University of Queensland, with Lynn (115) following on from his maiden first class ton last week against WA, while Townsend continued his appetite for runs with 118 not out.

The talented pair will be key figures for the Bulls this week as they seek to upset host team Victoria in the Shield decider at the MCG.

Needing to win to go through to the Final, University of Queensland won the toss and opted to send Toombul in, hoping to take advantage of the overhead cloud to force some early breakthroughs against the strong Toombul batting line-up.

Not much went right for the Students after that, with allrounder and Bulls assistant coach Lachy Stevens taken to hospital with a suspected dislocated shoulder after he fell heavily in the field.

In the other semi-final at Kerrydale, the Gold Coast are on track to move into the Final after restricting Wynnum-Manly to 206.

Promising batsman Will Prowse top-scored with 70 for the Sea Eagles while in-form Gold Coast paceman Chris Slattery took 3-30 from 14 overs and Queensland leg-spinner and Dolphins captain Daniel Doran claimed 2-47 from 19 overs.

Prowse's innings was meritorious considering the next highest score was 25 each by Bulls opener Ryan Broad and paceman Ben Laughlin.

The Dolphins were 1-36 at stumps. Play in both semi-finals continues tomorrow.