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Maddinson puts Gloucestershire to the sword

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Nic Maddinson cracked his second swashbuckling century in successive innings as Australia A ran up 331 for four declared on the opening day of their 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, pictured, received good support from Jordan Silk and Phil Hughes, with 41 and 47 respectively, as Australia A batted positively from the start on a true pitch having won the toss in warm sunshine.

By the close, Gloucestershire had struggled to 104 for five in reply as Chadd Sayers claimed 3-24 from seven overs.

Left-hander Maddinson, who had cleared the ropes six times in his 63-ball blitz against Ireland, looked confident from ball one and produced a glorious array of strokes all around the wicket.

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 Australian Dan Christian, making his Gloucestershire debut prior to representing the county in the Friends Life t20 competition.

Maddinson survived a confident appeal for a catch behind off Will Gidman when on 73 and had added two more by lunch, which was taken on 147 for one from 29 overs.

He reached his hundred early in the afternoon off 106 balls and required just 20 further deliveries to get to 150, by which time he had struck 19 fours and seven sixes with some flourishing drives and savage pulls.

Hughes departed just before that milestone, caught behind cutting at the medium pace of Benny Howell to make it 236 for two. The left-hander had faced 68 balls, hitting eight fours and a six in a typically aggressive innings.

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 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 Sayers sent back Chris Dent, Michael Klinger and Gareth Roderick to help leave Gloucestershire 57 for five, after which Howell and Gidman rebuilt somewhat.

Spinner Fawad Ahmed, who yesterday was cleared to apply for an Australian passport, took the catch to get rid of Klinger but bowled just two overs for nine runs.


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