Henry Cullen and Ethan Brookes produced match-winning performances with the bat in Australia and a third Worcestershire player in Harry Darley was in devastating form with the ball.
Keeper-batter Cullen scored a superb 125 not out for Woodville and all-rounder Brookes an unbeaten 82 to turn a lost cause into victory for Adelaide University while pace bowler Darley produced an astonishing spell of 2.3-1-4-6 on day one for Ulverstone.
Cullen’s day of glory came after Woodville (143-7) had declared 20 ahead on first innings against Northern Districts (123 all out) last weekend.
He then picked up two catches before Northern Districts declared on 235-7 this Saturday to set a 216 target.
It was a daunting looking challenge when Cullen came to the wicket at 17-3 in just the sixth over but he continued the excellent form he has shown this winter to spark a memorable win.
Cullen faced just 100 balls and put on 147 for the fourth wicket with opener Brodie Rimmer (59) and an unbeaten 51 with Will Foley (19 not out).
It was fitting that Cullen hit the winning boundary – his 14th four – off Walter Kinlock in the 37th over and he also struck three maximums.
Brookes had made his debut on the opening day of the two-day fixture last weekend for Adelaide University in a South Australian Cricket Association Premier Cricket meeting with West Torrens.
He took two catches and ended the day unbeaten on a determined 24 from 71 balls but it seems a demanding situation with his side 102-8 chasing a 170 target overnight.
But Worcestershire’s 2024 T20 Player Of The Year had other ideas and went onto score an excellent 82 not out from 177 balls with two sixes and six fours.
He received good support from Deepak Chetry (nine off 49) in adding 55 for the ninth wicket before it became 157-9.
Last man Harry Pigott scrambled a single and Brookes then did the rest, striking Sean Hunt for six over square leg and clouting the next delivery through mid-off for the winning boundary.
It was the cue for big celebrations from Brookes and his team-mates after pulling the fixture out of the fire.
Darley has gradually been building back up to bowling strength this winter with Ulverstone after a glute problem but he unleashed his potential on day one of the Cricket North West first grade game with Latrobe Demons.
Ulverstone batted first and made 221-9 declared from 50.5 overs with Darley at number six making a patient 20 off 62 balls.
His first five over spell with the new ball did not bring about a breakthrough but when he came back for the 31st over he was virtually unplayable.
Darley struck with the second ball of his second spell, then picked up three more wickets in his next over and two more in the next as Latrobe Demons were bowled out for 104 in 34.3 overs.
The spell yielded six wickets in the space of 14 balls for Darley who made his senior breakthrough for Worcestershire in the Vitality Blast and Metro Bank One Day Cup last summer.
With another Worcestershire young pace bowler, Jack Home, currently part of the England Young Lions squad in South Africa, it is encouraging signs for the future.
Darley bowled two overs for eight runs as Latrobe Demons closed on 10-0 from four overs when following on.
