NOWRA’S Nic Maddinson hit a quick-fire innings of 70 from 45 balls, but it wasn't enough as his Surrey side went down to Glamorgan at The Oval in England's domestic T20 competition.
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After Aaron Finch (30 from 17) and England's Jason Roy (27 from 21) gave Surrey a strong start, Maddinson produced his best performance for his new county, hitting five fours and three sixes in his knock.
Maddinson's knock steered Surrey to a total of 194 from their 20 overs on Tuesday, a total that Glamorgan chased down with an over to spare.
The innings was a welcome return to form for Australian T20 player Maddinson, who has recently left the NSW Blues set-up, to pen deals with both the Melbourne Stars and more recently, the St Kilda Cricket Club.
On top of this, Maddinson could be handed a career lifeline by Victoria, who are keen to add the uncontracted left-hander to their squad for this summer's JLT One-Day Cup competition – as well as potentially their JLT Sheffield Shield side later in the summer.
"He'll be a fair chance of being in our JLT Cup squad given we'll have a few players [Glenn Maxwell and Peter Handscomb] away," Victorian selector Andrew Lynch told cricket.com.au.
"Without guaranteeing it, we've said to him that he's more than likely a very good chance of making that squad.
"It appears he's quite happy with that – I don't know if he's totally committed to coming just yet.
"We didn't have a contract spot for him, but who's to say you can't get a contract upgrade if you play well and play enough games?"
Lynch said the news Maddinson had been let go by the Blues came too late for the Bushrangers to add him to their initial contract list for the season, but he doesn't think he’ll be lost to the system.
"Had he gone to another state, or come to us and made his intentions clear a lot earlier, he might have been picked up," he said.
"I think he'll find his way. It's just one of those glitches. His talent will come through.
"The fact he hasn't been put on a contract list at the start (of the season) doesn't mean anything.
“If he starts playing games for a state, he'll get upgraded pretty quickly."
It's understood one other state team made a similar approach to the former Bomaderry High School student, before he ultimately chose to move south.
