Gauna Top Scores in Wests' Defeat

Fiji wicket keeper Maciu Gauna scored an unbeaten 47, but his Wests Illawarra team could not leap the final hurdle in the Illawarra Cricket grand final on the weekend.

Wests suffered a 26-run defeat to minor premiers Northern Districts at the Figtree Oval in Wollongong, New South Wales.

The game was originally slated as a two-day match, but the second day was effected by bad weather, forcing a disruption to play throughout the day.

Northern batted first on Saturday and were bowled out for 175, Gauna credited for one run out during the innings.

Wests gave chase on Sunday and were then dismissed for 149, just 26 runs short of the total with Gauna batting at number eight and eventually remaining the last man standing on 47.

He and number 11 batsman Sam Flanagan came together when Wests were in real trouble at 9-78, but managed to give their side a glimmer of hope that a miracle comeback was on the cards.

They put together a partnership of 71 runs before Flanagan eventually fell for 26, bringing Wests' innings to a close.

It caps off a groundbreaking season for 20-year-old Gauna, who will return to Fiji next week and join the senior squad in their preparations for this year's international tours.

This was his first season in Australia on a player placement and the club has already expressed a desire for him to return next year after he was part of the premiership-winning Under 21 team and the senior second grade side.

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