Boilover: Manly Warringah end drought to claim NSW’s premier U16s cricket competition
It was east versus west as Manly Warringah hosted reigning premiers Parramatta in a gripping decider of the U16s AW Green Shield. Grand final wrap, team of the tournament, 50+ PHOTO GALLERY
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After six weeks of exhilarating competition and entertainment, the cream of the state’s top under-16 cricketers headed to Manly Oval to decide this season’s AW Green Shield champion.
Reigning premiers Parramatta fancied their chances of going back-to-back for the first times in the club’s history. While Manly, boosted by a round six victory when the side’s last met, were confident of breaking a Greenies drought going all the way back to 1991-92.
After winning the toss, the local boys strapped on the pads and headed to the middle. Here’s how a fantastic day before a vocal crowd on the northern beaches unfolded.
Full wrap.
HOODOO SMASHED: MANLY HOIST SHIELD
Kevin Davies’ young guns are the toast of the northern beaches after Manly upset giants Parramatta with a late flurry of wickets in a history breaking 46-run victory on home turf.
Seemingly behind the eight ball after Miles Milliner piloted the home side to a healthy 218, Parramatta roared back into contention, and at 2-88 in the 25th over had one hand on the same shield they claimed a year earlier against Hawkesbury.
But when Manly spinner Myles Kapoor knocked over the prodigiously talented Blake Noorbergen (23 off 25) with a deceptive dart, the mood changed in an instant.
Amid a rising run rate, Kapoor and left-arm leg spinner Harry Kershler continued to tighten the screws.
Kershler found the top edge to dismiss the dangerous Athan Maraziotis (38 off 63 balls) and when Kapoor trapped Cameron Knight (8 off 20) lbw with his left-arm orthodox, Parramatta required 109 at 6.4 per over with five wickets in hand.
With a stand of 41, Advik Ajithkumar (31 off 60) and Prapta Das (22 off 25) kept the wolves a bay until the Manly quicks returned.
Julian Osbourne (2-36) undid Ajithkumar with a slower ball before right-armer Billy Martin (5-26) cleaned up the final four wickets to claim the Kevin Cunningham Medal as player of the match.
“The monkey’s off the back,” said Davies, in just his second season in charge.
“It’s a massive boost for junior cricket in the entire area, because every boy coming through the rep system looks up to the players in Green Shield.
“So for the boys to win means everyone will be talking about it. It’s the ultimate, it’s unreal.”
TRAFFIC ALERT
Surely the next time Milliner takes guard at Manly Oval, the adjoining streets will be closed to traffic.
At 4-86, the powerfully built left-hander probably felt the weight of the world on his shoulders when he arrived at the wicket to replace Manly’s “Mr Reliable”, Myles Kapoor.
A subdued 14 off 15 deliveries said as much, but when he launched the 38th ball of his innings straight down the ground and out of the park, the locals roared and he raised his bat for a game changing half century.
In a title winning knock of 76 off 58 balls, the last of four maximums saw a Noorbergen delivery disappear into the traffic at the opposite end of the ground.
“Billy Martin was unreal with the ball, but personally, Miles was my player of the match,” said Davies.
“I reckon he did the hard yards for us and got us from a dangerous position into a very winnable position.”
CHEEKY SLIDER
The wicket of Noorbergen was always going to be a pivotal moment in the run to the title.
Coming off an unbeaten third grade ton on Saturday, the right-hander immediately continued on from where he left off, finding the fence with a punishing cut from the get-go which was quickly followed by a boundary and pull shot for six over the mid-wicket fence.
But just as Parra regained the momentum, Kapoor picked their pocket with a flash of brilliance.
Operating around the wicket, the left-armer trapped Noorbergen on the crease with a quicker ball that angled in, eventually beating everything before crashing into the timber.
“Myles and Harry have been doing it all tournament,” said Davies.
“So I wasn’t surprised. They’re both left-arm, and it takes a while for batters to work them out.
“But to see Blake get out when he did, that was a massive play in the context of the game.”
EYE TO THE FUTURE
With many of last season’s premiership winning Parramatta side kicking on this season and developing their careers on the grade scene, Davies highlighted the members of his title winning combination that will give club selectors something to consider over the next 12 months.
“Obviously Kapoor is pretty classy with the bat, and also with the ball,” he said.
“Osbourne and captain Lukas Overhoff are already in the grade system. And there’s Kershler of course when he’s down from the north coast, but the four of them are pretty good cricketers.
“They’d be the four to single out in the short term.”
And what about the coach, can supporters expect to see Kev Davies for another campaign next summer?
“How could I not defend the title, you can’t just stop at one,” he signed off.
GREEN SHIELD TEAM OF THE YEAR
Following the grand final, NSW Premier Cricket announced the players selected in the 2023/24 AW Green Shield Merit XII. Selection criteria was restricted to performances during the preliminary rounds.
Batsmen
1. Blake Noorbergen, Parramatta, 384 runs at 128.00; HS 145.
2. Athan Maraziotis, Parramatta, 287 runs at 57.4; HS 86.
3. Vivaan Gandhi, Gordon, 256 runs at 42.67; HS 82.
4. Myles Kapoor, Manly Warringah, 236 runs at 78.67; HS 84.
5. Angus Tesoriero, Mosman, 228 runs at 38.00; HS 68.
6. Rubeindranath Gobinath, Northern District, 214 runs at 107.00; HS 108no.
Wicketkeeper
7. Ahan Vinod, Fairfield-Liverpool, 13 dismissals; 174 runs at 58.00
Bowlers
8. Julian Osbourne, Manly Warringah, 16 wickets at 9.00; Best 5/16.
9. Taylor Gilbert, Bankstown, 14 wickets at 12.00; Best 6/34.
10. Yash Deshmukh, Fairfield-Liverpool, 12 wickets at 11.50; Best 4/36.
11. Tyler McInnes, Gordon, 11 wickets at 6.36; Best 4/11.
12. Harry Kershler, Manly Warringah, 11 wickets at 11.64; Best 4/17.
GRAND FINAL PHOTO GALLERY
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