Country Colts cricket championships: Greater Illawarra claims the 2024 title
With some brutal batting and quite brilliant bowling, one side has taken out the Country Colts championships in emphatic fashion.
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Greater Illawarra has capped off a perfect week of cricket by claiming the Country Colts title with an undefeated campaign on the Central Coast.
Coming into the final game seven points clear of second-placed North Coastal and almost assured of the NSW under-19s country championship, the team put the cherry on top of a fantastic week with a thumping five-wicket victory over Western.
The win was the team’s fifth from five games, completing an excellent clean sweep of the tournament that saw the side defeat North Coastal, Newcastle, Southern Districts, the Central Coast and Western en route to the title.
Greater Illawarra finished on 27 points, seven clear of second in what was a comprehensive carnival.
“The team displayed a clinical performance throughout the whole week and that was the key to it,” said coach Grant Tilling. “It was about bonding well as a team and the team standing up, working well together and working as a unit.”
With the team bowling first in three of its five games, Tilling was particularly impressed with his side’s efforts in the field.
“It was about the way the team bowled as a group, that was the first thing. I think the bowling unit was just exemplary,” he said.
And although the likes of captain Angus Campbell (222) and vice-captain Bailey Abela (177) were among the highest runscorers and provided plenty of firepower, Tilling was pleased with how side reacted under adversity.
“Another thing was that if we lost wickets in a clump, which we did in some games, those middle- to lower-order batsmen then really dug in and started to work the ball and come up with the goods. So they really dug in when things weren’t going our way,” he said.
“Another thing the boys did really well was adapt to the conditions over the week because not every wicket is the same.
“On day one it was a tacky, wet wicket so we had to adapt to that. And then there were rain delays for the two T20s we played, we only got an eight-over game in against Newcastle, so I thought they did well in adapting.”
With a record of four wins from four and coming into the final round knowing that a victory would seal the title, Greater Illawarra was once again impressive in the field on Friday, bowling Western out for just 181.
Leg spinner Ryan Cattle had a field day with the ball, taking 4-44 from 9.1 overs to take his personal tally for the tournament to 12 from five games.
The team then made light work of the chase, blasting past the total with five wickets in the shed and more than 17 overs remaining.
Skipper Campbell starred with an excellent run-a-ball 66, while Thomas Fletcher (40) and opener Abela (37) were also strong contributors.
And although the likes of NSW Country representatives Campbell, Abela and Cattle led the way for the team, the coach with pleased with the performances of a string of others in the squad.
“Tommy Fletcher batted exceptionally well, Jackson Taylor bowled well and Kasey Barton from the South Coast bowled really well too,” said Tilling.
ROUND FOUR WRAP
GREATER ILLAWARRA PUTS ONE HAND ON THE TROPHY
Greater Illawarra has got one hand on the Country Colts championship after defeating the Central Coast by four wickets in a seesawing round four clash.
After a strong team bowling performance from the south coast side reduced its rivals to 213, NSW Country representative batsmen Angus Campbell and Bailey Abela laid the platform for victory with a brilliant 137-run partnership to give the side its fourth win from as many starts in the tournament.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Central Coast overcame the early loss of opener Thomas Alderson to build a cautious but solid start its innings, with skipper Alexander Cutting and Jaylen Johnston pushing the score past 50 and then into triple figures with some assured batting.
Scoring at around four and a half runs per over, the pair put on 94 for the second wicket to leave the side well placed at 2-113 when Cutting was caught off the bowling off left-arm quick Joshua Garnero for 58.
While the team was in a good position, disaster struck in the very next over when Johnston was bowled by off spinner Bailey Abela for 41.
Zak Graham and Liam Roche continued to keep the score ticking along for the home side, however when Graham was dismissed by Logan Jensen for 21, it triggered a collapse that saw the team lose 4-29 inside four overs under some excellent Illawarra bowling.
Roche did his best to drive the total beyond 200, however he eventually fell for a well-made 45 as the Central Coast was bowled out for 213 with three overs remaining.
Medium-pacer Logan Jensen proved to be the chief destroyer with 3-29, while Garnero, Abela and Ryan Cattle all picked up two wickets each.
In response, Greater Illawarra hit an early hurdle when Jake Monie was dismissed by Scott Daniels for six.
However this only brought Campbell and Abela together at the crease. And just like Cutting and Johnston for the Central Coast, the pair went about building the innings.
While also scoring at a steady rather than spectacular rate, the NSW Country representatives showed all their class as they chewed into the total.
After pushing the team past 50 and into triple figures, the pair brought up their 100-run partnership and looked at ease in the middle.
At one stage it looked like they were set for twin centuries until Abela was eventually dismissed for an excellent 72 from 105 balls.
From here Campbell really started to put the put down and got within a couple of big hits of his ton before he was caught on the pads by left-arm tweaker Johnston for 89 from 107.
And while the loss of a couple of late wickets made the contest close than many thought it was going to be, a confident 27 not out from Thomas Fletcher guided his side home with 13 balls to spare.
The victory, Greater Illawarra’s fourth straight, combined with Newcastle’s loss, puts the team seven points clear of second-placed North Coastal with just one one-dayer to play on Friday.
The only way it can be knocked off top spot is if it loses heavily to sixth-placed Western and North Coastal hammer Central North with a bonus-point victory.
Central Coast 10-213 (Cutting 58, Roche 45; Jensen 3-29, Garnero 2-41) lost to Greater Illawarra 6-214 (Campbell 89, Abela 72; Scott Daniels 3-37, Johnston 2-40) by four wickets
NORTH COASTAL END NEWCASTLE’S TITLE DEFENCE
North Coastal has ended Newcastle’s defence of the Country Colts championships after knocking over the Hunter side by 36 runs in a high-scoring contest.
Brilliant knocks from top-order batters Kai Croft (86) and Sam Weir (82) helped the north coast side to the highest score of the tournament so far with 7-286 from its 50 overs, before crucial interventions from spinners James Lobb (4-24) and Rory McLean (3-57) helped bowl Newcastle out for 250.
Croft and Weir were standouts as the pair put on a magnificent 164-run partnership to set up the North Coastal innings.
The pair showed plenty of patience and the ability to go through the gears during their long stay at the crease. While they were only scoring at between three and a half and four runs an over through the first 20 or 25 overs, the talented batsmen really upped the ante later on.
They were well supported by Rory McLean (34) and Nathan Pryke (23*), who helped push the team to an excellent total of 286.
In what was a tough day’s work for the Newcastle bowlers, leg spinner Tyler McInnes bagged 4-60 from his 10 overs, while left-arm spinner Harry Campbell and quick Jacob Curry were fairly economical with figures of 0-41 and 0-45 from 10, respectively.
In reply, Newcastle took a leaf out of North Coastal’s book.
Despite losing Lucas Vincent early for 10, NSW Country stars Austen Hiskens and Lachlan Williams showed their class as they built the chase nicely.
The pair were scoring at more than five an over and appeared to be cruising. They chalked up a 100-run partnership of their own before Hiskens was given out tickling one down the leg side to the keeper.
The wicket was the first of three big blows from McLean, who had Kel Wilson stumped well by keeper Brodie McDowell with a wide down leg side and clean bowled danger man Williams for 44 with a peach of a delivery.
Despite falling to 4-155, Newcastle still had plenty of firepower in its line-up as Harry Price, Austin Berry and Tyler McInnes kept things ticking along.
With the defending champions at 5-217 with seven overs remaining the game was evenly poised. However the introduction of another spinner in Lobb once again turned the contest in favour of North Coastal.
The left-arm orthodox tweaker bowled the dangerous Price in just his second over before driving the nail in with the twin wickets of Alex Frith and Jamie Dickson in this third.
The scalp of Harry Campbell was Lobb’s fourth in four overs, with Newcastle bowled out for 250 with two and a half remaining.
The loss ends put Newcastle 10 points behind leaders Greater Illawarra, ending its chance of winning the title, while North Coastal jumped up into second and kept its slim chances alive with its third victory from four games.
North Coastal 7-286 (Croft 86, Weir 82, McLean 34; McInnes 4-60) defeated Newcastle 10-250 (Hiskens 70, Williams 44; Lobb 4-24, McLean 3-57) by 36 runs
WESTERN ON THE BOARD WITH CENTRAL NORTH THRASHING
Western has notched up its first win of the Country Colts campaign in style with a 146-run thrashing of Central North.
With the team coming into the game on the back of three losses, everything clicked for Western, who scored a healthy 9-267 with the bat from its 50 overs before skittling its opponents for just 121.
Star batter Harry Roscarel continued his strong form with an excellent 82 from 87 balls. He put on a crucial 117-run stand for the second wicket with opener Murray Staines, who was also impressive with a well-made 48.
Elsewhere, fellow opener Hugh Taylor (29) and middle-order batter Cooper Pullen (32) made strong contributions as the team recorded the second-highest team total of the carnival so far.
While they copped a bit of punishment, Central North bowlers Thomas Holmes (3-53) and Will Parkinson (2-59) took multiple wickets, while Franklin Cripps was arguably the pick of the bunch with the impressive figures of 1-34 from 10 overs.
With a hefty chase ahead of it, Central North’s task became even harder in the third over when gun opener Harrison Dunn was dismissed for four.
It didn’t get better for the side, who lost a steady flow of wickets to be struggling at 5-63.
While his teammates fell around him, Harry Scowen was the only batter who showed any resistance, playing a wonderful knock under pressure. With wickets falling regularly, Scowen hit nine boundaries in an excellent knock of 57 from 61 balls.
However the team never looked like coming close to the target, with Western off spinner Blayde Burke ripping through the middle and lower order to ensure an early finish for side.
At one stage Burke took wickets in four consecutive overs as he finished with figures of 5-31 from 10 overs, the second best so far in the carnival, and Central North was bowled out for just 121.
The victory lifted Western into sixth on the ladder, just two points behind their round four opponents in fifth.
Western 9-267 (Roscarel 82, Staines 48; Holmes 3-53, Parkinson 2-59) defeated Central North 10-121 (Scowen 57, Thorpe 13; Burke 5-31, Pullen 2-22) by 146 runs
GAIN LEADS RIVERINA TO STH DISTRICTS WIN
Riverina has dragged itself off the bottom of the ladder following a comprehensive 72-run win over Southern Districts.
Half-centuries to Braith Gain (74) and Jonathon Whiting (55) pushed the side to its best score of the tournament with 238, before a good team bowling effort ensured the Southern Districts was never in with a realistic chase of chasing down the total and was bowled out for 166.
As another team that had struggled to put it all together during the opening three rounds of the carnival, Riverina got off to just about the worst start imaginable when Southern Districts quick Ted Waterman knocked over openers Hunter Hall and Angus Massey in the first over of the game.
However Gain and NSW Country rep star Shaun Smith helped steady the ship.
The pair put on 56 for the third wicket before Smith was dismissed for 22. However this only brought Whiting to the crease, who proved to be an excellent partner as Gain played his shots.
The number three hit nine fours and one six as he upped the ante for Riverina before being caught for an excellent 74 from 74 balls.
With Whiting still in the middle, he combined well with the lower order as Caleb Walker (26) and Baxter Wilson (25*) pushed the score to 238 as the team was bowled out after 48 overs.
On a day when several Southern Districts bowlers found it tough, Brock Fahey was the standout with 4-37 from seven, while Waterman did the damage up top with 2-16 from five.
Southern Districts had struggled with a bit of firepower with the bat all week and their task became a lot harder early on when opener Lucas Kay was caught behind for 10.
While the top order all made starts, the loss of William Thomson (23) and Brock Fahey (10) left the side at 3-53.
And although Issac Roxburgh (46) and Joshua Mattick (16) put on a 50-run stand for the fourth wicket, Southern Districts never seriously looked like chasing down the total and were bowled out for 166.
Leg spinner Hunter Hall was the picked of the bowlers with 3-37 from 10, while Rhys Drennan, Toby Derrick and Baxter Wilson all picked up two wickets each to give Riverina its first win of the tournament.
The victory lifts the side up off the bottom of the table into seventh, with Southern Districts slipping into last place.
Riverina 10-238 (Gain 74, Whiting 55; Fahey 4-37, Waterman 2-16) defeated Southern Districts 10-166 (Roxburgh 46, Thomson 23; Hall 3-37, Drennan 2-12) by 72 runs
ROUND THREE WRAP
GREATER ILLAWARRA SETS THE PACE
Greater Illawarra has maintained its spot at the top of the Colts standings after once again impressing with a 64-run win over Southern Districts in the team’s second T20 of the day.
Some brutal top-order hitting laid the platform for the convincing victory, with the side notching up the highest score of the day, which was dominated by the bat.
Despite being sent into bat and losing key man Bailey Abela early for just four, the Illawarra team wasting no time getting going as Angus Campbell and Jackson Ingram helped push the score to 1-47 after just five overs.
Campbell in particular was seeing them like watermelons, pummelling four fours and three sixes on his way to a remarkable 50 from just 25 balls.
While he might not have had a strike rate of 200, Ingram was scoring at well over a run a ball and was joined at the crease by Jake Monie, who seemingly picked up where the others left off with some brilliant power hitting.
With the team going at more than eight an over, the pair pushed the score into triple figures before Ingram was eventually dismissed for 54 from 45 balls.
Monie then moved the scoreline beyond 150 and finished with an excellent 49 not out from 33 balls as the team ended up on 5-177 from 20 overs.
The total proved to be the highest of the day and was remarkably just three short of the team’s round one score of 180, recorded in a 50-over innings.
While he and his team had copped a pummelling from the batters, Southern Districts’ Will Torr did finish with 3-46 from four overs.
Staring down the barrel of a daunting chase, Southern Districts got off to a bright start as openers Lucas Kay (30) and William Thomson (27) scored freely.
Looking to emulate his heroics from round one, Ted Waterman also looked in good touch as the team moved beyond 70 at about a run a ball.
However the loss of Waterman for a run-a-ball 16 and Thomson in back-to-back overs cruelled any chance of a dream chase. And although Issac Roxburgh batted well for 24 from 21 balls, Southern Districts ultimately fell well short of the monster total.
The win keeps Greater Illawarra’s perfect record intact as the team sits four points ahead of Newcastle at the top of the ladder.
Greater Illawarra 5-177 (Ingram 54, Campbell 50, Monie 49*; Torr 3-46) defeated Southern Districts 7-113 (Kay 30, Thomson 27; Jensen 2-16, Amadio 2-18) by 64 runs
STARS SLUG IT OUT IN FINAL-OVER THRILLER
A couple of NSW Country rep stars have put on an absolute pinch-hitting clinic as North Coastal ran down Western in a final-over thriller.
Batting first, Western opener Harry Roscarel hit the boundary 10 times as he scored a brilliant knock of 88 not out from 61 balls to push his side to a very healthy total of 5-159 from its 20 overs.
However not to be outdone, North Coastal’s Sam Weir went and belted an unbeaten 77 from 55 balls, including the winning runs with just two balls to spare, to give his side a thrilling victory.
Coming into the game on the back of two low scores and with his side still winless, Roscarel took control from the outset.
And while top-order teammates Riley Keen Fletcher Hyde and Thomas Blowes came and went fairly quickly, Roscarel showed why is so highly regarded with some wonderful shots to get the score going north.
Working well with Angus Cornish (24) and Cooper Pullen (20), the right-hander hit nine fours and one six as he pushed his own score beyond 50 and then the team’s past 150. He ended up unbeaten on 88 while Western finished strongly on 5-159.
With a big mountain to climb, things didn’t start well for North Coastal, who lost opener Kai Croft for a duck with just the third ball of the innings.
Weir and Rory McLean started to build but couldn’t quite break the shackles, with the team sitting on 2-41 from seven overs when McLean was dismissed for 27.
Joined at the crease by North Coastal’s round two matchwinner, Beau Mainey, Weir started to up the ante as the boundaries became more frequent.
The pair put on 71 in good time, with North Coastal on 3-112 when Mainey was caught for 25 from 22 balls.
Still slightly behind in the contest, Weir and Brodie McDowell (28*) went wild, hitting 46 from four and a half overs to get to within touching distance, before Weir fitting hit the winning runs with just two balls to spare.
The victory capped off a good day for North Coastal, who sit fourth with two wins from three, while the loss was heartbreaking for Western, who remain winless through the first three rounds despite a strong performance.
Western 5-159 (Roscarel 88*, Cornish 24; Weir 2-20, Lobb 1-16) lost to North Coastal 3-160 (Weir 77*, McDowell 28*; Pullen 1-16, Burke 1-34) by seven wickets
CENTRAL NORTH AND RIVERINA GO DOWN TO THE WIRE
Central North ensured that it has kept within touching distance of the tournament leaders after holding off a late Riverina charge to win a high-scoring nailbiter by just five runs.
Built on the back of some excellent hitting from Harry Scowen, who scored a remarkable 52 from 29 balls, and Harrison Dunn (48 from 36), Central North looked well in control for much of the contest after posting a big total of 6-167 from its 20 overs.
That was until Riverina – inspired by Hunter Hall, who grabbed headlines with a stunning 75 from 44 balls – hit 62 runs from six overs to leave the side needing 13 to win from the final over.
With nerves of steel, Central North all-rounder Blake Scicluna stared down the pressure to take two wickets and importantly concede just seven runs in the all-important over to hand his side a dramatic win.
The game was another example of the bat dominating the ball on day two of the carnival.
Scowen hit three fours and four sixes to finish with a strike rate just shy of 180, while Dunn continued his dream tournament with three fours and three sixes of his own sit at the top of the runscoring charts after three rounds.
On the other side, Riverina opener Shaun Smith kicked off the chase with plenty of intent, scoring at a strike rate of more than 200 for much of his innings before being dismissed for a dangerous 34 from just 18 balls, while Hall was the star for his team, hitting two fours and clearing the fence four times as he hit if 75 at a strike rate of 170.
In what was a tough game for the bowlers, it was ultimately Central North’s accuracy that got the team home, with the side only bowling two extras to Riverina’s 13.
As for the bowlers, Riverina’s Sam Williamson (2-27 from four) and Finlay Jenkins (2-33 from four) did well, while Scicluna showed some expert death bowling to finish with the crucial figures of 2-12 from two.
Central North 6-167 (Scowen 52, Dunn 48; Williamson 2-27, Jenkins 2-33) defeated Riverina 6-162 (Hall 75, Smith 34; Scicluna 2-12, Holmes 2-21) by five runs
FIVE-STAR VINCENT INSPIRES NEWCASTLE WIN
Young gun Lucas Vincent has put in a contender for performance of the tournament after inspiring Newcastle to a five-wicket win over the Central Coast to push the side into second place on the ladder.
Handed the ball with Central Coast travelling well early in its innings, the left-arm spinner ripped through the batting line-up by taking 4-24 to restrict the Coast side to just 7-108 from its 20 overs.
Not done there, the 17-year-old went and belted an unbeaten 67 from just 56 balls to guide Newcastle home with 14 balls to spare.
It proved to be a telling contribution, as the Central Coast was well placed at 1-60 before Vincent bowled opener Thomas Alderson for 31. He then proceeded to knock over danger man Jaylen Johnston for 18 before taking another two wickets as the Central Coast lost 4-16 in a matter of overs.
Meanwhile with the bat it was very much a lone effort, with Vincent scoring more than half his team’s runs as Tyler McInnes (11*) and Harry Piece the next best with just 11.
The victory ensured Newcastle bounced back from its narrow round to loss to leaders Greater Illawarra, as the win saw the side leapfrog its local rivals into second place on the ladder.
Central Coast 7-108 (Alderson 31, Johnston 18; Vincent 4-19, Roser 2-19) lost to Newcastle 5-109 (Vincent 67*, McInnes 11*; Askey 2-21, Graham 2-27) by five wickets
ROUND TWO WRAP
ILLAWARRA, NEWCASTLE CLASH IN HEAVYWEIGHT THRILLER
Greater Illawarra has surged to the top of the standings and given itself the inside running at the title after defeating Newcastle in a rain-delayed final-over thriller.
In a game between the two sides who were awarded a bonus point in round one, the contest was unfortunately reduced to eight overs each due to a rain delay.
Batting first, Newcastle got off to a terrible start when danger man Kel Wilson was bowled by Bailey Abela with the first ball of the innings.
It was a tricky start for the Hunter side, who lost regular wickets as it sought to pummel the ball to all parts of the ground.
While Austen Hiskens found the boundary in his quick-fire 13, the defending champs looked in trouble up against the tidy Greater Illawarra attack before an impressive 24 from Austin Berry pushed the team to 6-63 from its eight overs.
In response, Greater Illawarra couldn’t have had a bigger contrast to Newcastle’s start, with Angus Campbell belting a four in the first ball of the innings.
The south coast side managed to find the boundary a little easier in the early overs as Campbell (12), Bailey Abela (11) and Jake Monie (11) all made starts.
Newcastle did well to tighten things up, however Nicolas Nicastri (12*) guided his side home in the final over to send his side into outright first place on the ladder.
Newcastle 6-63 (Berry 24, Hiskens 13; Amadio 2-22) was defeated by Greater Illawarra 4-64 (Nicastri 12*, Campbell 12; Frith 2-12) by six wickets
NORTH COASTAL, RIVERINA TURN ON THE FIREWORKS
North Coastal has bounced back from a horror day-one performance to put on the best batting display of the round as it recorded a 20-run win over Riverina in an entertaining high-scoring clash.
On the back of being rolled for 90 in its first hitout, the North Coastal looked like a completely different outfit as it belted the ball to all parts of the ground.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Kai Croft (20) and Sam Weir (31) got the team off to a strong start.
And while the team was scoring at about six runs an over, the middle order came in and really lifted the tempo, with Beau Mainey belting 40 from just 23 balls, Brodie McDowell hitting 28 from 20 and smacking two sixes in his 25 from 16 balls to push the side to a very healthy total of 7-167 from its 20 overs.
In an example of how destructive he was, Mainey took Riverina’s Baxter Wilson for 30 runs from one solitary over, which included three sixes and two fours.
While his team took some punishment, Jay Lavis was the pick of the Riverina bowlers with 3-22 from four overs, while Hunter Hall was also impressive with 2-24 from four.
Facing a big chase, Riverina certainly didn’t shirk the challenge and got off to a brilliant start thanks to openers Shaun Smith and Hunter Hall.
The pair put on a brilliant opening stand of 65 before Hall was dismissed by spinner Harry Kershler for 37.
At the other end, Smith was going berserk, clearing the fence at will as he brought up his half-century. All up, the NSW Country rep star hit seven sixes and one four as he scored a brilliant 86 from 47 balls.
Despite Smith’s best efforts, and the fact that Riverina only lost three wickets, North Coastal’s total was just too far out of reach as the side fell 20 runs short in what was a gallant chase.
North Coastal 7-167 (Mainey 40, Weir 30; Lavis 3-22, Hall 2-24) defeated Riverina 3-147 (Smith 86, Hall 37; Kershler 1-26) by 20 runs
CENTRAL NORTH GETS ON THE BOARD
After a heartbreaking final-over loss to kick off the tournament, Central North opened its account with a thumping eight-wicket victory over Southern Districts in its first T20 clash of the carnival.
Electing to bowl in the overcast conditions after winning the toss, Central North well and truly brought their opponents back to earth after their historic round one win, rolling Southern Districts for just 75 inside 18 overs.
Archer Starr finished with the best figures of 3-11, while Will Parkinson (2-6) and Jordan Lewington (2-21) were also impressive.
As for Southern Districts, it was grim reading with the bat. Although William Thomson (25) and Ted Waterman (18) got the side off to a reasonable start, no other player scored more than five in what was an almighty collapse.
With a small target to chase, Central North wasted no time finishing the job, with Franklin Cripps (24), Harry Scowen (18*) and Harrison Dunn (11*) helping to finish the job inside 11 overs for the side’s first win of the championships.
Southern Districts 10-75 (Thomson 25, Waterman 18; Starr 3-11, Parkinson 2-6) were defeated by Central North 2-76 (Cripps 24, Scowen 18*; McGregor 1-6) by eight wickets
CENTRAL COAST HAMMER WESTERN
Central Coast has kept pace with the leaders at the top after demolishing Western by eight wickets.
Set 133 to win, a brutal batting display from Alexander Cutting (54* from 35 balls) and Zak Graham (48* from 38) saw the side cruise past the total with more than four overs to spare.
Coming off a first-round humbling at the hands of Southern Districts, Western continued its struggles with the bat, slumping to 2-22 early on and then 5-58 as the Central Coast trio of Graham (2-17), Harry Askey (2-25) and Liam Roche (2-34) ripped through the batting line-up.
Western was able to stabilise things somewhat, with contributions from Thomas Blowes (23), Dugald Shepherd (20) and Angus Cornish (19) pushing the side to a defendable total of 8-132 from its 20 overs.
However it soon became clear that the total wasn’t anywhere near big enough as Cutting and Thomas Alderson mowed down the lead.
The Central Coast was scoring freely, and although Alderson (25) and danger man Jaylen Johnston (0) were dismissed in the same over, the result was never in doubt as Graham joined Cutting at the crease to top off a man-of-the-match performance that saw the side cruise home after 15.4 overs.
Western 8-132 (Blowes 23, Shepherd 20; Graham 2-17, Askey 2-25) was defeated by the Central Coast 2-136 (Cutting 54*, Graham 48*, Alderson 25; Macfarlane 2-21) by eight wickets
ROUND ONE WRAP
CENTRAL COAST PIP CENTRAL NORTH IN FINAL-OVER THRILLER
An excellent top-order innings and then some clutch tail-end hitting has helped the Central Coast to a stunning final-over victory over Central North to kick off its Colts campaign in style.
Chasing 253 for victory, the Central Coast was in trouble at 7-163 after 34 overs before number eight Kobi Goldie breathed life into the innings with a crucial 41 from 51 balls and lower-order batters Raj Sharma and Scott Daniels hit 37 off the last five and a half overs to give their side a two-wicket victory with just three balls to spare.
It was an impressive end to the chase for the Central Coast, who for much of the game looked to be behind in the contest following an excellent start to Central North’s innings.
After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, Central North got off to a brilliant start as openers Harrison Dunn and Thomas Thorpe went about building the innings.
While not scoring at express pace, the pair steadily ticked over as they first past 50 and then brought up their 100-run partnership in the 22nd over.
The Central Coast needed something and left-arm orthodox spinner Jaylen Johnston finally got the breakthrough in the 27th over when Thorpe was caught for 59, bringing an end to the pair’s excellent 128-run stand.
While the wicket didn’t trigger a collapse, it saw a string of batters make starts without going on with it, with Harry Scowen (18), Blake Scicluna (12), Franklin Crips (19) and Will Parkinson (12) all making contributions before being dismissed.
Dunn looked in excellent touch and was nearing in on a ton when he was remarkably run out by Raj Sharma for an excellent 92 from 124 balls.
And while Central North perhaps didn’t get the most out of its strong start, some late hitting from Harry Lewington (16*) got the team to a healthy total of 7-253 from its 50 overs.
In an innings dominated by the bat, Johnston was the pick of the bowlers with 2-40 from 10, Harry Askey also picked up two wickets while Zak Graham was economical with 0-26 from seven.
Chasing by far the biggest total of the day, the Central Coast also made a reasonable start to its innings with Alexander Cutting (16) and Thomas Alderson (28) both getting starts before two of the team’s best bowlers – Johnston and Graham – met at the crease.
The pair upped the ante and scored at a good click. They pushed the score past 100 before Johnston was dismissed for an excellent 62 from 57 balls with the score on 3-127.
The wicket triggered a middle-order collapse, with the Central Coast losing 4-36 to be struggling at 7-163.
Blake Scicluna and Thomas Holmes were particular impressive during this period, with both picking up two wickets each.
With his team in trouble needing 91 from 96 balls, Goldie did what some of his teammates couldn’t by keeping things ticking over and chipping away at the total.
While only hitting two boundaries, he kept rotating the strike before being dismissed for a well-made 41 from 51 balls.
The Central Coast was still 35 runs short at this stage, and just as it looked like the game was slipping away, number eight and nine – Sharma and Daniels – combined with some excellent late hitting.
Daniels in particular really got the run rate going with two big sixes and fittingly hit the winning runs to cap off a remarkable victory with just three balls remaining.
Central North 7-253 (Dunn 92, Thorpe 59; Askey 2-18, Johnston 2-42) were defeated by Central Coast 8-255 (Johnston 62, Goldie 41; Holmes 2-17, Scicluna 2-39) by two wickets
STAR SHINES AS SOUTHERN DISTRICTS CREATES HISTORY
A truly brilliant individual performance from all-rounder Ted Waterman has led Southern Districts to a historic first ever country championships victory as the team defeated Western by three wickets in a round one boilover.
Leading the attack with the ball, the big right-arm paceman took 3-28 from nine overs to help bowl Western out for 174 before scoring a stunning 88 from 49 balls to dig his side out of a massive hole and drag it to a three-wicket win.
While the performance and victory was spectacular enough, the significance of the occasion was arguably even more special, with Southern Districts recording its first ever junior country championships victory in either the under-16s or under-19s men’s and women’s tournaments since forming last year.
With his team bowling first, unsurprisingly it was Waterman who struck the first blow of the match, knocking over Western openers Hugh Taylor and Murray Staines in just the third over to give his side a dream start.
He was well supported by fellow opener Sam McGregor and Lincoln Reynolds, who ripped through the top order to reduce the very strong Western batting line-up to 5-48 in the 11th over.
With his team in deep trouble, all-rounder Riley Keen teamed up with Cooper Pullen at the crease to rescue the innings.
The former was particular impressive as he played his shots and put the pressure back on Southern Districts.
The pair helped stabilise things and put on 35 before Waterman was brought back into the attack and got Pullen caught behind for 11.
The wickets seemed to spur Keen on, as the left-hander put on a wonderful display on hitting as he past 50. While wickets kept falling around him, Keen smashed 10 fours and one six before he was eventually dismissed by McGregor for a brilliant 85 from 78 balls.
And although the team was bowled out for 174 after just 35 overs, Keen managed to give his side something to defend with the ball.
After a brilliant performance with the ball, Southern Districts got off to a disastrous start with the bat, slumping to 3-23 in just the seventh over.
While Brock Fahey (21) and Will Torr (19) put on 32 together to help to stabilise things, two more quick wickets saw Southern Districts fall to 5-55 from 15 overs.
With his team staring down the barrel of an agonising batting collapse, Waterman strolled into the middle and picked up exactly where he left off with the ball.
Much like Keen had done for Western, the NSW Country rep star put on a stunning display of clean hitting, dispatching the bowlers to all corners of the ground as the scoreboard raced ahead.
With Torr patiently holding up an end, Waterman passed 50, and eventually plundered five fours and an incredible eight sixes as he was eventually dismissed by a matchwinning 88 from just 49 balls.
And while there may have been a few nervous moments for the Southern Districts team, McGregor (14*) and James Panozzo (1*) helped guide the team home to chalk up a famous win by three wickets with more than 15 overs to spare.
Western 10-174 (Keen 85, Blowes 16; Waterman 3-28, McGregor 2-30) was defeated by Southern Districts 7-176 (Waterman 88, Fahey 21; Dillon 2-25, Burke 2-46)
NEWCASTLE SETS STANDARD IN TITLE DEFENCE
Newcastle has kicked off its title defence in style after romping home to an eight-wicket victory over Riverina.
A blistering performance by the team’s quicks laid the platform for victory, with Newcastle bowling its opponents out for just 125 before the defending champions’ top order made light work of the chase to secure the big win.
Quicks Jonah Roser (4-13) and Jacob Curry (3-17) were the pick of the bowlers, while fellow paceman Jamie Dickson (1-29) and young leg spinner Tyler McInnes (2-20) also got among the wickets in what was a statement performance to kick off the tournament.
Coming into the tournament looking to emulate last year’s efforts, Newcastle got off to a dream start when Dickson dismissed Riverina danger man and NSW Country representative Shaun Smith for a duck in just the third over.
Up the other end, bustling paceman Curry was almost unplayable, picking up the wickets of fellow opener Hunter Hall and Jonathon Whiting in quick succession.
The damage didn’t stop with the openers, with first-change bowler Roser coming on to rip through the middle order. He took three wickets in his first four overs to leave Riverina absolutely reeling at 6-37 from 15 overs.
While the team looked set for an early change of innings, Riverina number five Caleb Walker launched a stirring fightback.
Batting with the lower order, Walker showed plenty of ticker and flair to score a brilliant 56 to give his side at least something to bowl at.
Leggie McInnes came on to get the breakthrough, and then when Roser was reintroduced he took the final wicket to bowl Riverina out for just 125 in the 41st over.
With a small target to chase, Newcastle lost one wicket early when opener Lucas Vincent was dismissed for just five.
However any hopes Riverina might have had about pulling off a miraculous victory were swiftly dashed by NSW Country representative pair Austen Hiskens and Lachlan Williams, who steadily ate into the target.
Batting with plenty of maturity and relative ease, the pair put on 93 before Williams was dismissed for 29.
At the other end, Hiskens showed why he is considered to be one of the state’s best young batting prospects, pummelling eight fours and one six on the way to an excellent unbeaten 64.
He was joined by another Country rep star in Kel Wilson, who finished off the job in style with a six to finish on 16 not out and see his side ease past the total after just 25.1 overs and with eight wickets in hand.
Riverina 10-125 (Walker 56; Roser 4-13, Curry 3-17, McInnes 2-20) were defeated by Newcastle 2-127 (Hiskens 64*, Williams 29; Gain 1-5) by eight wickets
BOWLERS STAND TALL IN GREATER ILLAWARRA WIN
Some gritty batting and a stunning bowling performance has been enough for Greater Illawarra to record a first-up win as the side chalked up a comprehensive 90-run victory over North Coastal.
A restrained performance from star opener Bailey Abela (53) and Nicolas Nicastri (21), along with a rearguard action from the tail, helped the side scrape to 180 from its 50 overs before a five-star performance from leg-spinner Ryan Cattle and brilliant all-round display from Joshua Garnero helped skittle North Coastal and set up the big win.
After losing the toss and being sent into bat, Greater Illawarra got off to a tough start when opener Jake Monie and captain Angus Campbell were removed cheaply to leave the side struggling at 2-32 early on.
With North Coastal’s openers applying the pressure, Abela and Nicastri took a slow and steady approach to stabilise the innings.
Scoring at around three runs an over, the pair gradually built up the score as they accumulated runs. All up, they put on 55 together before North Coastal’s excellent left-arm spinner Harry Kershler got the breakthrough by dismissing Nicastri for 21 from 47 balls.
The wicket triggered a middle-order collapse, with Thomas Fletcher and Ryan Cattle both dismissed for one. Abela was run out for 53 from 94 balls soon after, and when Blake Cattle was also run out cheaply, the south coast side was in a spot of bother at 7-118.
Staring down the barrel of being bundled out cheaply, number eight Joshua Garnero led a fightback to give the side something to bowl at.
Working with the tail of Jackson Ingram (11), Kasey Barton (11) and Logan Jensen (14*), Garnero hit an unbeaten 21 from 42 balls to drag his side to 9-180 from its 50 overs.
While they failed to clean up the tail, it was nevertheless an impressive bowling performance from North Coastal, with tweaker Kershler (2-26 from 10) and quick Nathan Pryke (2-35 from 10) the pick of the bowlers.
After doing the business with the bat, Garnero took control with the ball. The left-arm quick devastated the North Coastal top order by dismissing danger men Beau Mainey and Sam Weir in just the fourth over to leave the side reeling at 2-6.
While Kai Croft (24) and Rory McLean (15) sought to steady things somewhat, the Greater Illawarra bowlers were on the money, with Kasey Barton picking up two wickets and Jackson Taylor one to leave their rivals reeling at 5-45.
Suddenly 180 looked like a mountain to climb and things only got worse when leg spinner Cattle was introduced to the attack.
In his second over he trapped Brody Felton on the pads for nine, before dismissing Croft and Taylor Gilbert in his third over to well and truly extinguish any hope North Coastal had of chasing down the target.
Cattle then finished the job by bowling Kershler and then getting Pryke caught to bowl North Coastal out for just 90 and finish with the very impressive figures of 5-22 from 5.5 overs.
He was well supported by Garnero (2-27 from eight) and Barton (2-7 from five) as Greater Illawarra put on statistically the best bowling display of the day to give themselves a great start to the tournament.
Greater Illawarra 9-180 (Abela 53, Garnero 21*; Kershler 2-26, Pryke 2-35) defeated North Coastal 10-90 (Croft 24, McLean 15; R Cattle 5-22, Barton 2-7) by 90 runs
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