School Sport Australia cricket titles, Adelaide: All the NSW action, Day 4 wrap

It’s all hands on deck in Adelaide where the state’s top primary school female cricketers moved a step closer to national glory at the U12 School Sport Champs. Girls/boys, DAY 4 WRAP.

The NSWPSSA girls squad remain on track to repeat the success of last year’s (pictured) winning combination in Darwin. Picture: Jason Hosken (News Corp)

Following a well deserved day off, both NSW teams returned to the field on Thursday in the countdown to the finish of the week-long School Sport Australia 12 Years and Under Championships.

With the title on the line, the girls returned to West Beach for a must-win T20 clash with the ACT, while the boys looked forward to opening their account against South Australia.

Full wrap of Thursday’s games.

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MEET 24 BOYS AND GIRLS FROM NSW AT THE SCHOOL SPORT CHAMPS, ADELAIDE

DAY 4: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5

GIRLS

Driven by the success of last year’s unbeaten NSW championship winning side, the Blues returned to the field on Thursday and promptly brushed aside the ACT with a comprehensive fourth straight victory.

Following the mammoth 150-run win, the Blues girls enter the final day of competition on Friday with destiny in their own hands. Victories over Victoria and Western Australia will secure back-to-back titles although, even with a slip-up, they’ll still be in the mix.

Invited to bat, Newcastle’s Jane Cruckshank (45* off 36 balls) and Elodie Phillipson (12* off 29) came out all guns blazing in an opening stand of 55 before Cruckshank stepped aside for Kaya Kumar at the end of the 10th over.

With more than a hint of purpose, the skipper arrived at the middle with the ferocity of a cyclone. Suspecting the title could be decided on percentages, Kumar wasted little time in blasting the Blues to a massive 1/173 off 20 overs.

In an innings that lasted 31 deliveries, the right-hander hammered five fours and two sixes to finish 62 not out.

Marsfield’s Ella Finnane (3/2) took the new ball and the carnage continued. In three overs, the pace ace landed three early blows and came close to pulling off a hat-trick.

In an innings that finished inside 10 overs, the ACT were all out for 23 runs. Matilda Lett also finished with three wickets, while Diva Patel, Myra Guglani and Michelle Pham all took one each.

BOYS

Once again the boys gave their best, but were unable to get over a strong South Australian outfit who collected the points with a 45-run victory.

Kaito Mori (1/16) struck early with the ball and the Blues were in command when Henry Galland (2/29) struck twice in the fourth over. First, the Crookwell left-armer was assisted by the safe hands of Jack Palmer, and then struck the pads with his next ball to make it 3/17.

From there, the home side wriggled out of trouble and accelerated to a position of strength to register 6/128. Opener Jake O’Dea scored 47, and Bhavy Patel struck a damaging 36 off 21 balls.

With all the momentum, the South Aussie bowlers kept the Blues in check. Thomas O’Sullivan (12) was the only batter to reach double-figures in a final card of 9/83.

On Friday, NSW concluded their campaign with T20 matches against the Northern Territory and Victoria.

DAY 3: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3

GIRLS

The girls’ domination continued as they outclassed South Australia at West Beach with a performance that is sure to have the remaining contenders looking nervously over their shoulder.

With all six of the top order getting starts, the Blues surged to a formidable 40-over total of 8/223 on route to an impressive 105-run victory.

Currently sitting third with a game in hand, following Wednesday’s break, the Blues enter the final two days as the only unbeaten team.

The hosts won the toss, then promptly started chasing leather for the next couple of hours.

Michelle Pham continued her good form in Adelaide. Picture: Jason Hosken – NewsLocal

Given the keys to the top of the order, Riverstone’s Gayathri Naik (74 of 67 balls) eased through the gears and with Artarmon run-machine, Myra Guglani (15 off 34), the duo added 42 runs.

With the foundation set, round one century-maker Kaya Kumar cleared the rope in a brisk 18, before Naik and Michelle Pham (46 off 65) continued the charge with a 51-run stand for the third-wicket.

It was the perfect scenario for a confident Mia Gilbert. Fresh from a three-wicket spell in round-two, the Dorrigo youngster showed the other side of her game with a dashing 30 from 38 balls.

In reply, South Australia never looked likely from the moment Ella Finnane (1-17) rocked back the stumps in the third over. Wicketkeeper Jane Cruckshank then found herself on the ended of a couple of run outs, as Gilbert (1-7) and Matilda Lett (1-7) continued the precession.

The home side were eventually bowled out in the 27th over for 118, with Guglani cleaning up four lower order wickets for 17 runs.

BOYS

The news proved far less exciting for the boys who were overpowered by a ruthless Queensland outfit by 74-runs.

After starting the competition with back-to-back heartbreaking defeats, NSW simply ran of legs at St Clair Oval.

In a 30-over aside contest, regular contributor Kaito Mori top scored with 28 not out as NSW posted 8/101.

The effort was there with the ball, but the Queenslanders continued to mount partnerships and continued past the target before closing out the overs on 7/175.

Macarthur product Lee Helmrich (2/12) was the only multiple wicket-taker, while Tyson Jansz (1/22), Thomas O’Sullivan (1/16) and Lakyn Tonks (1/15) all took one each.

Tahmoor spinner Lee Helmrich picked up two wickets against Queensland. Picture: Jason Hosken - NewsLocal

DAY 2: MONDAY, DECEMBER 2

GIRLS

After playing more than 70 overs in Monday’s victory over Queensland, the girls lightened the load on Tuesday with a comfortable victory over the NT in a match that lasted less than 25 overs.

Coming off an opening round bye, NT took to the crease where they were immediately undone by the pace and swing of Diva Patel (2/1). The Rouse Hill quick promptly removed both openers in her first over, and it was 3/3 in the third over when Ella Finnane (1/3) accepted a return catch.

The NT middle order stemmed the flow of wickets, but they struggled to find second gear and could only manage 33 runs from their allotted 20 overs. Mia Gilbert extended her impressive start to the tour, in three overs the Coffs Harbour leggie took 3/10 and at one stage was on a hat-trick.

Lane Cove’s Elodie Phillipson (1/8) and Seven Hills all-rounder Kyra Prajapati (1/0) were the other bowlers to finish among the wickets.

The Blues made short work of the chase, charging to consecutive victories in 4.4 overs.

BOYS

The boys’ title ambitions have taken a big hit following a heartbreaking final over defeat to the ACT.

In an absolute thriller, the ACT needed 11 runs from the final 13 balls to pass the Blues’ 3/127. With the contest on the line, skipper Emmett Parsons turned to gun all-rounder Kaito Mori.

Coming off his second fifty in two days, the St Felix Bankstown left-armer gave his side the upper hand when he reduced the ACT to 9/117 at the end of the 18th over.

In a classic scrap, the final two ACT batters held their nerve and scrambled across the line in the final over to record a one-wicket victory.

While gutted by successive defeats, the NSW boys can hold their heads high after a strong all-round showing.

Mosman opener Zachary Meacock was fearless, carry his bat through the innings in a knock of 54 off 53 balls. Alongside Mori (50 off 38 balls) the pair added 81 for the third wicket to carry NSW to a competitive score, before Cranbrook’s Will Watson rounded out the innings on 10 not out.

Prestons leg-spinner Tyson Jansz picked up 3/19, and followed up opening bowler Harbaz Singh who finished with 2/20.

DAY 1: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1

GIRLS

Kaya Kumar had barely been in the South Australian capital for 24 hours but it didn’t stop the girl from Sherwood Ridge Primary from announcing herself in style, blasting 103 runs as NSW secured a 65-run victory over Queensland.

A member of last year’s NSW combination that claimed the title in Darwin, Kumar showed why she’s on track for a bright future with her third century of the season across all formats.

Despite itching to unleash the willow, Kumar elected to send Queensland in after winning the toss and the bowlers didn’t let the skipper down. Dorrigo’s Mia Gilbert (1-22, four overs) entered the attack in the seventh over and struck the first blow with her fifth delivery when the leggie bowled the dangerous Heidi Gough for 19 off 20 balls.

Kaya Kumar (Sherwood Ridge Public School) scored a century in the opening round in Adelaide. Picture: Jason Hosken – NewsLocal

Penrith’s Matilda Lett (1/12, four overs) struck five overs later when the right-armer removed Maroons captain Tanisha Gudigar to make it 2/51 in the 12th over.

From there the wickets continued to tumble until the 33rd over when Queensland were dismissed for 143. Artarmon’s Myra Guglani finished with 2/32, while medium pacer Kyra Prajapati quickly cleaned up the tail with three wickets in 11 deliveries.

Faced by an awkward chase and with plenty of new faces on board, the Blues could have easily been overcome by nerves. It couldn’t have been further from the truth as NSWPSSA regular Gayathri Naik joined Newcastle’s Jane Cruckshank at the top of the order.

The pair saw off the new ball before Cruckshank departed with the score on 40. Tensions escalated when Naik quickly followed for 28, but it was just the beginning of an absolute run feast.

Michelle Pham, selected from St Anthony’s Girraween, joined forces with Kumar in a partnership of 156. Pham struck 31 runs, but there was no stopping the skipper who powered the Blues past the target and towards a commanding 4/208 from 40 overs.

BOYS

It was a much closer battle for the boys who proved an even match-up for Western Australia before going down by a narrow margin of 12 runs.

After being sent in, NSW slumped to 3/39 before Bankstown all-rounder Kaito Mori showed why he’s one to keep an eye on this week.

In a repeat of his fine form at the NSWPSSA championships in Armidale, Mori met the WA attack head on in an innings of 58. Harbaz Singh (17) and Thomas O’Sullivan (14) offered valuable support as NSW reached a competitive 6/139.

The Blues continued to fight and Mori (1/9, eight overs) carried his confidence with the bat to create several chances in a blistering new ball spell.

WA opener Ivan Bhoumick (49) and Thivain Wijayathunga combined for a big second wicket partnership to break the contest open on the way to a match-winning total of 6/151.

Gymea Bay Public spinner Jack Palmer finished with the pick of the figures, landing his left-arm offies to pick up 3/22 off eight overs.