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Cricket: Caulfield captain Jake Thorne scores 539 runs for Nightcliff in Darwin

Caulfield cricket captain Jake Thorne thrived in the Darwin heat as he topped the runs aggregate this winter — and his interstate adventure could be about to take a new twist.

Nightcliff captain Jake Thorne has been a sensation with the bat in his first Darwin and Districts cricket season, scoring 539 runs for the Tigers. Picture: Grey Morris
Nightcliff captain Jake Thorne has been a sensation with the bat in his first Darwin and Districts cricket season, scoring 539 runs for the Tigers. Picture: Grey Morris

It was all the motivation Jake Thorne needed.

Leading in to the final round of the Darwin cricket season on Saturday, some lighthearted banter hit a nerve.

“I was copping a bit of crap from people around town that I haven’t got a Darwin hundred,’’ he said.

Thorne responded by peeling off an unbeaten 117 off 139 balls to steer Nightcliff to victory over PINT.

“It was nice to silence them and get one,’’ he said.

The century took Thorne to the top of the runs aggregate, with 539, at an average of 77.

Jake Thorne cuts for Caulfield. Picture: Rob Leeson.
Jake Thorne cuts for Caulfield. Picture: Rob Leeson.

It certainly has been a wondrous winter for the Caulfield captain, who had planned to play in England before the coronavirus crisis struck.

“I was able to come up here because of COVID…work was being done remotely anyway in the three or four months leading up to it (lockdown),’’ he said.

“That’s how I got the okay from my boss to let me come up here.’’

Thorne said he’s enjoyed his first season in Darwin, especially the weather and laid-back lifestyle.

“It’s been really good,’’ he said.

“Between 30 and 34 degrees every day without any rain for the last three months.

“That alone has been great and it’s good to be in a place with zero restrictions, free to move, free to go to a pub or a café.

“The cricket has been good, obviously disappointed we didn’t sneak into finals in the end but it’s been a good experience, good club. I’ve had fun.’’

Thorne also took 16 wickets for Nightcliff. Picture: Glenn Campbell
Thorne also took 16 wickets for Nightcliff. Picture: Glenn Campbell

With the Darwin comp being all one-day cricket, Thorne said he’s been able to sharpen his skills in the short format.

“My record in two-day stuff at Caulfield has been a lot better than one-day stuff with the bat so that was something I’ve always wanted to get a little bit better at,’’ he said.

Thorne said he’s kept in contact with his Caulfield teammates and coach Adrian Jones and is looking forward to leading the Fielders in season 2020-21 – whenever that is.

But with the Melbourne Sub District season seemingly still months away, he says he’s considering playing interstate until he is required at Caulfield.

“It doesn’t look like we will be playing in Victoria, particularly Melbourne, until next year so I might play half a season in either Sydney or Adelaide,’’ he said.

Thorne said he’s had “a couple’’ of offers from interstate clubs but is yet to decide where he will head.

“I’m just weighing up what it is I want to do – if I do want to keep playing or do I want to come back home to Melbourne and sit it out for a bit,’’ he said.

Essendon’s Ryder medallist James Seymour has had another excellent Darwin season, scoring 407 runs at 37 for Waratah.

Dromana’s Kierran Voelkl has led Southern District into another finals campaign, scoring 268 runs.

Camberwell Magpies and Essendon batsman-keeper Isaac Conway has also been in blazing form with the bat, scoring 452, at 50.

The finals start this weekend.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/south-east/sport/cricket-caulfield-captain-jake-thorne-scores-539-runs-for-nightcliff-in-darwin/news-story/1aa4f0671383ecb5a653ff9d750d3e3d