The NT News ranks every batter and bowler from the 2022 Darwin & District Cricket Competition

The Darwin & District Cricket Competition has delivered plenty brilliant performances and the NT News has ranked every batter and bowler from all grades. Find out how you and your teammates ranked here:

TWELVE wickets in just two finals games has seen medium pacer Ash Nagel spearhead Southern Districts to B Grade premiership glory.

Completing a wonderful weekend for the Crocs, who also won the Premier Grade title, the 21-year-old Victorian import took 3/29 off 17 miserly overs as Nightcliff, gunning for back-to-back flags, were rolled for just 124 at Gardens Oval.

Districts, led by Scott Willington’s 74 not and Chris McEvoy’s unbeaten 36, easily reeled in the Tigers’ total with eight wickets in hand to claim the flag.

“I couldn’t tell you how many people were back at the rooms on Sunday night, it was great,” Nagel said, who has been doing landscape work with Premier Grade premiership players Tim Garner and Corey Kelly.

It capped off a fantastic fortnight for Nagel, who came to the Crocs via Rosebud Cricket Club on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, to play his first season on turf as a batting all-rounder.

He took 9/28 off 13.4 overs the previous weekend in the semi-final at Woodroffe Oval, as Waratah were skittled for just 51.

In fact, Nagel only opened the bowling after teammate Nathan Hangan went to Tasmania for the weekend.

“That was nearly the perfect day for a bowler,” he said.

“I also knew I had to work extremely hard (in the grand final) ... it wasn’t just going to happen again, I had to work even harder.

“I think I bowled better in the grand final.”

However, McEvoy spoiled Nagel’s potential 10-for party when he took the fifth wicket to fall.

“I didn’t mind it was Macca because that bloke, I didn’t look like getting out,” he said.

“He went at Macca and skied one, I was kinda glad.”

Nagel almost doubled his season’s haul in those two finals games, coming into the campaign with 16 wickets — his best game being a 5/18 in Round 12, also against Nightcliff.

“After that, it kinda just snowballed,” he said.

Young Eagles inspire Darwin’s semi-final triumph

Darwin’s brightest cricketing prospects have combined to guide the Eagles into the Premier Grade grand final.

When John Flynn departed the scene at Kahlin Oval on Saturday for a watchful 29, Darwin were staring into the abyss at 7/109 on day one against a Waratah outfit stacked with batting talent.

However, 18-year-old Will Pilkington’s crucial 55 not out, coming out at eight, followed by Tom Menzie’s 4/23 the following day, orchestrated Darwin’s 79-run victory to book a place in the grand final against a Southern Districts team chasing back-to-back flags.

Pilkington, who is studying sport and exercise science, had walked to the crease with just 48 runs at 16 in Premier this season, would stroke his highest score in Darwin & District Cricket Competition’s top flight.

“I was very proud of myself as well as Tommy (Menzies),” Pilkington told the NT News.

“I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I’d be.”

He and Menzies also had good recent form together, opening the batting and belting the likes of former Test player Michael Kasprowicz around the park in the ACA Masters v NT Academy game at Gardens Oval in early June.

So with the Eagles out for grand final revenge this weekend, after being smashed by the Crocs three years ago in the 2019 decider by 108 runs, Pilkington said he had benefited from the leadership and guidance of new coach Jake Reed and Victorian run machine Dylan Brasher this season.

The talented teen said a few other things had been integral to his rise this year: a 27 not out in Premier Grade against Palmerston, a smashing 128 off 118 balls in B Grade (“I was seeing them like beach balls”) and mixing with elite talent in the Strike League with Southern Storm and the NT Academy in the Top End T20 tournament.

“This year has been a great step up for me,” he said.

“If you had of told me ... that I’d be playing A Grade and playing in the men’s Strike League, I wouldn’t thave believed you.”

Placed in the Storm squad for experience as a net bowler and 12th man, Pilkington was called up to play due to a few injuries.

“It was a great opportunity, you get to meet some amazing players, amazing talent,” he said.

Darwin will take on Southern Districts in the Premier Grade grand final this Saturday and Sunday.

Sam Kerber opens up on losing his state contract

FORMER South Australian Redback and new Crocs all-rounder Sam Kerber is still driven to succeed at the highest level despite the disappointment of losing his state contract.

The 28-year-old, who was delisted earlier this year, said he had not heard anything from SA selectors since his exit interview.

However, the classy leftie said his departure had not dimmed his enjoyment for the game and he is using the experience to continue to improve, as Districts begin their quest for back-to-back Premier Grade premierships in a semi-final against Nightcliff on Saturday.

“It’s like anything in life, when you get dealt something you don’t like, you can have a sook about it, or you can think, how can I turn this into a positive experience, or take the experience and learn from it,” Kerber told the NT News.

“It’s not the end of the world by any means.

“I’d love to get back to playing at that level.

“But I’m just really grateful for the opportunity over the past few years to be able to do that at a Second XI or first class level.”

He said he still had the “drive to compete at the highest level” but he had to be realistic about winning a second contract.

“With study commitments and I’m not looking to move interstate ... I’m more than happy to keep enjoying the game back in Adelaide,” he said.

“But first things first and that’s to do the job for the Crocs.”

Kerber has been a consistent performer for Districts this year, with 431 runs at 53.88 and 16 wickets at 18.38 with his orthodox spin.

And chasing its second flag in two years, Kerber said the squad was not looking any further beyond this weekend.

“As long as we’re playing cricket with a smile on our faces, that’s the main thing,” Kerber, said, enjoying his first ever cricket season during winter.

“Whatever happens, happens.”

Kerber, a teaching aid at Palmerston Christian School, was one of four big signings for the Crocs this season, including Victorian contracted player Tom O’Connell, Xavier Crone and fellow former Redback, Corey Kelly.

After a “slowish” start to the season by his high standards, Kerber has hit stride at the right time with 168 against PINT in the final round; combining with Kelly in a 308-run stand at Gerry Wood Oval, recovering from 5/33.

“I think I owed one to the Crocs, I’d had that many starts, it was nice to finally go on with one,” he said.

Darwin keen to atone for recent finals disappointment

DARWIN might have been remodelled after last season, but the Eagles remain dead keen to atone for recent finals disappointment, opener Anthony Adlam says.

The Kingborough product is the fifth most prolific batter in Premier Grade right now, stroking 511 runs at 51.1 approaching finals next week.

And despite the Eagles adding the likes of Jake Reed, Dylan Brasher and Dhruv Kant to its squad this season, the club is desperate to avenge last year’s 145-run semi-final loss to eventual premier Southern Districts at DXC Arena.

A 107-run grand final loss to Districts at the same ground in this season’s 50-over competition in May, where Corey Kelly went ballistic with 59 off 37 balls, also helps with motivation.

“We’ve definitely had some opportunities to win some silverware already this year,” Adlam said.

“It would be remiss if we didn’t go the full way in one competition.

“We definitely got outplayed (in May) ... but our best cricket is yet to come.

“We’ve got a new bunch of blokes in this year and the vibe was good from the start.”

Personally, however, little has changed.

Currently 50 not out against Tracy Village entering day two of the final round, Adlam is producing similar numbers to last season where he belted 644 runs at 64.4, including seven half centuries.

In fact, Adlam was only meant to play for a few months in 2021, but stayed for the duration after doing so well: “It’s a pretty good lifestyle, it beats freezing my arse off in Sydney,” he said.

His best knock of 135 came against a strong Nightcliff outfit, who had won its past three, contributing to a 108-run win.

“I was proud I was able to stand up on that day and get the job done,” he said.

“I couldn’t have been happier with that performance.”

Caelan Maladay’s 11-wicket bag shoots him to the top of Darwin cricket

RUBBING shoulders with contracted, elite level players in Darwin has helped elevate Nightcliff all-rounder Caelan Maladay’s game to new heights.

The Sydney University recruit took bags of 5/35 and 6/12 to destroy PINT at Nightcliff Oval in round 13 of the Darwin & District Cricket Competition.

And Maladay added to his monster haul with 91 runs at number six in the same game — his first half century for the Premier Grade season.

“It’s probably the best performance I’ve had in first grade,” the 20-year-old told the NT News.

He is now the second most prolific bowler in Darwin’s top division with 31 wickets at 18.74, behind Palmerston’s Hamish Martin (37 wickets at 16.3).

Maladay said the sheer volume of cricket he was playing – across the D&DCC, the Strike League with City Cyclones and the 3-0 Cricket Australia XI in the Top End T20 tournament – had honed his craft further.

“It’s that time of season where everything has clicked, the hard work has paid off,” he said.

Coming off a solid Strike League campaign with 12 wickets at 31.83, including two bags of four, Maladay has helped the Tigers’ surge to second spot in the D&DCC.

He has embraced the unique conditions of Top End cricket, after his friends had played up north in the past.

“It’s been good, especially being up here than in the cold and training on synthos,” Maladay told the NT News.

“And being around different guys you’ve never played with before, and also playing games well with them, complementing your skills with their skills.

“I’ve really enjoyed playing Strike League and the Top End T20, particularly playing with people that are contracted and learning how they go about that level of cricket.

“Something that is close to what you experience with the Big Bash (League), with that calibre of players.”

Corey Kelly blasts back into form against Palmerston

AFTER a blistering 107 off just 113 balls on Saturday at Freds Pass, big hitting Southern Districts all-rounder Corey Kelly says he has rediscovered his love for the game.

The Crocs are on top of the Premier Grade ladder and Kelly broke through with his first hundred of the season.

A few months ago, Kelly told the NT News he might not return to his native South Australia for the coming summer and remain in the Top End.

Earlier this year, he was also not included in the Redbacks’ 2022/23 squad due to “personal reasons”.

However, Kelly is back enjoying his cricket and was the primary reason why the Crocs posted 302 at Gerry Wood Oval against Palmerston.

But those runs didn’t come easy for the identical twin brother of Thomas, an Adelaide Striker in the Big Bash League.

“It came out really well, couldn’t mis-hit a ball to start with,” Kelly said.

“But it’s probably the hottest I’ve ever been playing cricket.

“I just ran out of energy, I couldn’t hit the ball anymore.

“I got to about 60 or 70 and just ran out of energy, ran out of puff. We were struggling.”

Coming to the crease at 6/132, Kelly combined with recruit Tim Garner (51) for a 131-run partnership.

Kelly now has 253 runs at 50.6 in Premier Grade, to shoot up the NT News rankings of more than 1000 players in the Darwin & District Cricket Competition.

After a combined 12 games with Districts in the D&DCC and Desert Blaze in the Strike League, Kelly said he was committed to returning to Sturt in SA Premier Cricket this summer.

“I’m loving it, it always helps when you’re winning too,” he said of the Darwin experience so far.

“We’re having good fun together.

“Being around different people as well (helps)

“It’s not so serious ... but serious enough they want to win.

“There’s other stuff outside of cricket.”

However, he could not see himself playing any other form of cricket this summer other than with Sturt.

“I’ll see what happens this summer,” he said.

“I have no intentions of playing higher honours again this year.

“I think that’s passed me by at the moment, that’s not for me at the moment.

“Just go down there and enjoy it and hopefully have a good summer.”

Nick Winter’s five-wicket haul gives PINT the edge over Tracy Village

THE mid-season recruitment of South Australian Redback left arm quick Nick Winter in early June has gone some way to PINT breaking an eight-game losing streak.

The green and gold men, who had not tasted victory in Premier Grade cricket since round one, and had lacked bowling firepower, broke through with win number two on Saturday against Tracy Village while claiming the Margaret Coady Cup in the process.

Winter was instrumental at Marrara, snaring 5/39 from 16.3 overs as Tracy was rolled for just 119 in reply to PINT’s massive 361.

The 29-year-old gutted Tracy’s top order, sending Tom Jackson, Reiley Mark and Josh Kann packing for a total of nine runs as Village stumbled to 4/39 and never recovered.

Winter, who played his first game at DXC Arena this season on June 11 against Darwin, had an immediate impact, although it wasn’t with the rock.

He made 99 off just 100 deliveries with 10 boundaries and five sixes in round nine, albeit in a losing cause.

However, following an extended spell from the bowling crease after breaking his foot in a Second XI game in February, Winter has now taken nine wickets at 11.8 from his past two Premier Grade games.

It’s been a decade since Winter was last seen in the Territory in club cricket, playing for Southern Districts as a raw teenager.

But now back with newborn baby Bernie, it’s been a far more relaxed experience this time around.

“Darwin has been great,” Winter told the NT News.

“Nothing has changed, cricket-wise.

“I did and will always give 100 per cent in every game I play, and cricket has a funny way of ebbing and flowing.

“Obviously the first game was the first time I had bowled since a broken foot and I wasn’t acclimatised, but I also haven’t done anything differently in the last two games which has brought about more wickets.

“The fact I made 99 suggests the pitch was very flat in that first game (laughs).”

Districts recruit nabs first century of the season

A SOUTHERN Districts recruit collected his first century of the season to help his side to a commanding lead over Nightcliff in another week of quality Top End cricket action on Saturday.

Tim Garner helped himself to 104 not out — his first with the Crocs after switching from PINT during the off-season.

Garner has long been one of the best all-rounders of the Darwin & District Cricket Competition.

And his first for Southern Districts couldn’t have come at more opportune time, walking on with his side wobbling at 4/87.

However, the Crocs would eventually post a big total of 9/314 on the back of Garner’s application and grit.

The total pulled Garner up to 81st in the 2022 batting rankings.

They are currently topped by University Charger Muhammad Faheem in C Grade 1.

Faheem added 73 runs to his season’s haul on Saturday, as Uni – bolstered by Faheem’s opening partner Adnan Hassan (56) – to beat Southern Districts Black by 10 wickets.

Meanwhile, Ash Chandrasinghe was the talk of the town after making his fourth Premier Grade hundred in a row, a 166 not out against Darwin at Gardens Oval

Nightcliff Gold C Grade 1 captain Jack Giacomo has also emerged as the competition’s leading wicket taker after collecting a three wicket haul in his side’s four wicket win over Darwin.

And the Tigers weren’t short of bowling prowess in Premier Grade either with Caelan Maladay (5/91) earning a five wicket haul against Southern Districts, including a first with his first ball of the day.

Alongside him in the wickets was Charlie Smith who managed a three wickets (3/61) to bring his season tally, across Premier and B Grade, to 30 wickets.

Brasher bounces back after Covid lull

DARWIN gun bat and Victorian import Dylan Brasher is a man who holds the highest of standards for himself.

After blasting 195 against Palmerston in last round of Premier Grade at Kahlin Oval, and shooting to the top of the division’s run getters – 641 at 64.1 with three hundreds and two 50s – the young left-hander remains a hard marker on his own work.

“I probably didn’t hit the ball the best for the first half or so but in terms of decision making I was pretty happy with how it panned out,” Brasher told the NT News.

“And being able to bat for as long as I could.

“All it takes is one wrong split second decision and your day could be over, so you have to enjoy the good days when they come along.”

There have been plenty of good Saturdays of late for the 21-year-old, who plays for Footscray’s Premier team back in Melbourne and has found a place within Victoria’s development squad.

After a relatively barren start to the 2022 season, scratching out 21 runs across his first three innings, Brasher would put together a seven-game hot streak (620 runs at 88.5) from the first Saturday in May.

His run glut kickstarted with 136 off 152 rocks (10 fours, four sixes) against Waratah in a 50-over game, followed by 105 against PINT before his big daddy hundred versus the Maroons.

Brasher first came to the NT last season after being nominated by Victoria to play in the Strike League last year, turning out for with Desert Blaze.

He also wanted to experience more red ball cricket after several seasons impacted by Covid.

“Without having much of a clue of the competition, and Darwin in general, I thought it would be an awesome opportunity to one, get out of the cold, and two, to develop my game,” Brasher said.

“Especially seeing some of the names that came up last year.”

He was also keen to play with Footscray teammate, fast bowler Jake Reed, who took over as Eagles coach this season.

“When Jake had signed on ... it was a pretty easy choice to come up and play for the Eagles,” he said.

He said the Darwin experience helped him be more aggressive at the crease and add shots to his armoury.

“I came back from Darwin last year feeling probably as good as I’ve ever felt in terms of my batting,” he said.

However, a mixture of things, including Covid, reduced his effectiveness last summer (370 runs at 28.46), while still making an unbeaten 101 against Casey-South Melbourne.

“I think I kind of just assumed that the work I had done up here last time would carry over ... instead of giving myself a chance in games to make runs,” he said.

He was also struck down with Covid over the New Year period.

“(It took) a good two, two and a half weeks, to feel back to normal, even stuff like walking to the fridge got you out of breath,” he said.

However, Darwin is now reaping the benefits of Brasher’s less-than-bountiful summer.

Waratah batter Ash Chandrasinghe shooting for four consecutive Premier Grade hundreds

A MOVE from number four back to his more familiar role as opener has paid massive dividends for Waratah batter Ash Chandrasinghe.

The Australian-born 20-year-old of Sri Lankan parents has scored three consecutive hundreds, with knocks of 102, 123 and 108 against Southern Districts, PINT and Nightcliff respectively.

They sit neatly beside consecutive scores of 172 and 156 from a 2021 season where he stroked 741 runs at 74.1.

But it was a far cry from his opening two innings in the two-day competition this year, with ducks batting number four against Darwin and Tracy Village.

The second globe came just days after being named in the Victorian Shield squad for next summer in early May.

“It was quite a proud moment,” Chandrasinghe told the NT News of his state inclusion, who models his game on the watchful types of Mike Hussey, Alastair Cook and Kumar Sangakarra.

“But it was probably quickly evaporated when I got two ducks to start my Darwin season.

“I didn’t feel like I was in bad place when I scored those two ducks, I just felt like I hadn’t spent much time in the middle.

“I don’t think I’ve changed anything with training.

“Maybe in games trying to make as many good decisions as I can while I’m batting ... tee up the last 15 overs of the day for the rest of the team to launch.”

Chandrasinghe had actually asked coach Udara Weerasinghe to bat at four, but was then moved to first drop for the 50 over competition, and back to opening in the red ball format.

“I hadn’t really batted at four much so I thought it would be a good opportunity to get some match practice batting at a different position,” he said.

The other big change in his Top End game came in 2020 when he switched from Nightcliff to Waratah.

Recruited by then Tigers coach Weerasinghe in 2018 as a 16-year-old, he followed the prolific spinner to Gardens Oval.

“Playing in the winters is really good for your cricket,” he said.

“I think I improved a lot as a player (at Waratah).”

Apart from a nick through slips in his 102, Chandrasinghe, to the best of his memory, says all three tons were chanceless.

He said the most recent hundred was the most pleasing, as it was made on a pitch which posed more problems than those at Gardens and Marrara.

“Early on before lunch it was pretty tough to bat,” he said of his 214-ball innings at Nightcliff Oval.

“I think that’s my role ... just try and anchor the innings and bat for as long as I can.”

Thankfully, Chandrasinghe will not be lost to Waratah’s finals campaign when he returns to Melbourne in early August — he will be allowed to return to play if the Tahs go deep later this year.

See where Chandrasinghe ranks from more than 1000 players in the Darwin & District Cricket Compeition at ntnews.com.au

Hamish Martin credits breakthrough season in South Australia

A “MASSIVE” breakthrough season with Woodville in South Australian Premier Cricket over summer has helped guide Palmerston left arm orthodox Hamish Martin to the top of Darwin’s Premier Grade bowling charts this season.

And his teammates are reaping the benefits, with the Maroons jumping from second bottom last year to the top of the table after 10 rounds.

Coming off two stellar seasons (producing 52 wickets at 20.7) with Palmerston and Woodville over the past 12 months, Martin has continued his strong form in 2022 with 26 poles at the uber miserly 12.46.

His season’s haul was given a massive boost last round with 14/98 against Tracy Village – his best-ever match figures in first grade cricket – including 8/44 in the first innings.

“It was a good day ... everything seemed to click,” Martin told the NT News.

Curiously, and probably fortunate for Tracy’s batters, Martin said the pitch didn’t quite turn as much as predicted

“Luckily enough there was enough natural variation for a spinner,” he said.

“I targeted the stumps and waited for them to miss it I guess.”

He thought big bowling loads, having simple plans and improved self belief following last summer with Woodville (23 wickets at 20.48) had underpinned his stunning figures over the past two and a half seasons.

“I’m not sure I’m doing anything different,” he said.

“It was a massive season for me (at Woodville) in terms of learning.

“Maybe even belief that I can get the job done at first grade level interstate.

“It was good for the belief and the self confidence.”

Martin said Woodville’s coach Peter Sleep had also helped his bowling and turned him into a “smarter spinner”.

“He’s a minimalist I guess, he’s only going to tell you something if you ask him,” he said.

“He’s a very simple man but he knows what he’s talking about.”

Back in the NT, however, he said keeping a consistent A Grade team, with Corey McDean and Connor Blaxall-Hill returning from Adelaide and Perth respectively for this year, had helped Palmerston’s rise up the ladder.

“It’s definitely very handy to keep people coming back,” he said.

“And people want to come back.”

Originally published as The NT News ranks every batter and bowler from the 2022 Darwin & District Cricket Competition