Darwin Premier Grade cricketers named in Cricket Australia XI competing in the Top End T20 series
Several Premier Grade cricketers have been named in a Cricket Australia XI taking part in the looming Top End T20 series.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
SEVERAL Premier Grade cricketers have been named in a Cricket Australia XI to compete in the Top End T20 series.
The squad, which will be captained by NSW Sheffield Shield and Sydney Thunder cricketer Jason Sangha, will take on Melbourne Stars and Renegades academies and Papua New Guinea from Thursday.
It also includes Josh Kann (Tracy Village), Dhruv Kant (Darwin), Raveesh Srivastava (Nightcliff), Caelan Malady (Nightcliff) and Blake McDonald (Nightcliff) who have competed in the Darwin & District Cricket Competition’s top flight.
Kann told the NT News he was looking forward to testing his skills against some of the country’s best emerging players.
“I’m really excited to be playing with some of the best young cricketers in the Top End for two weeks in a mini Big Bash competition,” Kann said.
“It’s the best place to be playing cricket in the country at the moment and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Strike League players Mitchell Owen (Southern Storm), Toby Gray (Storm), Brad Hope (Southern Storm), Corey Rocchiccioli (Desert Blaze) will also take part for the CAXI.
It also includes Nivethan Radhakrishnan, who has the unique ability to bowl both right-arm off-spin and left-arm orthodox, and played with Strike League champions Northern Tide this season.
Australian selector Tony Dodemaide said it was a “highly skilled and versatile squad” with first class and Big Bash League experience.
“We expect a highly competitive series and look forward to the team gelling quickly under Jason’s leadership,” Dodemaide said.
Matches will be live streamed via the MyCricket Facebook page and NT Cricket YouTube channel.
The squad:
Jason Sangha
Sam Fanning
Toby Gray
Caelan Maladay
Brad Hope
Josh Kann
Dhruv Kant
Blake Macdonald
Mitch Owen
Nivethan Radhakrishnan
Sam Rahaley
Corey Rocchiccioli
Raveesh Srivastava
Fixtures:
August 11
Northern Territory vs Cricket Australia XI, 6pm at DXC Arena
August 12
Cricket Australia XI vs Papua New Guinea, 6pm at DXC Arena
August 15:
Cricket Australia XI vs Renegades Academy, 6pm at DXC Arena
August 18
Cricket Australia XI vs Stars Academy, 6pm at DXC Arena
Northern Tide claim Strike League championship by one run
NORTHERN TIDE have pinched the Strike League championship by one run after the Southern Storm stumbled at the 11th hour after a dominant campaign.
Chasing 285 for victory at DXC Arena, the Storm’s number eleven Will Pilkington was trapped leg before by James Bazley to give Tide the win by the thinnest of margins.
The Storm had come into the Marrara decider with strong regular season form, dropping only two games from its nine matches.
However, in its most recent result that would prove to be ominous in hindsight, the Storm had been beaten by the Tide in the final round by seven runs at the same ground just four days prior.
On Sunday evening, at 3/200 with Bailey Capel, who would strike a stunning 127 off 117 balls, and Brad Hope at the crease, the Storm were looking odds on to bank their eighth and most important win of the competition.
Jack Clayton and Josh Kann with 37 and 38 respectively had also contributed handy runs to the score.
However, when Capel was dismissed with 24 runs still needed with four wickets in hand, it opened the door for the Tide.
The Storm would lose 3/13 at the end – including two run outs – handing the Tide victory in a thrilling finish with 10 balls remaining.
The Tide’s Wes Agar took his competition haul to 25 wickets at 12 runs apiece with 3/27 off his 10, while young Territorian Tom Menzies provided support with 2/55, including the key wicket of Capel.
Earlier, the Tide posted a large 8/284 off the back of Jagadeswara Koduru’s 87 and useful knocks from Sam Kerber (39) and Raveesh Srivastava (40) while every batter made double figures.
Toby Gray (3/59), Hope (2/47) and Mitchell Owen (2/59) were the multiple wicket takers.
Southern Storm suffers rare defeat in the Strike League
SOUTHERN Storm has suffered a rare defeat before the Strike League grand final on Sunday.
The Storm, who finished on top of the league ladder, ten points clear of Northern Tide, fell seven runs short of Tide’s 7/166 in its final game of the regular season on Wednesday night, a T20 fixture.
James Bazley’s 42 off 33 balls with four sixes was the linchpin of Tide’s score as the wickets were shared between Matt Hammond (2/23), Josh Kann (2/30) and Brad Hope (2/35) at DXC Arena.
In reply, Jack Clayton’s 86 off 62 balls was not enough to get the Storm over the line as Antum Naqvi (2/21), Wes Agar (2/36) and Bazley (2/40) restricted the ladder leaders.
Agar was the leading bowler of the regular competition with 22 wickets at 13.09, followed by Storm’s Param Uppal (17 wickets at 13.12).
It now sets up a 50-over Storm v Tide grand final on Sunday at Marrara.
On Wednesday, Tide’s Jake Fraser-McGurk said it was a “super win” to knock off the 7-2 Storm.
“To have them on the Sunday in the final and then beat them here, it’s pre-game bragging rights,” Fraser-McGurk said.
“We know we’ve got the team ... if we turn up on the day we should go pretty well.
“We’re clicking at the right time.”
In other round six games on Sunday, the Storm’s 7/292 (Bailey Capel 96, Kann 72 off 55 balls with four sixes, Hope 40) at Cazalys Arena was 69 runs too many for City Cyclones despite Dylan Brasher’s 101 off 91 balls with 13 boundaries.
Palmerston spinner Hamish Martin continued his fine form with 4/36 off his 10 overs while fellow local Will Pilkington claimed 2/29.
And Tide had the perfect tune up for Sunday’s grand final, amassing a monster 7/340 (Blake McDonald 115 off 97 balls, Nivethan Radhakrishnan 69, Sam Kerber 56 off 40 balls.
Corey Kelly was the pick of the bowlers with the relatively tidy figures of 2/39 off 10.
Desert Blaze never recovered from losing openers Max Bryant and Tom O’Connell for golden ducks – both skittled by Wes Agar – eventually bowled out for 206 despite Dhruv Kant’s 103.
Agar produced the matchwinning figures of 6/43.
Desert Blaze steal five-wicket win off the final ball over City Cyclones
DESERT Blaze has stolen a five-wicket win over City Cyclones off the final delivery in a thrilling yet controversial finish at DXC Arena on Wednesday night.
Chasing 155 for victory, and needing two runs to win off the last ball, Corey Rocchiccioli pushed the ball to cover for a single to tie the scores.
However, after Cyclones keeper Liam Blackford received the throw from the fielder, he then threw the ball back to the bowler, Reiley Mark, who missed it and the batters, Rocchiccioli and Xavier Crone, scampered through for the winning run.
The umpires took more than 10 seconds to discuss the final ball before declaring the round five game over and the Blaze had won by five wickets.
In the MCC’s laws of cricket, the ball shall be considered to be dead when it is clear to the bowler’s end umpire that the fielding side and both batters at the wicket have ceased to regard it as in play.
However, NT Cricket’s livestream commentators Dylan Slater and Myles Houlbrook-Walk were not sure if the correct decision had been made.
“I reckon that might be a dead ball,” Slater said.
“Wow, that is not how you want to finish a game of cricket.
“Probably not the way you want to end it.”
“It did feel like it was a single and then the play stopped,” Houlbrook-Walk said.
Earlier, the Cyclones compiled 6/154 off its 20 overs through Dylan Brasher (53) and Connor Carroll (30 off 21 balls) as Corey Kelly took 2/24.
In reply, the Blaze was well served by Max Bryant (49 off 37 balls), Dhruv Kant (44) and Kelly (29) as Jordan Buckingham took 3/17 off his four overs.
Carroll told the NT News his teammates thought the game was over when the ball landed in Blackford’s gloves.
“It is our understanding that the umpires said it wasn’t a dead ball because not everyone on the field thought the game was over,” Carroll said.
“Disappointing but that’s cricket sometimes.”
However, Blaze allrounder Corey Kelly did not believe the ball was dead.
“The keeper tossed the ball back to the bowler relatively quickly,” Kelly said.
NT Cricket said the result stood.
The win shored up the Blaze’s second place on the Strike League ladder, 10 points behind Southern Storm.
Will Sutherland to skipper Renegades Academy team at Top End T20
EMERGING cricketers Will Sutherland and Mackenzie Harvey will share captaincy duties for the Melbourne Renegades Academy at the looming Top End T20 tournament next month.
The 14-man squad features eight players with Big Bash League experience, including Tom Rogers, title winner Chris Tremain and former Waratah batter James Seymour.
Seymour was revealed as one of Darwin’s best bats of the past decade going by MyCricket data.
The squad, which includes emerging Victorian-contracted players and standout Premier performers, will be coached by David Saker.
Renegades general manager James Rosengarten said it would provide added match practice and allow selectors to “look at some players of interest” from Victorian grade cricket.
“It’s pleasing to have some of our talented, emerging BBL players in this academy squad, alongside new recruit Tom Rogers for his first run in Renegades colours,” Rosengarten said.
“Mackenzie Harvey and Will Sutherland will share the captaincy role.
“Both have experience leading Australian underage teams and this is a great development opportunity for them as we continue to invest in our future.”
He said the Renegades still had spots up for grabs ahead of the 12th edition of the Big Bash League.
“These games are not only a chance for our head coach, David Saker, to work closely with our contracted players but also to cast his eye over others who might be in contention for a list spot,” he said.
The Renegades will begin their campaign on August 13 against the Melbourne Stars Academy.
Matches will be live-streamed via the MyCricket Facebook page and NT Cricket’s YouTube channel.
Melbourne Renegades Academy Squad
Mackenzie Harvey (captain)
Will Sutherland (captain)
Zak Evans
Jake Fraser-McGurk
Tom Jackson
Ruwantha Kellapotha
Campbell Kellaway
Jack Lalor
Fergus O’Neill
Jack Prestwidge
Tom Rogers
James Seymour
Chris Tremain
Kyle Williamson
Melbourne Renegades Academy fixtures
August 13
Renegades Academy v Stars Academy, 6pm at DXC Arena
August 15
Cricket Australia XI v Renegades Academy, 6pm at DXC Arena
August 17
Northern Territory v Renegades Academy, 6pm at DXC Arena
August 20
Renegades Academy v Papua New Guinea, 6pm at DXC Arena
D’Arcy Short and Tom Andres to play for the NT at Top End T20 tournament
HOBART Hurricanes star D’Arcy Short will play for the Northern Territory in the upcoming Top End T20 competition next month.
The NT side, to be captained by Southern Districts skipper Matt Hammond, will be coached by Greg Shipperd (Sydney Sixers, Victoria).
The Territory will take on the Melbourne Stars and Renegades’ academy teams, a Cricket Australia invitational XI and Papua New Guinea from August 11.
Joining Short in the ochre and black is Territorian Tom Andrews, who has played state cricket for both South Australia and Tasmania, and will be vice-captain.
Other local players getting the nod include Antum Naqvi (Tracy Village), Dean Fry (Southern Districts), Alex Bleakley (Palmerston), Hamish Martin (Palmerston), Michael Kudra (Nightcliff) and Tom Menzies (Darwin).
Also included are Melbourne run machines Dylan Brasher (Darwin, City Cyclones) and Ash Chandrasinghe (Waratah, Cyclones), with the latter making his fourth consecutive Premier Grade hundred on Saturday against the Eagles at Gardens Oval.
NT Cricket’s head of cricket Darren Treumer said all of the 12-man team had represented the NT at some stage in their playing career.
NT Cricket chief executive officer Joel Morrison said Shipperd was one of the most experienced and successful coaches in the country.
“We are thrilled to welcome Greg Shipperd back as coach of our NT Strike team,” Morrison said.
“His involvement in Cricket 365 will again be a significant boost to the development of our local players and coaches.”
Northern Territory team:
Matthew Hammond (captain)
Ash Chandrasinghe
Antum Naqvi
Dylan Brasher
Dean Fry
Tom Andrews (vice-captain)
Corey Kelly
Alex Bleakley
Hamish Martin
Tom Menzies
Ben Ellis
D’Arcy Short
Southern Storm cements top spot in Strike League
IT IS Southern Storm and then daylight after four rounds of the CDU Strike League, with the franchise boasting both the number one bat and bowler in the competition.
On Wednesday night, Tracy Village’s Josh Kann continued his white-hot form from the local T20 league to smash 90 off 51 balls with 11 boundaries and three sixes for the Storm against Desert Blaze at DXC Arena.
Kann sits on top of the Strike League batting charts, just as he does in the Darwin & District Cricket Competition, with 314 runs at an average of 52.33.
Samuel Fanning also blasted 84 off 61 balls with eight fours and two maximums, as the league ladders posted 1/201.
Xavier Crone, who was named in the Melbourne Stars Academy team for the Top End T20 series on Wednesday, copped the most hammer with figures of 0/49 off four overs, followed by fellow squad member Brodie Symons (0/45).
In reply, Param Uppal took 4/28 as the Blaze were bowled out for 141 (Dhruv Kant 38, Max Bryant 26 off 10 balls with five fours and a six, Crone 23, Jayden Goodwin 22).
Uppal also tops the bowling aggregate with 14 wickets at 10.5, followed by his Storm colleague Hamish Martin (11 wickets at 19.55).
Mitchell Owen (2/27) and Darwin product Will Pilkington (2/11) chipped in with wickets at DXC.
At stumps, Pilkington said the league had been “really beneficial” for local players and given his development some terms of reference.
“It’s given them an opportunity to compare themselves and really test their ability against the best young talent we have in Australia,” Pilkington said.
Storm sit on top of the Strike League Ladder with five wins, eight points clear of its nearest rival in City Cyclones, after also hammering Northern Tide by 66 runs on Sunday.
Led by top order bats Bailey Capel (54), Jack Clayton (58), Mitchell Owen (33) and Brad Hope (29 not out), the league leaders compiled 7/221 off its 50 overs at Cazalys Arena (Charlie Stobo 2/42, Nivethan Radhakrishan (2/50).
In reply, the Tide were rolled for just 155 inside 45 overs (Jayllen Naganayagam 44) as Param Uppal completed the tidy figures of 4/22 while Owen chipped in with 2/6.
Storm coach Jason Bremner said he was pleased after asking for an “extra bit of responsibility” from the top order: “The wicket definitely suited the bowlers for the first 10 (overs), (being about) 1/40 we were very happy.”
Meanwhile, City Cyclones collected their third win of the season with a 61-run victory over Desert Blaze.
Darwin run machine Dylan Brasher (57), Tim Ward (56 off 50 balls) and Reiley Mark (37 off 36 balls) were the chief architects of the Cyclones’ 236 all out (Tom O’Connell 3/43, Hanno Jacobs 3/41, Charlie Kemp 2/41, Xavier Crone 2/24).
In reply, the Blaze fell away after a promising start of 0/68 as Caelan Maladay (4/31) and Brasher (2/31) cleaned up — Brisbane Heat big hitter Max Bryant contributed 50 off 39 balls.
Three Southern Storm players named in Melbourne Stars Academy squad
THREE Southern Districts cricketers have been named in a Melbourne Stars Academy team to compete in the Top End T20 series starting next month.
The 13-player squad includes Crocs player Xavier Crone, who made 124 off 140 balls with 10 boundaries and five sixes against Tracy Village in Premier Grade on Saturday.
Also included is spinner Tom O’Connell and all-rounder Brodie Symons, with the latter also starring against the Villagers with 90 off 102 deliveries while taking 5/26.
The Stars will take on the Renegades Academy, a Territory representative team, a Cricket Australia XI and Papua New Guinea from August 11.
Stars assistant coach Clint McKay, who will guide the academy team during the competition, said it would provide some “extra match practice in elite facilities”.
It would also allow uncontracted players to “prove what they’ve got what it takes to get to the next level”.
“There’s a number of good quality cricketers part of the Top End T20 tournament so I’m sure our players will be able to learn a lot from the experience,” McKay said.
Stars General Manager Blair Crouch said NT Cricket had done a “fantastic job bringing the Top End T20 series to life” and was keen to see some players “on the precipice of a BBL contract push their case”.
All games will be broadcast via the MyCricket Facebook page and the NT Cricket YouTube channel.
Melbourne Stars Academy squad
Liam Blackford, Geelong
Brody Couch, Geelong, Southern Districts
Xavier Crone, Carlton
Damon Egan, Prahran
Sam Elliott, Fitzroy Doncaster
Clint Hinchliffe, Melbourne Stars
Nick Larkin, Melbourne Stars
Jai Lemire, Carlton
Jon Merlo, St Kilda
Tom O’Connell, Geelong, Southern Districts
Tom O’Donnell, Essendon
Tom Rogers, Ringwood
Brodie Symons, Frankston Peninsula, Southern Districts
Melborune Stars’ Top End T20 fixtures:
Saturday, August 13
Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars
DXC Arena, 6pm
Sunday, August 14
Northern Territory vs Melbourne Stars
DXC Arena, 2:30pm
Tuesday, August 16
Melbourne Stars vs PNG
DXC Arena, 6pm
Thursday, August 18
CA XI vs Melbourne Stars
DXC Arena, 6pm
Southern Storm win thrilling Strike League match in Super Over
THREE Super Over wickets from a local bowling standout had Southern Storm steal the tightest of wins over City Cyclones in round two of the CDU Strike League.
Palmerston bowler Hamish Martin transferred his fine local competition form with the ball to the realm of T20, executing a thrilling Super Over as he picked up 3/4.
It was a Wednesday night battle between the two unbeaten sides from round one and it did not disappoint with the Storm putting plenty of runs on the board.
Storm captain Josh Kann took the game on with the bat (48), while Sam Fanning (27), Mitchell Owen (28) and Jack Clayton (26) all contributed decent scores, posting 4/161.
Reiley Mark (4/35) was the Cyclone’s only wicket taker.
Then, a fine innings from Hugo Burdon (83 off 53 balls) set the tone, though he was unable to keep batting partners for significant periods, with the Cyclones finishing at 6/161 and the match tied.
Param Uppal was the pick of the Storm bowlers with 3/21, while Martin added 1/21.
The Cyclones could only muster four runs as Martin ran riot in the Super Over.
Then, after Jordan Buckingham was given the ball and bowled Kann with his first delivery, Owen and Bradley Hope added the five runs needed for victory.
“There was a little bit of nerves but that’s only natural. I back myself and the boys back me as well,” Martin said after the game.
“I was pleased to get the job done in the end. It was good.
“The comp is unreal. It’s awesome to show off the NT, the local boys love it and to be around those blokes is great to learn off.
“There’s a lot of blokes running around at the moment that are good value and I’m loving learning off them.”
Meanwhile, Northern Tide bounced back from a round one loss to Southern Storm with a “commanding” 118-run win over City Cyclones at Cazalys Arena on Sunday.
Tide’s monster 9/269 was underpinned by strong knocks from Jake Fraser-McGurk (83) and Blake Macdonald (73) who put on 97 runs for the third wicket as Jordan Buckingham took 3/56.
In reply, the Cyclones were never in it, eventually rolled for 151 as Nivethan Radhakrishnan claimed 5/29 with support from Wes Agar (2/17) and Charlie Stobo (2/25).
Waratah player Ash Chandrasinghe top scored with 44 while Coby Edmondstone also contributed 33.
At stumps, Radhakrishnan said his team were “really keen to get out there and show us what we’re capable of” after its opening round loss.
“It was good to contribute to the team and get a bit of personal success,” he said.
“It was a commanding win and everyone knows the Tide is a really good side.”
At DXC Arena on Sunday, Desert Blaze’s 171 (Sam Rahaley 44, Brodie Symons 31) was 21 runs too many for Southern Storm (Josh Kann 50).
Earlier, Palmerston spinner Hamish Martin, coming off 14 wickets against Tracy Village in Darwin’s Premier Grade, claimed 3/32, backed up by Toby Gray (3/44) and Braden Taeuber (2/38).
Symons complemented his bowling efforts with 4/23 off 9.5 overs while Tom O’Connell claimed 3/46 during Storm’s failed run chase.
In round one at DXC, Southern Storm posted 202 (Josh Kann 39, Michael Kudra 38 not out, Bailey Capel 35, Brad Hope 30, Wes Agar 3/21, Charlie Stobo 2/31, Tom Menzies 2/39).
Northern Tide mustered 185 in reply (James Bazley 54, Agar 28, Braden Taeuber 3/30, Josh Kann 2/39, Hamish Martin 3/46) after initially stumbling to 7/79.
“The team came together well. It was good to come together properly, the boys put on a good performance and bonded well,” Kann said after the game.
“I love Darwin, I love every bit of it. Coming back this year was about taking the steps to take my game to the next level.
“I thought I would come back up and give it another crack. It’s the best place to be in the country right now to play cricket.”
At Cazalys Arena, Cyclones passed Blaze’s 151 five wickets down (Jack Wood 37 not out, Liam Blackford 35, Corey Rocchiccioli 2/33, Tom O’Connell 2/42).
Earlier, Dylan Brasher took 5/47 and Wood 2/22 as Matt Calder (29) and Dhruv Kant (26) produced the only scores of substance.
“It’s always good to start off with a win so I’m proud of the boys for that,” Brasher said.
“My bowling has come a little way since I’ve come up here which comes down to a little practice here and there, but batting is still number one for me.
“It was a pretty easy decision to come back to Darwin after I had such a good time last year.
“It’s good to have a pre-season away from home. It’s only benefited me so far and I can go into the season back home having played a few games while feeling pretty good.”
‘Devastating’: Popular Top End sports centre to close
A popular Top End sports centre will close its doors for the final time this month, with many regulars calling it the end of an era.
Palmerston crush Waratah to win two-day premiership title
Palmerston C.C. has taken out both the A and B-grade Two-Day Premiership crowns, creating history in the process. Read how they did it here.