Top End Series: NT Strike claim title with Jack Wood century
The NT Strike have won the Territory’s top-shelf cricket trophy after downing Pakistan A in the Top End Series on Sunday. Read about the centurion who smacked the ball to all parts.
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Former Big Bash cricketer Jack Wood has played one of the game’s great knocks to steer the NT Strike to a thrilling Top End Series title over Pakistan A at DXC Arena.
Wood, 26, struck a matchwinning 101 not out off 59 deliveries featuring 13 boundaries and five sixes to lead the Strike to a 46-run triumph and an undefeated six wins for the campaign.
His ton powered the local side to a strong total of 185 on Sunday, which the Shaheens weren’t able to chase as they finished at 7-139 from 20 overs.
The Waratah cricketer and former BBL Brisbane Heat player was the talk of the town after the enthralling effort in front of a healthy crowd.
With the ball, Brodie Symons was the pick of the bowlers with the opening quick claiming 3-16 from three overs to help bring home the title for the Strike.
Strike captain Michael Kudra said it was a proud moment to win the ultimate prize in the week-long event.
“It was a brilliant week for us and to get the title was great,” Kudra said.
“All the players especially the Darwin born and bred players felt a sense of pride.
“It will be a moment we will remember when we look back on our cricket journeys.”
Kudra also praised Wood for his contribution with the bat.
“He batted brilliantly and hit some huge sixes to really set us up in the first innings,” he said.
“His power hitting was fantastic to watch.”
The Strike’s win meant the Top End Series finished with the Renegades in third with a 2-3 win-loss record ahead of the Stars (4th) and PNG (5th). The ACT came sixth in a winless campaign.
Jason Sangha, Rohail Nazir among players to watch in Top End Series final
The home of Northern Territory cricket is set to host a cracking Top End Series final on Sunday afternoon.
It will be the undefeated NT Strike taking on Pakistan A at DXC Arena in Marrara with a large crowd expected to roll through the gates.
The well supported Shaheens have only lost one match from their five regular games while the Strike have been unstoppable with five straight wins.
The local Territory side have been solid across the board while the spin of the Shaheens has been impressive to watch alongside their batting and electric fielding.
Here’s a list of the players to watch in the Top End Series final 2023.
Jason Sangha (NT Strike)
He is the captain of the Sydney Thunder and he is up in the Top End dominating for the local side.
Sangha has scored 160 runs at an average of 53 this campaign and to go with his sublime batting is his fielding which you can hardly ever fault.
Rohail Nazir (Pakistan A)
The Shaheens skipper is not only a great leader but a brilliant wicketkeeper bat.
He has the fifth most runs in the tournament with 129.
Josh Kann (NT Strike)
Where do you start. If you want entertainment, well Josh Kann is your man.
The all-rounder is electric with the bat having hit the most sixes out of anyone this Top End Series.
Having just played four games – one less than most – Kann has smacked the fourth most runs (144) and proves to be a major player in this final.
Shawaiz Irfan (Pakistan A)
No one has raised the bat more than Shawaiz Irfan this campaign.
The damaging bat has struck two have centuries and is the third highest run scorer with 153 runs.
Hamish Martin (NT Strike)
His coach called for the state selectors to give the left-arm off spinner a crack and wasn’t he right.
Martin went on to take another four wickets after the call was made.
The Palmerston captain now leads the competition for wickets with 10.
Arafat Ahmed Minhas (Pakistan A)
Minhas is a one of the best spinners rolling around in the Top End and his stats back that up.
The off-spinner has taken equal-second most wickets with nine and is poised to play a major part in the decider.
Ali Asfand (Pakistan A)
Another spinner who has starred for the Shaheens, taking seven wickets.
It is the equal-third most in the competition.
NT coach Udara Weerasinghe says local spinner Hamish Martin deserves chance at state level
Northern Territory off-spinner Hamish Martin has been backed by his coach Udara Weerasinghe to get a go at the next level.
It follows another impressive performance from the Territory-born left-arm off spinner who took a match winning 2-20 from four overs against the Stars Academy in the Top End Series on Thursday.
When the Stars needed 12 runs to win from the final two overs, Martin, 23, turned it on, picking up a wicket and holding the batters to three runs in the 19th over.
Martin’s effort alongside Brodie Symons (3-17) at Gardens Oval led the Strike to gaining a three-run win to book a spot in Sunday’s final.
The Palmerston captain now sits equal-second on the competition wicket taking leaderboard with eight scalps alongside Big Bash and state cricketer Arjun Nair.
Strike coach Udara Weerasinghe, who played 23 first-class games in Sri Lanka as an off-spinner, complimented Martin’s bowling and said he could play professionally.
“I reckon Hamish is someone who has never been recognised at the next level,” Weerasinghe said.
“And his ability to change his pace as a spinner is unreal.
“To be honest with you, he is one of the players who can go and play next level.
“He has got the skill set, the way he is bowling, the art he has got for bowling is unbelievable.
Weerasinghe also mentioned that he was “a gun fielder” who had a “rocket arm.”
Then prompted to talk about Martin’s batting, he said “bloody oath, he can hold his bat, you’ve seen that.”
Before Martin’s strong performance with the ball, it was Param Uppal (48* off 32) and Michael Kudra (41* off 35) who played crucial knocks to get the side to a defendable 4-138 after 20 overs.
The win for the Strike has them sitting on top of the table with a 4-0 win-loss record.
With the likes of Victorian head coach Chris Rogers (Stars Academy assistant) and Melbourne Stars BBL coach Clint McKay (Stars Academy coach) watching on in the Top End, maybe Martin will receive his call up to the big time.
The local side will take on the Renegades Academy at TIO Stadium on Friday night.
Matthew Fotia, Ab Das lead Renegades to convincing victory
Newly contracted Victorian fast bowler Matthew Fotia has powered the Renegades Academy to a second-straight win in the Top End Series after taking a stellar 3-4 from three overs against the PNG.
The 28-year-old took a matchwinning three wickets in his third (powersurge) over to have the Barras in a tough position at 7-78 after 14 overs, chasing 150.
Before the trio of wickets in four balls, Fotia bowled nine-straight dot balls to begin his spell as opening bowler.
The player of the match performance improved the Renegades record to 2-1 and edges them to being one win away from clinching a top two grand final spot in the six-team competition.
Fotia, who took 2-17 and 0-13 in the first two games, said he benefited from the initial hit outs leading into Thursday’s match.
“I had the benefit of having two or three goes at it now in terms of getting outside, obviously in Victoria most of the squad haven’t been able to work on their full run or outside at all,” Fotia said.
“Everyone is just starting to find their grove in terms of rhythm and the wicket dried out a bit, had some pace in it and sometimes when you see the ball fly through, it gives you a pep in your step as well.”
The Ringwood fast bowler was getting the ball to carry through impressively to the keeper, even with a breeze which he had to bowl into at Gardens Oval.
Fotia is without a Big Bash contract at this stage but he may land a deal following his top-notch performances.
He said adjusting to life as a professional cricketer had been “really good” with the team being welcoming to the quick who also said he was learning heaps.
Other impressive performers in the game included Melbourne all-rounder Jack Prestwidge who smacked 47 off 23 balls to help power his side to a defendable total of 5-150.
Meanwhile Renegades recruit winner Ab Das was outstanding for his 3-23 off 2.3 overs which led to bowling the Barras out for 98, handing the team in red a 52-run win.
The Bonbeach right-arm leg-spinner and power-hitter clinched the big wicket of opener Tony Ura (23) before picking up two cheeky tailorder wickets featuring the Barras’ number 10 and 11.
In the other game on Thursday, the NT Strike recovered well after being 4-49 off 9.5 overs against the Stars Academy.
At the time of publishing, the undefeated Strike posted 4-138 with Param Uppal (48* off 32) and Michael Kudra (41* off 35) leading the way with a solid partnership to complete the innings.
In return, the Strike have the Stars 1-35 from four overs.
NT hold top spot after Josh Kann, Jason Sangha dominance
Local all-rounder Josh Kann has led the NT to showing the rest of the Top End Series competition how to bat on TIO Stadium after scoring a quick-fire half century alongside Jason Sangha against the PNG on Wednesday afternoon.
The pair’s effort led Strike to posting an matchwinning 5-156 the day after Pakistan A (93) and the Renegades Academy (85) were rolled for poor double-digit scores on the same pitch.
Kann, 23, whacked 60 off 44 balls including three towering sixes and three fours while Waratahs batting all-rounder Sangha struck six boundaries for his 55 off 42 balls.
Kann said it was “very good” batting with the experience of Sangha, who captains the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash, on a pitch which oppositions couldn’t figure out.
“To be fair, when I went out to bat, I was going to have a look at the first few balls and then see how it was playing and the first few balls were inconsistent,” Kann said.
“But then it was sort of a wicket where you got to wait for those off-pace balls and sit on the back foot a little bit which is what we did early.”
Kann said his side had an advantage with many of his teammates having played on the drop-in pitch previously in the Strike League tournament.
The Strike picked up a comfortable 39-run win after the Barras, who posted 180 on Tuesday against the Stars Academy, were bowled out for 117.
The win makes the Strike the only undefeated team in the six-team competition with a 3-0 win-loss record.
Spinners Matt Hammond (2-24 off four overs) and Hamish Martin (2-24 off three overs) impressed with two wickets while pace bowler Josh Baraba took 2-17.
The Top End Series continues on Thursday with two matches at Gardens Oval.
The Renegades Academy take on the Barras in the first game before the Strike face the Stars Academy.
Renegades fall short chasing 93 against Pakistan
NT Strike are on top of the Strike League ladder, Pakistan A has won two straight and PNG Barras has announced themselves as a batting powerhouse at the completion of the third day of the Top End Series cricket competition on Tuesday.
The competition hosts are early contenders for the title after two dominant wins over the Shaheens and ACT Comets to start the campaign.
Following their 59-run triumph at Gardens Oval on Sunday, the local side geared up for another convincing win, defeating the Comets by eight wickets at DXC Arena on Tuesday night.
The Comets were bowled out for 128 with Strike off-spinner Hamish Martin leading the charge with 3-20 while Josh Kann (2-26), Param Uppal (2-21) and Matt Hammond (2-17) took two wickets each.
In the run chase, the Strike were in cruise control chasing down the target two wickets down with 2.5 overs to spare.
Jack Wood (42) and Josh Kann (36) got the Strike off to a good start opening the batting before Jason Sangha (37*) and Param Uppal (7*) finished the task.
In the other evening match on Tuesday, the Renegades failed to chase down Shaheens’ low total of 93 at TIO Stadium as they were rolled for 85.
Shaheens off-spinner Arafat Ahmed Minhas took 3-15 from four overs featuring a caught dismissal made possible by a stunning catch at first slip from Muhammad Irfan Khan diving to his left to dismiss Jack Fraser-McGurk (7) for his side’s first wicket.
Commentator Pete Lazer was excited by the effort as he called it “a beauty” and “screamer” in the viewing box.
Another Shaheens off-spinner Ali Asfand impressed with 3-8 from four overs including the big wickets of Will Sutherland (15) and Dylan Brasher (19).
Another notable aspect of Tuesday’s Top End action was the batting performance of the PNG Barras who posted 180 against the Melbourne Stars Academy in the afternoon game.
Opening batter Tony Ura top scored with 52 while Hiri Hiri (34), Lega Siaka (24), Kiplin Doriga (20) and Norman Vanua (19) contributed nicely.
Stars Academy spinner Arjun Nair took a brilliant 5-30 off four overs which featured two of the five batters who made double-figure scores.
The Top End Series cricket action continues on Wednesday with three more matches.
Sam Harper smacks stunning century in first outing for Melbourne Stars
Former Melbourne Renegades wicketkeeper Sam Harper has started his journey with cross-town rival Melbourne Stars on fire, whacking an unbeaten 107 from 69 balls as his side fell narrowly short of a spectacular victory in the third game of the Top End Series in Darwin.
Chasing PNG Barras’ big total of 10-180, the 26-year-old impressed immensely, striking nine boundaries including three big sixes to get the Stars to 176, just five runs short of victory on Tuesday afternoon at DXC Arena.
When the game looked over with the Stars needing 84 runs from 40 deliveries, the Stars Academy skipper cut the task to 10 off four balls in the dying stages.
But Barras opening bowler Alei Nao proved too good as he held his nerve to restrict the Stars to five runs from the final four balls and ultimately a four-run win for his side.
Harper played more than 50 matches for the Renegades in the Big Bash before making the move to the team in green this off-season.
‘Really good to see’: Pakistan fan pumped about team playing in Darwin’s Top End Series
Pakistan A bounced back in fine fashion from its loss on Sunday as a strong show of local support cheered them to a dominant victory over ACT Comets in the second game of the Top End Series.
After winning the toss and electing to bowl, it was the fielding which stood out for the Shaheens before some big hitting guided them to a comfortable nine-wicket win as they chased down the Comets score of 7-122 with 4.4 overs to spare.
The Comets were ticking along nicely at 3-73 after 13 overs until the team in Green struck taking 3-12 with Muhammad Irfan Khan and Arafat Minhas picking up top-notch run-outs before Arafat Ahmed Minhas got the big wicket of skipper Tom Vane Tempest.
The Shaheens finished the innings with a stunning three run-outs as they were rewarded for their fast attack on the ball and powerful throws.
In the run chase, the Shaheens batters put on the show, sending the crowd wild at times as Shamyl Hussain (57 off 44 balls), shipper Rohail Nazir (39 off 21 balls) and Basit Ali (28 off 27 balls) smacked balls to all parts of the ground.
A total of 17 boundaries were hit including two towering sixes to the long boundary as the Shaheens made light work of the small total with 72 runs coming from the big hits.
Shaheens supporter Tamoor Mirza, who was among several chanters at DXC Arena, said he was glad to see the Pakistan A side playing in Darwin.
“It was really good to see some of the emerging players from Pakistan coming all the way to the Top End of Australia,” Mirza said.
“Taking families to the game and seeing all the families of young kids who are aspiring cricketers and supporting the team was even more special to see.”
“The weather was perfect and I think NT Cricket has chosen the perfect time for it.
“We always travel all over Australia and sometimes different parts of the world wherever the Pakistan team is playing and we are never shy of chanting some slogans in favour of the team.”
The Muirhead resident said he expected to see the support numbers for Pakistan to grow as the tournament progressed.
Early contender for catch of the tournament
The catch from Comets all-rounder Brad Thomas to dismiss Basit Ali was remarkable and has to be the catch of the tournament so far after two games of the Top End Series.
Thomas dived at full stretch to take a thrilling catch after running 10 metres from inside the ring to take the grab just outside the inner circle off the bowling of Zak Honeybrook.
It sent commentator Megan White wild alongside onlookers at the ground.
The Top End Series continues with three games on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Tom Menzies steers NT to convincing win over Pakistan A in tournament opener
Fresh after selection in the Australian under-19s, Darwin youngster Tom Menzies has risen to peak form taking a match winning 4-24 against Pakistan A to lead the Northern Territory Strike to a 59-run win in the first match of the Top End Series.
The 17-year-old claimed wickets in the first two balls of the Shaheens run chase when the visitors were striving to beat Strike’s total of 5-185 at Gardens Oval.
Menzies’ top performance follows the Strike League final on Friday where he led his side to victory, taking 2-30 including a bowled dismissal on the second last ball of the game when the City Cyclones needed six runs to win from two deliveries.
Strike head coach Udara Weerasinghe was pleased with how Menzies was going.
“Young Tommy is going great,” Weerasinghe said.
“His execution is next level, he knows what he is doing and he is working on his plans really well.
“He is a good young lad who wants to improve his cricket and develop very highly.
“It’s very good to see, he is going great.”
Prior to Menzies player of the match exhibits, it was Josh Kann (47 from 31 balls) and Param Uppal (59 from 28 deliveries) doing the damage as the pair smacked a combined 14 boundaries.
Kann struck four sixes and two fours and Uppal hit six fours and two sixes to lead the Strike to a favourable position at the halfway point.
For the Shaheens, Arafat Ahmed Minhas was the best performer with the ball with 2-20 from four overs.
In the run chase, Jack Wood was pivotal with 4-28 while Hamish Martin and Josh Kann were handy with economical bowling and a wicket each.
Shaheens bat Rohail Nazir scored an unbeaten 41 from 33 balls for the visitors.
The Top End Series continues this week with three matches on Tuesday including Strike’s second game of the tournament against ACT Comets at DXC Arena in Marrara.
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