Desert Blaze win 2023 Strike League grand final against City Cyclones
Desert Blaze have won the 2023 Strike League by the tightest of margins against City Cyclones. Read how they got it done.
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Desert Blaze has secured the 2023 Strike League crown over City Cyclones in a grand final which came down to the final over bowled by the Territory’s 17-year-old prodigy.
Despite losing the big-hitting Josh Kann for a duck early on Blaze captain Angus Lovell (33 runs) formed a formidable partnership with Jack Wood (76) to steer the side through the power play.
And with contributions from the middle order the Blaze, who won the regular season, were able to get out to a healthy score of 5/140.
There were more reasons for Blaze to keep their hopes high when they had Cyclones captain and the season’s leading run scorer Sam Heazlett out for just one run.
Brodie Symons and Jarrod Freeman continued to lay waste to the Cyclones top order also seeing off Wil Parker (0) and James Doherty (5) cheaply.
But the side in green found some consistency later on with contributions from Jayden Goodwin (21), Isaac Conway (22), Mitch Doolan (28) and Coby Edmondstone (36) to settle the nerves.
In the final over, just when it looked as if the partnership of Hamish Martin (12*) and Caelan Maladay (7) could take the necessary runs 17-year-old Tom Menzies struck gold bowling Maladay out.
Seamus Keogh needing a six off the final ball, but Menzies, who was already having a stellar week named in the Australian under-19s, only gave up a four sending Cyclones off at 9/139.
“That was a hell of a game, it tipped either way for the whole game so that was really good,” Lovell said post-match.
“This has been such an awesome experience and anyone I speak to when I go back home I will be strongly advising to come back up here. I’ve absolutely loved it.
“A big thank you to coach Shane Jurgensen, you’ve pulled this team together and everyone has loved having you around
“It’s been a great trip, I think we’ve had contributions from the whole group and I think for NT Cricket seeing a 17-year-old close the game out like that shows the future is pretty bright up here.”
Cricket 365 resumes on Sunday with the NT Academy taking on Pakistan at Gardens Oval from 2pm in the Top End Series.
City Cyclones surge into Strike League grand final
The Darren Berry-coached City Cyclones will take some confidence into the Strike League grand final, after beating their major opposition Desert Blaze.
The Cyclones came into the encounter knowing it to be a must-win to keep their chances as they found themselves tied on competition points with Northern Tide and Southern Storm.
And the odds were against them coming up against Blaze, the side already destined for finals.
The men in green set the tone early on with opening bat James Doherty swinging for the fences with 42 runs from 34 balls to get his side off to a flyer.
He formed a couple of important partnerships with Sam Heazlett and Coby Edmondstone before he was dismissed by Tom Menzies with the score at 3/81 after 12 overs.
An important knock of 30 from Mitch Doolan kept the runs coming until Cyclones were bowled out for 10/138 on the final ball of the innings.
But it was the contributions of their frontline bowlers which ultimately won the day with Seamus Keogh, Caelan Maladay and Edmondstone taking out Blaze’s top four in just five overs.
And while the comp’s leading bowler Jarrod Freeman (40) and Jack Wood (36) ignited a fightback Blaze was out for 126 runs, but with their finals spot already secured they have a shot at revenge.
Meanwhile, Southern Storm beat Northern Tide by six wickets with Jason Sanga (55), Toby Gray (44) and Keegan Oates (40) all playing big roles with the bat.
The result allowed Cyclones to go through on net run rate, a figure which would have gone in Tide’s favour had they won the final match.
“It was a good game and it panned out pretty lucky for us with the Tide and Storm result,” Doherty said.
“I went out there and just tried to play with freedom and backed myself as much as I could to get us off to a bit of a flyer.
“It came down to our bowlers up front and bowling through the middle, it was a real team effort, we took three or four wickets in the power play which set us up.
“They’re a good side and have some unbelievable players, but we will go (into the final) with a bit of confidence and just back everyone’s ability. That’s all we can do and hope it goes our way.”
Doherty, from Victoria, also praised the Strike League for playing a big part in his personal development during the off season down south.
A particular highlight was getting to pick the brain of his coach, Berry, who is often regarded as one of the best wicketkeepers Australia has ever produced.
“It’s been unreal for the whole group being around someone who has played with and against some of the best players to ever play the game,” Doherty said.
“Just to pick his brains and chat to him about what he’s experienced like playing with (Shane) Warne, he just picks up the little things in your game and that’s been unreal for my personal development.
“To have the opportunity play games each week in unbelievable 30 degrees conditions against some of the best players in the country is surreal and something I would recommend to anyone.”
Desert Blaze secure Strike League finals berth in fiery fightback
Desert Blaze have secured their spot in the Strike League final with a game to spare over the rest of the competition.
The Blaze have been the frontrunners for most of the competition with their four wicket triumph over Southern Storm landing them on six wins, two more than the rest of the league.
Storm started their innings with plenty of urgency as the top order of Dhanusha Gamage, Jacob Dickman and Jason Sangha quickly raced to 1/69 within 10 overs.
But from there the Blaze attack came to life taking the next three wickets within 20 runs, and while Param Uppal put on a 50 in resistance Storm were bowled out for 214 runs.
Jarrod Freeman brought his league-leading wicket haul to 24, while Josh Kann, Tom Menzies and Waheguru Dhillon all contributed with the ball as well.
“It came down to our fielding, the past few games we hadn’t fielded to the standard we had in the early stages of the tournament,” Jurgensen said.
“Storm had a great start, they were 1/69 after 10 overs and all of a sudden we started to lift our game a bit in the field and started to lift in energy and focus as well.
“For where they were to bowl them out for just over 200 is a fantastic effort and it was even more pleasing for it to be the fourth game in a row where we’ve bowled out our opposition.”
New South Welshman Ryan Hackney was the talk of Blaze’s response quickly piling on the runs to bring up a total of 111 from 131 balls.
He built plenty of partnerships along the way, most significantly alongside Kyle Brazell, Tom Jackson and Josh Kann, to propel his side to a winning position.
“His innings was superb, he had a lot of mates along the way to support him on a wicket where it was tough to get a start,” Jurgensen said.
“His poise and foundation at the top really helped us get to that total, no doubt his innings was instrumental in getting us over the line.
“Freeman has bowled beautifully, he has very good changes of pace, reads the game really well and can adapt accordingly, all of the best players have adapted to the different pitches.
“It’s all about the journey for me and giving these young cricketers the chance to play consistent cricket as they get up here in the NT.
“There’s great support staff around the team and the boys have taken every opportunity to get to know each other and that’s played out on the field.”
It puts Blaze into the final with a game to spare with all of Storm, City Cyclones and Northern Tide sitting equal on wins behind them.
And while it gives Jurgensen’s men a chance to relax they will be approaching their last game of the tournament, against Cyclones.
“Anything can happen in the final but to be nice and relaxed heading into this last game allows us to prepare and plan accordingly,” he said.
“It will be more of the same going into this one, we’ve been lucky to have a T20 and a one day team, which is a chance to maximise opportunities for players. And we won’t change from that goal.”
Victorian legend turned Strike League coach praises Territory talent
One of the finest gloveman this country has ever produced is “staggered” England have persisted with keeper Jonny Bairstow behind the stumps.
Darren Berry, currently in Darwin to coach in the Strike League, said there were plenty of better keepers to pick from, primarily the “class” Ben Foakes who also averages 32 with the bat at the highest level.
“Technically he’s got a lot of faults,” Berry said of Bairstow, who averages 36 in Test cricket.
“And I’m quite shocked Ben Foakes has not been in this Ashes series … I’m staggered that Ben Foakes has not played.
“(Bairstow’s) not a natural wicket keeper and it staggers me in Test cricket in an Ashes series you can play someone who’s not up to the standard as a wicketkeeper.
“I think it’s costing them behind the stumps.”
When asked what his advice would be to Bairstow to improve his game overnight, Berry said: “Those things at the bottom of your legs, they’re called feet.”
“Try moving them, that would be a starting point.
“He’s just flat footed and he just falls like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.”
He said the media had pumped up Bairstow’s one-handed, sprawling pouch off Mitch Marsh on day one of the fourth Test at Old Trafford but Berry wasn’t as impressed.
“He actually had no feet and fell over and caught it in his right hand, he made it look good,” he said.
“A good keeper probably would have moved to the right and got two hands on it.
“But because he’s so flat footed, he fell to his right.”
Meanwhile, Berry has praised a number of local players under his stewardship at the City Cyclones in the Strike League.
“The young boy (Tom) Menzies has been very impressive,” he said.
“He seems to have a good attitude.
“And for a young boy he seems to have a very good skill set.
“In this format you’ve got to have a change of pace.
“He’s impressed me, he’s probably been the standout from the young Northern Territory cricketers.”
He also said PINT captain Coby Edmondstone was a good “developing cricketer”, who stroked 58 not out in round 6, while the maturity, leadership and low order batting (two unbeaten scores of 43 and 45) of Hamish Martin had also impressed.
“A mature head on young shoulders,” Berry said of the Palmerston skipper.
Unfortunately, Cyclones and Waratah keeper Isaac Conway had recently injured his back and returned to Adelaide, Berry confirmed.
However, he stressed the Strike League was not just about winning but developing emerging talent, with his 3-5 Cyclones fourth on the league table.
The former Victorian gloveman has been working with keepers from other franchises while some bowlers have received tutelage from fellow Strike League mentor Shane Jurgensen, New Zealand’s national bowling coach.
“It’s not a competition that’s dog eat dog,” he said.
“It’s not all about winning, it’s about developing the players.
“This is emerging talent, it’s a different message, it’s more of an educational coaching role.
“You don’t really have to tell them how to play the game (at the elite level).
“You might pick up one or two finer things and tweak a few things, whereas here these guys (in the Strike League) are almost like sponges.”
Berry, who first came to Darwin in 1989 to play with PINT, said the facilities had vastly improved since then.
“It’s been outstanding,” he said of the competition so far.
“The facilities and the conditions for cricket, as a young cricketer you couldn’t ask for any more.
“It’s a real quality set up and it’s an under-utilised facility.
“If Cricket Australia embraces what it’s got to offer, I think there’s huge benefit in the off-season to develop cricketers in a great environment.”
Thrilling super over finish to electric Strike League match
A Tasmanian’s quickfire knock with two sixes from three balls secured victory for the Southern Storm in a thrilling super over.
Storm posted a competitive score of 9/151 against the City Cyclones with the soon-to-be-match hero Keegan Oates top scoring with 46 from 28 balls in their first innings.
His performance, alongside significant stints from Jason Sangha (28) and Param Uppal (30), gave their team a decent total to defend on their Wednesday game at TIO Stadium.
Storm would have liked their chances when they had sent Cyclones’ top five packing for 78 runs after nearly 11 overs, with pace bowler Billy Stanlake leading the attack.
But a pivotal partnership between Lochie Hardy (23) and Mitch Doolan (38) kept City in the fight with Will Parker hitting three runs off the last over to force a tie.
The Cyclones started the super over with intent with Sam Heazlett and James Doherty initially traded singles before Heazlett accelerated to bring the total to 1/14.
The onus was then on Storm to hit hard, but Oates only needed three balls to get the job done, swinging for the fences with back-to-back sixes.
And despite having four balls in hand and just three more runs required, the Tasmanian didn’t waste any more time, hitting a four to seal the match.
“I just went out with the intent of hitting the first two to the fence and I was lucky enough they did,” Oates said.
“The wicket was really nice so with it in my area I swung pretty hard and luckily they both went for six, and then with three runs to get I knew I just needed to get bat on ball.
“It was a great experience, a lot of the boys haven’t played in a super over and to chase down 15 runs in a single over is a fantastic feeling for everyone involved.
“We thought 150 was about par score on that ground so we knew if we bowled well and fielded well we could restrict them.
“Our bowlers did great, we have some fantastic spinners and then Billy comes in bowling really fast, it’s a great mix.
“Very proud of the boys after we lost the first three games, we could have easily tossed it in and not bounced back like we have.”
A sharp lift in form sets up an intriguing encounter with Desert Blaze this Sunday, after the top side lost by 12 runs in the other game to Northern Tide.
Ryan King (44) and Cooper Connolly (46) put on a crucial early partnership racing their side to 8/153.
And though the Blaze fought hard through Angus Lovell (52) and a late showing from Jarrod Freeman (38) it wasn’t enough to take the win.
“I’m absolutely loving being in the Territory, the weather is much better than the Tasmanian winter but it’s still relaxed unlike the hustle and bustle of the bigger cities,” Oates said.
“Strike League is such a valuable competition for all the boys from different states and locally, I came to the first one and loved it so thought I would come back again.”
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