Nightcliff beats Tracy Village by 113 runs to claim its third T20 title
The Tigers have belted Tracy Village in the T20 grand final by 113 runs in an explosive match at Gardens where more than 20 sixes were struck.
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MORE explosive batting from Tracy Village’s Josh Kann was not enough to secure his team a premiership in the T20 grand final on Thursday night, demolished by Nightcliff to the tune of 113 runs at Gardens Oval.
Kann, who had belted 280 runs at 56 in the Darwin & District Cricket Competition’s T20 league coming into the decider, slammed 62 off just 26 deliveries with five sixes in search of Nightcliff’s 6/241.
Kann was in white-hot form this week, having creamed 90 off just 51 balls at DXC Arena for Southern Storm the night before in the Strike League.
However, Tracy’s innings fell away after Kann was dismissed by Andrew Richards who returned the stunning figures of 5/11 off three overs, eventually bowled out for 128 in the 15th over.
Their innings got off to a horror start with Josh Hoffman bowled by Josh Brown for a golden duck.
Earlier, Nightcliff compiled a massive 6/241 on the back of an incredible 32-ball 84 from Mansukh Singh with five fours and eight sixes.
He was well supported by Param Uppal (65 off 31 balls with 11 boundaries, Josh Brown 49 off 22 with five sixes) as Reiley Mark claimed 2/45.
It was Nightcliff’s third T20 trophy after wins in 2010 and 2008.
Josh Kann is the T20 king of Darwin cricket
IT was a night out in Melbourne Josh Kann will never forget.
Tracy Village’s premium all-rounder was playing just his third Big Bash League match for the Hobart Hurricanes in January this year against a Melbourne Stars outfit struggling to get out of first gear.
But when Glenn Maxwell strode to the crease at the MCG, it quickly became a case of third time unlucky for the then 21-year-old Queenslander.
Maxwell would plunder 154 runs off just 66 balls, and Kann taken for 40 from just two overs, as the Stars finally shone with an eye-watering score of 2/272.
“It was incredible, whatever ball I bowled it was going either for four or six,” Kann told the NT News.
“It was amazing to be part of that game, I’ll remember it forever.
“But maybe it gave me a little bit of motivation to try and get better.”
And improve he did, with the former Australian representative at Under 19 level easily the best exponent of the T20 art in Darwin cricket so far this season, the first picked for the NT News Best 12.
Kann has smashed 280 runs at 56 – going nicely with his seven wickets at 17.86 – as the Villagers draw Nightcliff in the grand final on Thursday at Gardens Oval.
Kann’s numbers are a vast improvement on his last Darwin season, too, where he eked out just 54 runs at 13.5 and took three wickets at 31 per pole
Compounding his grief, the Villagers were also embarrassed in last season’s semi-final, bowled out for just 75 by Darwin at Cazalys Arena.
Also fuelling his fire is the fact the only game Tracy have dropped this season has been to Nightcliff in an eight-wicket drubbing, where Kann made a first ball duck — castled by Braden Taeuber.
Kann, who will play grade cricket in Tasmania this coming season, said his team was well poised with the likes of Josh Hoffman and Antum Naqvi yet to fully fire.
“We have the firepower to beat anyone,” Kann said.
“It’s dangerous to see they haven’t gone (off) yet and we’re in the grand final, hopefully we all fire.
“If we do that I think we’re going to be a really big chance.”
Personally, Kann said his short form game had benefited from those three Hurricanes matches, despite the Maxwell mauling.
“It’s been good, I’ve struggled in the one dayers and the red ball cricket though,” Kann said of his season so far.
“Big Bash helped my T20 game.
“Personally, I love playing the T20 and one day formats. Freedom is the perfect word for it.”
Kann has had a standout year in the T20 competition, see who else made the NT News Best 12.
Josh Kann
TEAM: Tracy Village
RUNS: 280 at 56.
HIGHEST SCORE: 102 against Waratah
WICKETS: Seven at 17.86
BEST BOWLING: 3/16 against the NT Academy
The former Hobart Hurricanes all-rounder absolutely dominated the T20 competition with 280 runs at 56, including two fifties and a century. His murderous 102 off 62 balls ensured his team reached Waratah’s 6/176 in the semi-final.
Josh Brown
TEAM: Nightcliff
RUNS: 257 at 64.25
HIGHEST SCORE: 80 not out against the NT Academy
WICKETS: Two at 19.5
BEST BOWLING: 1/18 against Tracy Village.
The Nightcliff bat, who also plays for Northern Tide in the Strike League, has been a model of consistency with 257 runs at 64.25, including three half centuries. Has also chipped in with two wickets from two appearances at the crease, with best figures of 1/18 against grand finalists Tracy Village.
Isaac Conway
TEAM: Waratah
RUNS: 141 at 47
HIGHEST SCORE: 53 not out against the NT Academy.
The Waratah bat has made double figures in every innings this season – including a matchwinning unbeaten 53 in round one – ensuring his team qualified for the finals.
Phil Hull
TEAM: Nightcliff
WICKETS: Eight at 10
BEST BOWLING: 3/19 against Palmerston
Hull took the crucial figures of 3/19 against Palmerston as the Maroons were skittled for 126 in the semi-final at DXC Arena.
Dylan Brasher
TEAM: Darwin
RUNS: 121 at 40.33
HIGHEST SCORE: 53 against Nightcliff
WICKETS: Two at 19.5
BEST BOWLING: 2/11 against the NT Academy
The Victorian gun left-hander churns out the runs no matter the format. With a lowest score off 33 (off 16 balls with four boundaries and a six), Brasher was one of the Eagles’ best performers in 2022.
Coby Edmonstone
TEAM: PINT
RUNS: 124 at 41.33
HIGHEST SCORE: 45 against University
WICKETS: Three at 30.67
BEST BOWLING: 1/23 against University
Another batter who made consistent runs while chipping in with the odd wicket, Edmonstone had his best game against University, making 45 off 38 balls to go with 1/23 at the crease.
Antum Naqvi
TEAM: Tracy Village
WICKETS: Eight at 12.25
BEST BOWLING: 4/23 against Southern Districts
While his batting was scratchy – a highest score of 44 was his only contribution in double figures – Naqvi took eight wickets at 12.25, including 2/31 in a semi-final win over Waratah at Gardens Oval.
Tom O’Connell
TEAM: Southern Districts
RUNS 60 at 20
HIGHEST SCORE: 26 against Tracy Village
WICKETS: Seven at 8.71
BEST BOWLING: 3/8 against Darwin
The Victorian spinner stood out with the ball, with his best figures being 3/8 off two overs at DXC Arena.
However he also backed up his bowling efforts with handy runs and made double figures in each of his three innings.
Madura Weerasinghe
TEAM: Waratah
RUNS: 30 at 30
HIGHEST SCORE: 18 not out
WICKETS: Eight at 12.38
BEST BOWLING: 2/16 against Tracy Village
Like O’Connell, Weerasinghe complemented his fine bowling with handy runs, providing two unbeaten knocks.
He produced his best spell of bowling, 2/16 off two overs at Gardens Oval, in a losing semi-final.
Tom Menzies
TEAM: NT Academy
RUNS: 126 at 21
HIGHEST SCORE: 40 v Tracy Village
WICKETS: Six at 34.17
2/20 against Tracy Village
The young gun who represented the Territory with distinction at the Under 19 national championships showed his wares with both bat and ball, including a 2/20 against grand finalists Tracy Village.
Sam Elder
TEAM: NT Academy
RUNS: 131 at 21.83
HIGHEST SCORE: 41 against University
WICKETS: Five at 23.6
BEST BOWLING: 2/29 against Darwin
Another strong performer from the NT Academy, Elder produced three solid scores and was relatively economical with ball in hand.
Braden Taeuber
TEAM: Nightcliff
WICKETS: Seven at 10
BEST BOWLING: 3/23 against Southern Districts
The Tigers’ second most potent bowling option this season alongside Phil Hull. Taebur was a miserly operator who has never went for more than 23 runs in a bowling effort.
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