Josh Kann top scores in Cricket Australia XI’s win over Melbourne Stars Academy in the Top End T20 grand final
One of Darwin’s best short form cricketers has exploded as the Cricket Australia XI won the Top End T20 tournament.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A BLISTERING 27-ball 73 from Josh Kann has seen the Cricket Australia XI win the Top End T20 tournament by 30 runs at Gardens Oval on Sunday afternoon.
Kann, who had entered the competition in white-hot form after dominating the local T20 and Strike League, belted six fours and seven sixes against the Melbourne Stars Academy, coming in second ball of the game after Blake Macdonald was dismissed by Sam Elliott (3/32).
Kann was the leading batter in those two previous competitions, scoring 342 runs at 57 and 471 runs at 47.1 respectively.
His heroics also followed on from Saturday’s effort where the Queenslander hit 59 off just 24 balls against Darwin in Premier Grade cricket.
Incredibly, on Sunday, Kann would be the second man dismissed at 2/87.
Support also came from captain Jason Sangha with 47 off 30 balls with six boundaries and a six as CAXI posted 9/184, the highest score of the tournament.
Tom O’Connell (2/29) and Xavier Crone (2/39) were among the wickets.
In reply, the Stars lost wickets regularly as none of the top order – Liam Blackford (38), Tom Rogers (28) and Jonathon Merlo (26) – kicked on.
For the CAXI, Mitch Owen completed a fine campaign with 5/28, with support from Caelan Malady (2/30) and Toby Gray (2/21).
Owen finished the competition as the leading bowler with 12 wickets at 9.5, followed by teammates Corey Rocchiccioli (nine at 10.11) and Gray (nine at 14.11).
The Territory’s D’Arcy Short was the number one batter with 176 runs at an average of 44.
Corey Rocchiccioli to miss Top End T20 grand final
THE Cricket Australia XI will enter Sunday’s Top End T20 grand final without its leading wicket taker, Corey Rocchiccioli, in a battle of the bowlers at Gardens Oval.
Rocchiccioli, who has taken nine wickets at 10.11 from four games, has returned to Western Australia to prepare for a pre-season camp and will miss the clash with the Melbourne Stars Academy.
Both teams have gone 3-1 during the tournament.
The Stars, who will also be without its captain, Nick Larkin, who has returned to New South Wales, beat CAXI by two wickets on Thursday night in a dress rehearsal before the decider.
Spinner Tom O’Connell will fill in for Larkin.
However, the CAXI still go into the match with three of the top six competition bowlers, with Mitch Owen (seven at 12.29), Brad Hope (seven at 13.43) and Toby Gray (seven at 15.14) having strong campaigns.
The other two within the top six wear black and green: the Stars’ Clinton Hinchliffe (eight wickets at 10.38) and O’Connell (seven at 15.71).
Only four men have made over 100 runs in a competition dominated by the ball.
Meanwhile, the Northern Territory has finished the tournament with a thrilling four wicket win over Papua New Guinea at DXC Arena.
Led by D’Arcy Short’s 63 off just 43 balls, including two sixes, NT Strike reeled in PNG’s 9/134 with a ball to spare on Friday night.
Short, who has led the batting aggregate with 176 runs at 44, combined with Ash Chandrasinghe (34) at the top of the order for a 99-run stand.
However, the NT stumbled to lose 6/26 before Matt Hammond and Tom Andrews saw the home team to victory.
For PNG, CJ Amini took 2/7 to be his country’s best performing bowler in the tournament.
Earlier, Tony Ura’s 50 off just 27 balls underpinned PNG’s score as Andrews chimed in with 3/23 off his four overs.
TOP TEN PLAYERS FROM THE TOP END T20 TOURNAMENT
10
Assad Vala
Papua New Guinea
Captain of a PNG team which failed to register a victory, Vala led the way with 125 runs at 31.25, including a final game 60 off just 41 balls against the Renegades.
He was also relied on to bowl, taking a tidy 1/14 off three overs against the Northern Territory in its first game, complementing a hard hitting 33 off 28 balls at the top of the order.
9
Mackenzie Harvey
Melbourne Renegades Academy
The Gades co-captain and keeper is second on the batting aggregate with a bunch of handy scores in a competition dominated by the ball and his team struggling for consistency.
Contributions of note included 37 off 28 balls against the Stars in round three and 43 off 34 deliveries in a 13-run win over the NT in round seven.
Rounded off his season with 52 against PNG in the final game as the Renegades won by five wickets.
8
Toby Gray
Cricket Australia XI
The young Northern District leg spinner also landed inside the top five bowlers for the season, with seven wickets at 15.14, including a best haul of 3/22 in round one against the Territory.
Also contributed 2/25 against Sunday’s grand finalists, the Melbourne Stars Academy in round eight.
7
Jonathon Merlo
Melbourne Stars
The St Kilda batter is second on the batting aggregate with 119 runs at 29.75, helping his Stars reach the grand final on Sunday.
His highest score, 62 against the Northern Territory, came in a losing cause in round two.
One of four men to break the 100-run barrier, Merlo has reached double figures in all of his four innings.
6
Tom O’Connell
Melbourne Stars
The Victorian spinner, who will captain the Stars in Sunday’s grand final after the departure of Nick Larkin, has been one of the most prolific wicket takers with seven at 15.71.
He has bagged a trio of two-wicket matches while also making an important 12 – with a four and a six – as the Stars chased down CAXI’s 141 with a ball to spare on Thursday night.
5
Corey Rocchiccioli
Cricket Australia XI
The Western Australian spinner has led the bowling in the tournament with nine wickets at 10.11.
Taking two bags of three, his best figures came against the Melbourne Renegades Academy; his 3/11 helping roll the Gades for 108 at DXC Arena in round five.
He will be a big loss for the CAXI in the grand final at Gardens Oval after returning to WA to prepare for a pre-season camp.
4
D’Arcy Short
Northern Territory
In a competition dominated by the ball, Short is one of only four men to have broken the 100-run barrier during the regular season, knocking out 176 runs at 44.
The Katherine-born Hobart Hurricanes opener has been the leading batter in the competition, with two half centuries: 69 off 52 balls against Melbourne Renegades Academy and 63 off just 43 rocks against PNG, over the tailend of the competition.
He also made a handy 42 off 39 balls against Melbourne Stars Academy for the NT’s first win for the season in round four.
3
Mitch Owen
Cricket Australia XI
The big hitting all-rounder landed within the top five of bowlers with seven wickets at 12.29.
He has also contributed handy runs, with 33 in a round one win over the NT and then bombed two big sixes in a 13-ball 18 the following night against PNG as they chased down 145 for victory.
2
Brad Hope
Cricket Australia XI
Hope has been a key ingredient in the CAXI’s 3-1 season, especially early on, landing inside the top ten for batting and bowling
He has been one of the leading wicket takers with seven at 13.43, including a season-best of 3/27 against PNG in round two — sending captain Assad Valla packing for 33 when he was threatening to kick onto a matchwinning score.
The Western Australian has also produced strong runs with 78 at 39, including a crucial 45 not out in a round one win over the NT, chasing down 105 for victory.
1
Clinton Hinchliffe
Melbourne Stars
The Western Australian had a powerful campaign, also falling within the top ten for batting and bowling as the Stars qualified for the grand final.
Hinchliffe could be relied upon to perform in a variety of batting roles, making a 28-ball 34 opening the batting against the Renegades in a five wicket win in round three, and a 25 off 23 balls at number seven against PNG in round six.
He also collected hauls of 4/45 against the NT in round four and 3/15 against PNG.
Cricket Australia XI shoot to the top of the Top End T20 tournament ladder
THE Cricket Australia XI has shot to the top of the Top End T20 competition after five rounds, going 3-0 with a trio of successful run chases.
The team has taken a liking to bowling first, reeling in the Melbourne Renegades Academy’s 108 all out on Monday night at DXC Arena.
Spinner Corey Rocchiccioli was again amongst the wickets, taking 3/15 off his four overs with Tom Jackson’s 32-ball 32 the only innings of substance.
And apart from Renegades co-captain Will Sutherland taking two wickets in two balls – including a searing yorker which rattled Mitch Owen’s pegs first delivery – CAXI coasted to another win, with opener Sam Fanning (44 not out) and Rav Srivastava (19 not out) combining for a 36-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
At stumps, Rocchiccioli said his side had gelled well in a short period of time.
“I think we’ve come together as a group really well, which is a really hard thing to do in these sorts of environment,” Rocchiccioli said.
“When you’re sort of slapped together, and you know the blokes a little bit.”
Earlier, on Sunday at Gardens Oval, the Northern Territory broke through for its first win, beating the Melbourne Stars Academy by three wickets.
The Stars posted 8/162 (Jonathon Merlo 62 off 39 balls, Matt Hammond 3/31, Hamish Martin 2/26, Corey Kelly 2/28).
The NT passed that score with a ball in hand as D’Arcy Short (42), Kelly (27) and Tom Andrews (23) produced handy knocks, while Clinton Hinchliffe (4/45) and Tom O’Donnell (2/25) bowled well.
NT batter Ash Chandrasinghe compiled an unbeaten 17 to get his side over the line, after the loss of Andrews, Kelly and Dean Fry in quick succession.
“It was a little bit stressful, especially losing two quick ones with the in batters,” Chandrasinghe said.
“But it was good to have Ben Ellis with me ... whose quite level headed and kept me calm.”
On Saturday at DXC Arena, the Stars (Damon Egan 41, Clinton Hinchliffe 34, Jonathon Merlo 31, Tom Rogers 2/24) passed the Renegades’ 7/158 (Mackenzie Harvey 37, Jack Prestwidge 27 Brody Couch 2/39, Xavier Crone 2/39, Tom O’Connell 2/28) with five wickets in hand.
Top 10 players to watch in the Top End T20 tournament
D’Arcy Short
The Territorian returns to play for his native NT for the first time in over a decade.
Short has become a household name for his exploits with the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League and the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, with powerful hitting and an ability to bowl left arm wrist spin.
The 32-year-old, a Sheffield Shield cricketer for Western Australia, has represented his country at both the T20 and 50-over game and will be expected to launch plenty of sixes over the course of the tournament.
Ash Chandrasinghe
The 20-year-old Waratah and Casey South Melbourne batter is a young man to keep an eye on.
Chandrasinghe, who earned himself a rookie contract with Victoria earlier this year, will be looking to equal the record of Don Bradman in coming weeks after making five successive hundreds in Premier Grade for the Tahs.
Didn’t make many in game one against the Cricket Australia XI, but took a stunning catch in the gully to remove Blake McDonald off Tom Menzies.
Jake Frazer-McGurk
The 20-year-old has been earmarked as one of the young guns to usher in a new era for the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League.
In fact, Renegades coach David Saker is on the record saying “JFM” is “the most exciting cricketer” he has seen in a long time.
The right hander and slick fielder has also made sporadic appearances for Victoria over the past three years.
Fraser-McGurk has represented the country at various underage levels, too, including the Australian Under 19s in 2019.
Josh Kann
The Tracy Village all-rounder has been in scintillating form in the shorter formats, topping the batting aggregate in two recent local competitions.
He belted 342 runs at 57 during Darwin’s T20 comp and then 471 runs at 47.1 in the Strike League.
The former Hobart Hurricane member also took eight wickets at 20.38 and seven wickets at 25.57 respectively.
Kann started his Top End T20 campaign in explosive, albeit short, fashion, taking the Territory’s Corey Kelly for three boundaries in an over before being bowled.
Xavier Crone
Crone, who hails from Bendigo in regional Victoria, has shown his wares in Darwin cricket this season.
For Southern Districts in the Darwin & Disrict Cricket Competition, the statuesque all-rounder has made 323 runs at 53.83, including 124 against Tracy Village.
However, after a barren Strike League where he compiled just 45 runs from seven hits, the one-time Victorian Sheffield Shield player will be looking to bounce back in the shortest format.
Corey Kelly
The former Redback will simply be one of the most exciting players to watch in the Top End T20 if he gets going.
A highlight of his season so far was a brutal 59 – dotted with plenty of monster sixes – against Darwin in the 50-over grand final, which his Crocs won.
The 21-year-old – twin of brother Thomas who plays for the Adelaide Strikers – also has strong recent form, making 107 off just 113 balls against Palmerston at Freds Pass in Premier Grade.
Kelly started his Top End T20 campaign strongly with two wickets in his opening over against the CA XI on Thursday night, including the wicket of Jason Sangha for a third ball duck, taking 3/19.
Jason Sangha
The Newcastle-born captain of the Cricket Australia XI has huge wraps on his game, and was named skipper of New South Wales last summer in the Sheffield Shield.
The 22-year-old, who received his first NSW contract while still at school, has built a solid T20 career so far with the Sydney Thunder – averaging 34 from 25 games – with 63 off just 36 balls on debut against the Melbourne Stars.
Sangha, who made his first class debut against the touring English team in the season of 2017/18, made a third ball duck in his first game at the Top End T20.
Will Sutherland
The captain of the Melbourne Renegades’ academy team is an emerging force of Victorian cricket
The son of former Cricket Australia chief executive James has played short form cricket for the Renegades in the Big Bash League while also representing the country at Under 19 level.
The 22-year-old all-rounder and 2021 Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year winner, who is also a talented Aussie Rules footballer, will look to push his case for higher honours this summer.
James Seymour
The left hander makes his return to the Territory after many fruitful seasons with Waratah in the Darwin & District Cricket Competition.
Plenty of runs over seven seasons at Gardens Oval saw him revealed as one of the best batters of Darwin cricket over the past decade.
Seymour, who made his Sheffield Shield debut with Victoria in 2021 with 60 against South Australia, has spent time with both Renegades and Stars franchises in the Big Bash League.
Tom Menzies
The young quickie from Darwin was a shining light for the Territory at the recent Under 19 national championships in Queensland.
Started his Top End T20 strongly with the figures of 1/14 after taking the early wicket of CA XI opener Blake McDonald on Thursday night.
Will have gained invaluable experience and knowledge rubbing shoulders with the likes of Wes Agar with the Strike League-winning Northern Tide, as Menzies took 2/55 in the grand final over Southern Storm.
More Coverage
Long time chief executive steps down from sporting body
A long-term sporting body’s chief executive has stepped down after more than eight years in the role growing the game he loves. Find out what happened.
Female Interstate Player Program to bolster Top End cricket
The 2025 women’s Darwin and Districts Cricket Competition will feature a refreshed format, focusing on player development and increased participation. Read more here.