The young guns firing at under-17 national cricket championships
NSW Metro skipper Yash Deshmukh spun his side to victory in a player of the match display in Thursday’s under-17 male national cricket championships final over Queensland. Get the full wrap up of the tournament at Launceston here.
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Australia’s best young male cricketers are going head-to-head at the under-17 national championships.
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FINALS DAY REVIEW
A spin bowling masterclass from NSW Metro skipper Yash Deshmukh inspired his side’s 58- run win over Queensland in the final of the under-17 male national cricket championships in Launceston on Thursday.
Queensland looked to be in a strong position at around 1-85 halfway through their chase of NSW Metro’s 7-210, with opener Sohaan Sharma (42) and the player of the tournament Steven Hogan (72) enjoying a strong second wicket partnership.
But tweaker Deshmukh (6-22) tore through the Maroons’ middle order after Sharma was dismissed.
“That’s probably the best figures so far in my whole career, and probably the right moment to take it I guess,” Fairfield-Liverpool player Deshmukh said.
“Over the years I’ve become more of a full time spinner.
“Our middle order did stand up today and got us to a competitive score.”
Coming off a century in Queensland’s semi final win over NSW Country, Blake Armstrong got off the mark with a six.
But after he was dismissed by a brilliant sharp diving catch from Xander Carstens off Deshmukh’s bowling, Queensland soon slumped to 5-124.
When Hogan was the eighth Queenslander dismissed, NSW Metro had all but wrapped up the championship and eventually bowled out their rivals for 152.
“That (Armstrong dismissal) was probably one of the key moments of the game, it was a good catch,” Deshmukh said.
Earlier, NSW Metro recovered from a dramatic top order collapse of their own to give themselves a shot at victory.
They were cruising early at 0-54 with Angus Tesoriero (27) and Athan Maraziotis (31) looking comfortable, before they lost four quick wickets to crash to 4-65.
Dushyant Thaman (3-33) dismissed both openers before Theo Tsingas claimed the scalps of Myles Kapoor and Blake Noorbergen, both for one.
However Metro’s middle order steadied the ship with Toby Robinson (56), Sumair Sira (27 not out), Xander Carstens (26) and Deshmukh (24) occupying the crease to guide them to a competitive total off their 50 overs.
Elsewhere, WA skipper Will Malajczuk stole the show on the carnival’s last day with a brutal knock rarely witnessed at age level.
Coming to the crease at no. 4 in the third place playoff against NSW Country, Malajczuk smashed 131 off just 74 balls, including 12 sixes and seven fours, to steer his team to a massive 8-326.
In Thursday’s other games, hosts Tasmania secured a second win of the tournament in a low-scoring ninth place playoff against Northern Territory.
Tasmania made just 107, with Tye Beer and Rehaa Shyamsundar both taking three wickets for the visitors.
But it proved enough after Northern Territory was toppled for 75, with Hayden Clark-Sullivan (5-10 off 8.4 overs) Tasmania’s chief destroyer.
Victoria Metro was far too strong for South Australia in the fifth place playoff, achieving the target of 162 with five wickets and 17 overs in hand.
Jack Appleton held South Australia’s innings of 8-161 together with 79, with Vincent Bus, James Rosham and Jakey Pietz all taking two wickets for Victoria Metro.
Opener Simrth Singh Gill (51) and Aryan Sharma (58 not out) ensured Victoria Metro cruised to the win.
In the seventh place playoff, Victoria Country opener Liam Biddiscombe finished on 118 not out in is side’s total of 5-262 in an 87-run win over ACT.
DAY 5 REVIEW
A shot-making masterclass from Blake Armstrong propelled Queensland into a ‘State of Origin’ type decider against NSW Metro at the under-17 male national cricket championships in Launceston.
All-rounder Armstrong smashed an unbeaten 102 off just 95 balls, including six sixes and seven fours, to help Queensland overhaul NSW Country’s 9-220 with six wickets and almost six overs to spare in Wednesday’s semi finals.
The left hander from Western Suburbs scored 102 not out as Queensland (4-221) recovered from 3-57 to prevail.
Armstrong’s knock followed his 70 off 62 balls against NSW Country earlier in the tournament, and his 116-run partnership with captain Steve Hogan (64) broke the game open.
In the NSW innings, Blake Cattle (69, 89 balls) batted patiently, mixing his defence and pushes for singles with five fours and a six.
When he was dismissed, trapped LBW by leg spinner Lakshdeep Singh, Cooper Pullen (27 not out) took on the role of senior batsman.
Queensland spinners Singh (3-35) and Dushyant Thaman (2-38) again had good days, as did bustling Norths paceman Theo Tsingos (1-39) from the St Patrick’s school.
Rockhampton’s Sam Gassman (1-35) again did a solid job for Queensland, while Thomas Town (2-47) took two wickets.
Meanwhile, NSW Metro ended Western Australia’s unbeaten run in the second semi final.
WA had won all four of its previous games in the tournament, but NSW Metro’s bowlers set up Wednesday’s eight-wicket semi final win by skittling them for just 100 in 36 overs at UTAS Stadium.
Julian Osbourne delivered a player of the match 5-25 and was ably supported by William Byrom (2-18) to secure Metro a spot in the decider.
Opener Atan Maraziotis (53 not out) lead the way with the bat for the victors, putting together a strong unbeaten third wicket partnership with Blake Noorbergen (24 not out) after WA took two early wickets.
South Australia improved its record to 3-2 after its bowling attack dominated Tasmania at Latrobe Oval.
Tasmania battled first and were dismissed for just 80, with Jack Appleton (3-5) and Curtis Alsop (2-5 off six overs) starring for the visitors.
Riley Whitelaw (11) and one of the team’s tournament standouts Jericoh Dickins (11 not out) were the only Tasmanians to reach double figures.
South Australia openers Hayden Barbulovic (34) and Lucas Doe (31) made light work of the run chase, which they completed with eight wickets and 32 overs in hand.
Victoria Metro easily handled ACT after dismissing them for 78 in response to their 9-240.
Nikki du Toit (52) top scored for Victoria Metro with Vincent Bush (42) adding valuable lower order runs.
Aryan Sharma, Bush, James Rosham and Jakey Pietz all took two wickets for Victoria Metro.
A second score of 100 for the week from Jobe Fraser ensured Victoria Country easily accounted for Northern Terrirory.
Edward Kreutzberger also made 79 not out for the victors.
Final day schedule, Thursday: NSW Metro v Queensland at UTAS Stadium, 11am (Final); WA v NSW Country at Invermay Park, 10am (third place playoff); Vic Metro v SA at Windsor Park, 10am (fifth place playoff); Vic Country v ACT at NTCA no. 1 Ground, 10am (seventh place playoff); Tasmania v NT at NTCA no. 2 Ground, 10am (ninth place playoff)
DAY 4 REVIEW
South Australia secured an 81-run win over the Northern Territory on Monday as Hayden Barbulovic set up the win with a blazing century.
Barbulovic finished with 100 runs off 96 balls including 10 boundaries and as SA posted 3-299 from its 50 overs.
Henry Fogden hit 72 as he and Barbulovic shared a 190-run opening stand as Lucas Doe’s unbeaten 52 pushed the total higher.
The NT hit 6-218 in response as Cadell McMahon top scored with 52 while Neel Patel hit a half-century of his own.
Jack Appleton was the pick of the bowlers with 2-28.
Victoria Country held on for a thrilling one-wicket win against NSW Metro in a clash which went right down to the wire.
Athan Maraziotis top scored with 51 runs off 75 balls as NSW were all out for 106 as Liam Biddiscombe led the way for his side with 4-20 as Josh Slater and Luke McCann chipped in with two wickets each.
The wickets tumbled in the run chase as Xavier Grant top scored with 45 while Julian Osbourne was unlucky not to turn matchwinner for Metro after taking 7-13 off his 10 overs.
NSW Country moved to 3-1 on the tournament after a comfortable six-wicket win over Tasmania on Monday.
Tassie were rolled for just 131 as Riley Whitelaw top scored with 42 off 93 as Blayde Burke and Cooper Pullen did the damage with the ball taking three wickets each.
A half-century from opener Harry Price laid the platform for NSW to come away with the win as Blake Cattle got his side across the line with an unbeaten 32.
The Queensland bowlers reared up to bite back hard and defend their team’s territory on the way to a tense 18-run win over Victorian Metro during a day-night clash.
After Queensland captain Steve Hogan produced a match high score of 67 to help pilot the Maroons to 9-214, the team’s spinners Dushyant Thaman 2-33, Lakshdeep Singh (1-35) and Blake Armstrong (1-34) shone.
They did their work after Queensland’s three pace bowlers, Thomas Town (1-32), Theo Tsingos (0-27) and Harry Langdon (2-29) had penetrated the Victorian top order.
Langdon, challenged hard by both Victorian openers Aryan J Sharma (46, 44 balls) and Jackson Edwards (19), ultimately dismissed both men while Town returned for a second spell to deservedly claim Vincent Bush.
It was a good team bowling performance by Queensland’s bowlers who overcame the disappointment of Sunday’s day 3, six wicket loss to Western Australia.
Leg spinner Singh (Sandgate-Redcliffe) and left arm orthodox slow bowlers Armstrong and Thaman built pressure and etched out wickets.
Earlier, the Victorian bowlers did a splendid job to restrict Queensland to 214 in 50 overs.
Opening bowler Joe Curtain (4-39) was the star, dismissing Maroons’ opener Sharma in the first over and returning mid innings to dismiss both Hayden Hamilton (22) and Eli Brain (23) who were set.
Aryan Sharma (2-32) claimed the big wickets of Hogan and Theodore Bacalakis (39), while Parth Rath and Jakey Pietz (2-26) did splendidly for Victoria.
Western Australia secured a thumping 150-run win over the ACT. Dylan Ratter top scored with 80 off 86 while Vishver Morendage, Zed Hollick and Will Malajczuk also scored half-centuries.
They posted 5-296 before ACT was all out for 146 as Hollick finished with 5-20.
DAY 3 REVIEW
A heroic batting display from Mason Wright set up one of Tasmania’s more memorable age group victories in Sunday’s under-17 national championships win over Victoria Country at Launceston.
The hosts were about 6-100 chasing Victoria Country’s 7-237 at one point, with Yarrawonga talent Jobe Fraser making 100.
But no. 7 Wright, who also took two early wickets in the visitors’ innings, smashed an unbeaten 80 off just 72 balls to guide Tasmania home with two wickets and eight balls to spare.
Both teams were searching for their first win of the tournament on day three, and Jericoh Dickins (38) and no. 10 batter Jack Crane (29 not out off 23 balls) delivered vital support to Wright.
Earlier, Fraser almost batted through the entire innings to score 100 off 133 balls and steer his side to a strong total.
Liam Biddiscombe delivered an aggressive 70 to set up a daunting target for Tasmania, who was also looking for a breakthrough win.
Tasmania’s run chase began solidly with top order batters Ethan Arnott (14), Gabriel Tichanow (27) and Luca Di Venuto (28) occupying the crease.
But after the initial breakthroughs Tasmania lost regular wickets and the task appeared too difficult after Biddiscombe capping an outstanding all-round display with 4-42.
However it was University Cricket Club’s Wright who ended up the hero.
After their batting innings Fraser, who plays at Camberwell, was pleased with his knock.
“They bowled really well early with one of their openers (Wright) taking two wickets (2-17),” Fraser said.
“Max Parrot (22) was good and helped consolidate with me for a bit, and then Liam Biddiscombe whacked a 70.
“It’s been really good, the facilities have been unreal playing at UTAS and all the ground have been in premium condition, and we couldn’t have asked for much better weather.”
In other day three contests on Sunday, Victoria Metro improved its record to 2-1 with an easy win over Northern Territory.
Northern Territory won the toss and batted first, but were rolled for 109 with Aryan Sharma (2-16) and Parth Rath (2-13) the multiple wicket takers for the victors.
Three Northern Territory batters were run out, with Ralph Stephens (43) holding the innings together. Victoria Metro ran down the total inside 24 overs with Santhosh Remireddy the standout.
NSW Country (7-223) was too strong for South Australia (181), with Hunter Hall (5-36) and Blake Cattle (63) leading the way.
NSW Metro (4-278) remain unbeaten after centuries from Myles Kapoor (103) and Blake Noorbergen (108) set up a 108-run win over ACT.
The pool games will be completed on Monday, with a rest day on Tuesday before finals.
WA also has a perfect 3-3 record after chasing Queensland’s 5-224 down with six wickets and 16 balls to spare at Latrobe Oval.
The West eased to the line courtesy of wonderful batting contributions from Vishver Morendage (65), Zed Hollick (42), captain Will Malajczuk (48 not out), Josh Nathan (20) and Isaac Diamanti (22 not out).
Western Australia won the match in the morning session with their bowling performance across the opening 35 overs that pinned down Queensland’s batsmen.
Despite Queensland captain Steve Hogan (92 not out, 120 balls) rising to the occasion and alongside Eli Brain (51, 60 balls), the Maroons final 10 over rally of 83 runs did not put them beyond reach of their rivals.
Western Australian bowlers Franklin Stewart Lough (Scotch College), Noyan Rostame (Gosnells District Cricket Club), Evan Clements (Northam Junior Cricket Association) and Zed Hollick (Scarborough) were excellent.
Hollick grabbed the baton from Rostane and Clements and took two crucial early wickets, including bowling Hayden Hamilton (Wynnum) in his first over.
Just as second game hero Blake Armstrong was warming his engines (14,17 balls) for Queensland, Hollick also bowled him and Western Australia were ahead.
Stewart Lough took 1-23 (eight overs), Clements 2-34 (nine overs) and Hollick 2-44 (nine overs).
The foundation for WA’s run chase was built around opener Morendage (65, 105 balls) and No.3 Hollick who scored 42 from 70 balls before left arm Queensland spinner Dushyant Thaman bowled him.
After Thomas Town’s impressive opening six overs, Queensland spinners Lakshdeep Singh and Thaman were impressive, but Western Australian captain Malajczuk could not be contained when he batted.
Monday’s day four schedule: Tasmania v NSW Country at Devonport Oval (10am), NSW Metro v Victoria Country at Latrobe Oval (10am), SA v NT at Invermay Park (10am), WA v ACT at Sheffield Recreation Ground (10am), Victoria Metro v Queensland at UTAS Stadium (2.30pm)
SATURDAY REST DAY - TASSIE EXPERIENCING VALUABLE LEARNING CURVE
Tasmania under-17s coach Marc Simonds says his squad is receiving a valuable “learning curve” as the state’s north takes centre stage for the national championships this week.
The hosts got the chance to play a day nighter at UTAS Stadium for the second clash of their campaign against South Australia on Friday.
They fell to a 110-run defeat but are showing signs a first win may not be too far way.
“To give them the experience of playing on arguably the best facility and surface in the northern half of the state is something the players should be extremely grateful for,” Simonds said.
“For officials to go out of their way to push hard for a day night game, which adds another element for the players, was a great opportunity.
“The boys lapped it up but things didn’t go our way. We didn’t execute our game plan as we would have liked to.”
Tasmania faced a strong Victorian Metro team on Thursday and were beaten by 167 runs, with right arm seamer Lachlan Coe standing out with 4-61 and Jericoh Dickins (33) top scored with the bat.
On Friday Tarkyn Jones was the mainstay of the run chase against South Australia with 43.
“The likes of the Victorian teams and SACA had some handy players, it’s a good learning curve for our players to know what the standard is at their age group level,” Simonds said.
“It provides an avenue of where you’re currently at as a player, and where you need to be to match it up against the best players in Australia.
“While it’s an exciting opportunity to represent your state, it also highlights the competitiveness in and around where you need to be as a player versus your peers.
“For us as coaches, we’re seeing improvement in the work some of them have done in the off season and it’s showing in games.
“We feel if the guys stick to their strengths and adapt to a game plan, hopefully a few results can go our way.
“We probably haven’t been disciplined enough so far to be honest. If we put it together we can come away with a couple of wins, but they’re still young cricketers.”
Saturday was a rest day, with Tasmania wrapping up its pool matches against Victoria Country at Launceston’s Invermay Park on Sunday, and NSW Country at Devonport Oval on Monday.
“We’ve always had some really nice facilities. I know when Cricket Australia have put on carnivals in the southern half of the state, we’ve had some really good reviews and remarks on what’s happening down there,” Simonds said.
“But it’s nice to put the northern half of the state on show, and show not only in the premier league but the regional areas of Tassie, we do have some nice facilities.
“There’s no doubt more funding and upgrades won’t go astray, but we’re heading in the right direction.”
DAY 2 REVIEW
NSW Country coach Greg McLay branded the “purity” of under-17s cricket as its best quality after his side fell just short in their “healthy” rivalry with NSW Metro at the under-17 national cricket championships in Launceston on Friday.
In arguably the best game of the tournament thus far, Country made 9-255 in reply to Metro’s 7-261 at Invermay Park.
Metro notched a second win in as many games in the tournament thanks to a consistent contribution from their top six.
Openers Angus Tesoriero (57) and Athan Maraziotis (50) laid the foundation, with Toby Robinson (46 not out) finishing off the innings
Cooper Pullen was the standout bowler for Country with 4-38 off eight overs.
Country gave itself a chance to run down the total with openers Harry Price (36) and skipper Hunter Hall (73) starting well, but three wickets apiece to Aarush Soni and Myles Kapoor sealed the win.
Asked if there is a bit more spice to their rivalry with Metro, McLay said: “There is a bit but in saying that, more and more of our country boys are travelling to Sydney to play a lot.
“They know a lot of those (Metro) boys well and I think that’s really healthy. But there’s always a rivalry, they don’t need to get up for these contests.
“There’s always a lot of respect between the groups and a few are good mates.
“Obviously you’re keen to see your own team do well, but the joy of an under 17s carnival is seeing the talent around Australia and what we can look forward to in five to ten years.
“Players tend to be getting contracts a bit earlier. These kids aren’t as far off as they think.
“I love the 17s because of the purity of it, they’re purely focused on cricket and they aren’t thinking too far ahead.”
NSW Country won a much lower scoring contest by six wickets over Victoria Country on day one after dismissing their rivals for 70.
“I’ve been fortunate to be at a national championships at Launceston previously when it was shared with Hobart,” McLay said.
“The thing I was looking forward to most was playing on these grounds, which are magnificent.
“The outfields are manicured and the wickets are generally good, albeit yesterday the wicket was a bit soft after the rain we had the previous day.”
McLay said his side enjoyed the chance to play at UTAS Stadium, an AFL and BBL standard venue, against Victoria Country.
“When we came in for the game yesterday the boys were a it overawed,” he said.
“Being country boys they don’t play in sadiums of that nature that often.”
In other games on day two on Friday, Queensland’s Blake Armstrong produced a statement innings while teammate Hayden Hamilton also shone brightly as their side overcame a pesky Victorian Country team to win by six wickets.
Armstrong, a left hander, blazed his way to a half century from just 47 deliveries before pushing onto 70 (62 balls). Armstrong could not have been more impressive, using his feet to hit 48 runs in either fours or sixes.
Hamilton (52 not out, 73 balls) was also eye catching, and together with Armstrong he propelled Queensland to 4-207 chasing 206.
The Victorian Country players had been bold with the bat, cajoled along by Max Parrott’s thrilling 50 from 59 balls which helped his side to a competitive 8-206.
Victoria’s defence of its total then gathered momentum when Logan Hogan bowled Queensland captain Steve Hogan (27, 26 balls), but Uni’s Armstrong and Wynnum’s Hayden Hamilton combined to steer the Maroons in the right direction.
In other results ACT beat Northern Territory by 36 runs and WA prevailed over Victoria Metro by four wickets with seven balls to spare.
Tasmania were playing a day night fixture against South Australia, and were chasing the visitors’ 7-264 at time of print.
DAY 1 REVIEW
Bowlers exerted their dominance on day one of the Australian Boys Under-17 Cricket Championships at Launceston on Thursday.
At UTAS Stadium, NSW Country skipper Hunter Hall and Harry Kershler both took 3-11 to skittle Victoria Country for just 70 in their 50-over contest.
Despite crumbling to 3-9 early in the run chase after Hamish Brade (3-7) gave Victoria Country some hope, NSW Country steadied the ship through Blake Cattle (36 not out) and Daniel Craig (25 not out) to prevail by six wickets.
Western Australia’s attack also made light work of the Northern Territory, bowling them out for just 97 in 47.3 overs, with Riley Clayton (4-17) the standout for the victors.
Western Australia needed less than 16 overs to chase down the total with nine wickets in hand, with Vishver Morendage (30), Dylan Ratter (36 not out) and Zed Hollick (23 not out) making strong contributions.
Two old mates from the Lakes Knights club north of Brisbane united to help bowl Queensland to a winning start over the ACT.
Under age right arm fast bowler Theo Tsingos claimed 2-23 from 6.1 overs while leg spinner Lakshdeep Singh snared 2-29 as the young Maroons bowlers combined to dismiss their rivals for 142. Queensland responded with 2-143 to win by eight wickets.
Tsingos (Norths) and Singh (Sandgate-Redcliffe), who both made their first grade debuts prior to Christmas, celebrated being reunited in style.
Queensland’s bowlers worked well as a unit, with Brisbane Grammar School’s Eli Brain (Norths, 2-23), the Sunshine Coast fast bowler Thomas Town (2-30) and Rockhampton Grammar School paceman Sam Gassman (1-32) eroding the ACT innings.
This was despite a mid-innings rally by ACT pair Aminda Weerasooriya (39) and Steven Maglasis (22) who defied the Queensland attack.
Queensland’s pursuit of 142 was swift and to the point, with a 22 over blitz highlighted by captain Steve Hogan’s blazing 60 from 39 balls, while Western Suburbs opener Sohaan Sharma stroked 51 not out (67 balls).
Hogan, the U19 Australian batsman from the Sandgate-Redcliffe club, hit five fours and five sixes during his brief time at the crease.
NSW Metro’s bowlers also did most of the heavy lifting in a 118-run win over South Australia.
NSW Metro batted first and made 6-235, with middle order batters Toby Robinson (78 not out), Sumair Sira (48) and skipper Yash Deshmukh (32) setting up the competitive total.
Aarush Soni (5-22 off 8.2 overs) ripped through South Australia’s line-up to help dismiss them for 117 inside 34 overs. Opener Hayden Barbulovic (31) was the only South Australian batter to score more than 16.
Hosts Tasmania faced a tough first-up assignment against traditional heavyweights Victoria Metro.
The visitors were sent in to bat and made an imposing 7-290, with top order batters Aryan Sharma (73) and Jack Czosnek (77) doing most of the damage.
Lachlan Coe enjoyed a great start to the tournament for Tasmania with 4-61, while Bailey Shead (2-45) was the other multiple wicket taker.
Tasmania slumped to 5-28 in its run chase but battled on to eventually be dismissed for 113, with Jericoh Dickins (33) and Mason Wright (26) giving the most resistance.
Parth Rath took 4-26 for Vic Metro, with opening bowler Joe Curtain setting up the win early in Tasmania’s innings with 3-10.
Originally published as The young guns firing at under-17 national cricket championships
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