Top two teams toppled as Vics, WA meet in final

A PAIR of boilovers in the Under 19 National Championship semi-finals has seen Western Australia and Victoria Metro progress to this year’s decider. After both achieving 4-0 group stage records, Queensland and hosts South Australia crashed out at the last hurdle and will now play off for third place.

>> SCROLL to see the scorecards, standings & fixtures

Victoria Metro bested Queensland by seven wickets, surpassing the 225 target in 46.1 overs. Alex Turner spearheaded the chase with 93 (133) as all members of the Vics’ top five got starts. Cooper Rojko (37 off 47) and Christian Howe (14 off nine) finished unbeaten to guide their side into the final.

Having elected to bat first at Park 25, Queensland lasted its overs to post a respectable 9-224. Tighe Morris (53 off 89) and Bailey Garnham (50 off 62) both raised the bat in the top five as Christian Howe (3-53), Dylan Walker (2-37), and Thomas Paddington (2-40) all claimed multiple wickets. 

Having lost only to South Australia in the group stage, the Vics would have breathed a sigh of relief as Western Australia knocked off the hosts at Karen Rolton Oval. WA secured its chance at the title with a 14-run win which went down to the wire, as SA was bowled out with seven balls remaining.

Simon Budge notched another ton for WA | Image Credit: WA Cricket Media

West Australian captain Simon Budge notched up his second straight ton, reaching 111 off 133 deliveries before being felled by opposition skipper Matthew LeRay (2-60). Budge and Sean Thompson (52 off 72) combined for a 120-run second wicket stand en route to their side’s 7-271 total.

In response, opener Dylan James (93 off 103) looked like being the man to steer SA to victory. But after he departed at 4-178, SA went on to lose its last six wickets for just 38 runs as Jordan Quiggin (6-39) and Zed Hollick (3-38) ran riot. SA ended up all out for 257, running short of time and batters.

The final is set to take place today at 11:00am local time in Adelaide. Playoffs for third, fifth, seventh and ninth place will also get underway around the city of churches. The remaining six sides took part in dead rubber fixtures throughout round one of finals yesterday.

Around the grounds, Suhas Challa‘s unbeaten 81 (92) helped the Northern Territory beat New South Wales Country by 97 runs. The NT posted 208 at Prospect Oval despite Zakary Graham‘s 5-41, and successfully defended it by bowling out the Blues for just 111.

Things went better for New South Wales Metro against Australian Capital Territory in an 80-run victory. Captain Riley Kingsell (97 off 100) helped set up an imposing 9-315 total, and while Akshay Joseph‘s 103 off 91 gave the ACT a sniff, his side could only muster 235 in response.

Oliver Peake was the day’s third centurion, opening with 106 (120) in Victoria Country’s 103-run defeat of Tasmania. The Vics posted 6-279, and Peake was again in the action with ball in hand to take 3-32 as Tassie was restricted to 7-176 in response.

FINALS ROUND 1 SCORECARDS

SEMI-FINAL 1:

Western Australia def. South Australia by 14 runs

Western Australia 7-271 (50)
Simon Budge 111 (133), Sean Thompson 52 (72), Adam Solomons 26 (33)
Hayden Schiller 3-39 (9), Matthew LeRay 2-60 (10), Lachlan Agnew 1-19 (5)

South Australia 10-257 (48.5)
Dylan James 93 (103), Haard Shah 47 (56), Matthew LeRay 24 (32)
Jordan Quiggin 6-39 (9.5), Zed Hollick 3-38 (8), Albert Esterhuysen 1-38 (9)

SEMI-FINAL 2:

Victoria Metro def. Queensland by 7 wickets

Queensland 9-224 (50)
Tighe Morris 53 (89), Bailey Garnham 50 (62), Jayden Draper 24 (42)
Christian Howe 3-53 (8), Dylan Walker 2-37 (10), Thomas Paddington 2-40 (8)

Victoria Metro 3-228 (46.1)
Alex Turner 93 (133), Cooper Rojko 37* (47), Archie Flynn 29 (47)
Seth McGinty 1-17 (6), Charlie Lachmund 1-19 (4), Saxon Jeh 1-32 (6)

FINALS ROUND 2 FIXTURES

GRAND FINAL:
Western Australia vs. Victoria Metro
Thursday December 19, 11:00am @ Karen Rolton Oval

3RD PLACE PLAYOFF:
South Australia vs. Queensland
Thursday December 19, 10:00am @ Park 25 (Oval 2)

5TH PLACE PLAYOFF:
New South Wales Metro vs. New South Wales Country
Thursday December 19, 10:00am @ Prospect Oval

7TH PLACE PLAYOFF:
Victoria Country vs. Australian Capital Territory
Thursday December 19, 10:00am @ Park 25 (Oval 1)

9TH PLACE PLAYOFF:
Northern Territory vs. Tasmania
Thursday December 19, 10:00am @ Park 25 (Oval 3)

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments