WESTERN Australia has taken out the Under 19 National Championships title after defeating Victoria Metro by 20 runs in Thursday’s decider. WA won the toss and set 149 for victory in a low-scoring affair at Karen Rolton Oval, before skittling the Vics for 128 to secure another piece of silverware for the state.

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Things were going smoothly for the victors at 1-65 in their batting dig, but things began to go downhill once skipper and leading run scorer Simon Budge was dismissed for 30. Consistent wickets, including a collapse of 5-22, saw WA bowled out in 47.2 overs.

Ethan Benson top-scored with an unbeaten 34 off 61 balls, which proved a large part of the difference in the end. Vishwa Ramkumar (4-32) helped strangle WA’s batters, while Bailey Toseland (2-26) and Christian Howe (2-29) also landed multiple wickets.

In response, the Vics made a horror start as Christopher Kellaway was dismissed after a seven-ball stay. They steadied to 1-48 before losing 4-8 as Connor Southam (3-33) and Jake Pattison (2-22) dismantled the middle order. After Toseland also departed, Metro’s hopes hung in the balance at 6-75.

Christian Howe (40* off 69) did his best to resurrect things, but was ultimately left stranded as the Vics fell 20 runs short with ample time remaining. Albert Esterhuysen (3-21) tore through the tail to ensure his side would take out the championship in a thriller.

>> RECAP: Finals Round One

Playoffs for third, fifth, seventh, and ninth also took place around the grounds yesterday, with Queensland rounding out the podium. The Maroons trounced host South Australia, who also finished the group stage undefeated, by nine wickets as Steven Hogan and Jayden Draper notched up twin tons.

Both batters remained unbeaten at the end of Queensland’s chase, combining for 218 of the required 222 runs with Hogan posting 110 off 101 deliveries, and Draper managing 104 off 105. Thomas Menzies (1-17) claimed South Australia’s only wicket in the unsuccessful defence.

Haard Shah (73 off 97) and Matthew LeRay (56 off 45) were shining lights with the bat for SA after Jack Balkin (3-26) dismantled the hosts’ positive start, breaking a 59-run opening stand to soon resign them to 3-76. Charlie Lachmund (4-28) then took charge and nabbed the key wicket of Shah, while Tighe Morris (2-44) removed LeRay.

Elsewhere, New South Wales Metro won the battle of the Blues, defeating their Country counterpart by 182 runs to claim fifth place. Riley Kingsell blasted 15 boundaries and nine sixes in a remarkable innings of 161 off 114 deliveries, helping Metro post 9-332.

Bailey Abela snared 5-52 as the main form of resistance, while Ryan Cattle (3-56) brought Kingsell’s innings to an end – albeit after the damage had been done. Country only managed 150 in response, with Oliver Patterson (3-23) being the pick of the Metro bowlers.

Kyle Parrott nabbed 5-12 as Victoria Country defeated the Australian Capital Territory by six wickets. His efforts saw the ACT bundled out for 137, before Ashton Frost (30* off 21) and Lucas Cavigan (22* off 44) guided the Vics home with 24 overs in the bank. Opener Oliver Peake top-scored with 48 off 57.

Northern Territory won out in the battle to avoid last place, beating Tasmania by 27 runs. Jack Appleton (44 off 33), Advith Boreddy (43 off 66), and Hayden McCarthy (42 off 81) all got strong starts in the middle order as the NT set 9-240.

Tasmania fell short of batting out its overs in reply, managing 213 from 47 overs to go through the tournament winless. Despite the result, star player Aidan O’Connor (63 off 117) was reliable as ever, while Joseph McGann (52 off 46) also raised the bat.

FINALS ROUND TWO SCORECARDS

GRAND FINAL:

Western Australia def. Victoria Metro by 20 runs

Western Australia 10-148 (47.2)
Ethan Benson 34* (61), Simon Budge 30 (42), Sean Thompson 25 (45)
Vishwa Ramkumar 4-32 (10), Bailey Toseland 2-26 (10), Christian Howe 2-29 (6.2)

Victoria Metro 10-128 (41.0)
Christian Howe 40* (69), Alex Turner 24 (40), Archie Flynn 20 (36)
Albert Esterhuysen 3-21 (9), Connor Southam 3-33 (9), Jake Pattison 2-22 (8)

3RD PLACE PLAYOFF:

Queensland def. South Australia by 9 wickets

South Australia 10-221 (46.2)
Haard Shah 73 (97), Matthew LeRay 56 (45), Kade Halfpenny 33 (44)
Charlie Lachmund 4-28 (6.2), Jack Balkin 3-26 (10), Tighe Morris 2-44 (10)

Queensland 1-223 (35.3)
Steven Hogan 110* (101), Jayden Draper 104* (105)
Thomas Menzies 1-17 (5)

5TH PLACE PLAYOFF:

NSW Metro def. NSW Country by 182 runs

NSW Metro 9-332 (50)
Riley Kingsell 161 (114), Alexander Lee-Young 40 (78), Addison Sherriff 39 (35)
Bailey Abela 5-52 (7), Ryan Cattle 3-56 (9), Riley Keen 1-45 (8)

NSW Country 10-150 (40.5)
Harry Scowen 43 (52), Bailey Abela 26 (50), Sam Weir 23 (32)
Oliver Patterson 3-23 (8.5), Andrew Boulton 2-16 (4), Jaiveer Singh Dhanoa 2-26 (8)

7TH PLACE PLAYOFF:

Victoria Country def. Australian Capital Territory by 6 wickets

Australian Capital Territory 10-137 (40.1)
Akshay Joseph 29 (42), Lukas Boorer 27* (28), Nicholas Allen 19 (32)
Kyle Parrott 5-12 (5.1), Harry Hoekstra 2-10 (7), Zane Attard 2-21 (5)

Victoria Metro 4-141 (26.0)
Oliver Peake 48 (57), Ashton Frost 30* (21), Lucas Cavigan 22* (44)
Thomas Hogan 1-15 (3), Jake Smith 1-17 (6), Sineth Herath 1-28 (4) 

9TH PLACE PLAYOFF:

Northern Territory def. Tasmania by 27 runs

Northern Territory 9-240 (50)
Jack Appleton 44 (33), Advith Boreddy 43 (66), Hayden McCarthy 42 (81)
Hayden Clark-Sullivan 3-45 (10), Mason Wright 2-34 (6), Blake Garrett 2-34 (10)

Tasmania 10-213 (47)
Aidan O’Connor 63 (117), Joseph McGann 52 (46), Pat Harnwell 44 (71)Joshua Malone 3-40 (8), Archie McCormick 2-39 (6), Malay Doshi 1-17 (2)

FINAL STANDINGS

1st. Western Australia
2nd. Victoria Metro
3rd. Queensland
4th. South Australia
5th. NSW Metro
6th. NSW Country
7th. Victoria Country
8th. Australian Capital Territory
9th. Northern Territory
10th. Tasmania