IT WAS a good day to be Victorian as the Under 19 National Championships got underway in Adelaide on Wednesday. Both the Country and Metro sides enjoyed wins, with the former defeating Northern Territory by 134 runs, while the latter breezed past New South Wales Metro to the tune of seven wickets.

>> SCROLL to see the day one scorecards & day two fixtures

Vic Country’s thrashing of the NT in Glenelg was spearheaded by an unbeaten 112 (96) from Archie Lalor. He combined with Ashton Frost (57 off 57) to help the Vics post an imposing total of 298 from their 50 overs, adding 163 in a stellar sixth wicket partnership.

Lalor is the cousin of number one AFL Draft pick Sam Lalor, who was also a talented junior cricketer before persuing football. He played school cricket at Geelong Grammar with Under 19 World Cup winner Oliver Peake, who managed 25 (30) batting at first drop for Vic Country.

The NT had five individual wicket takers, with Joshua Malone (1-51) the only one to bowl out. In response, the Top End side could only manage 164 before being skittled in 38.3 overs. Nicholas Fleming top-scored with 27 (33), while Ryan Percival finished not out on 21 (26).

Xavier Wishart did the damage for the Vics, claiming 3-50 from a full allotment of 10 overs. Frost capped off a terrific all-round performance with 2-11 (5.3), while all five of the remaining Victorian bowlers snared a wicket each in the dominant victory.

Meanwhile, Victoria also won the battle of the Metro lineups after defeating New South Wales by seven wickets. The Vics restricted the Blues to 144 off just 34 overs before surpassing the target in two less deliveries and most importantly, only three wickets down.

Bailey Toseland (3-21) and Vishwa Ramkumar (3-22) were the pick of the Vics’ bowlers, while James Moore‘s 48 (60) was a lone hand in NSW’s innings. Vic opener Alex Turner carried his bat in response with a mature 62 off 90 deliveries, combining well with first drop Archie Flynn (43 off 63).

New South Wales Country had a much better time of it, downing Tasmania by eight wickets. The Blues ran through their opponents in 38.3 overs, with Aidan O’Connor (81 off 99) accounting for most of Tasmania’s miserly total. Seven batters were dismissed for single-digit scores in the team’s 133.

Angus Campbell (4-24) and Kasey Barton (3-31) were the chief destroyers, while Ryan Cattle (1-22) also got on the board across a team-high eight overs. Campbell also steered the Blues’ chase, posting 60 at better than a run-a-ball. Bailey Abela finished unbeaten on 39 alongside Harry Roscarel (15).

Host South Australia also got off to a good start in its five-wicket win over Australian Capital Territory. The SACAs were set a respectable 235 to chase and did so in 45.3 overs, with Kane Halfpenny posting 76 off 75 atop the order.

Luke Szabo (51 off 61) finished off the chase alongside captain Matthew LeRay (31 off 30), the latter of whom is also a talented footballer. Raakin Rahman claimed 2-47 for the ACT, while Kai Brunker (1-42) and Thomas Hogan (1-53) were also among the wickets.

Hogan and Brunker also fared well with the bat, both posting 44 to add bulk to the total. Hogan, who came in at number six, finished unbeaten, while first drop Akshay Joseph top-scored with 53 (59). Hayden Schiller (3-33) was SA’s most prolific bowler, leading a line of four multiple wicket-takers.

Over at Karen Rolton Oval, Queensland’s 68-run win over Western Australia rounded out proceedings. The victors posted 8-222 off their 50 overs and bowled out WA for just 154, with quick Callum Vidler snaring 4-26 (8.4) to lead the assault.

Alexander Procopis (59 off 56) and Aidan Firman (51 off 64) both raised the bat for Queensland, while Jordan Quiggin was the pick of WA’s bowlers with 3-38 (9). In the losing chase, Zed Hollick‘s 40 off 46 stood above the rest but he was ultimately felled by Vidler.

Today’s proceedings, which got underway at 10:30am in Adelaide, plays host to another five fixtures. Round 1 winners South Australia and Victoria Metro face off in Glenelg, while Queensland and New South Wales will also look to remain undefeated in their clash.

New South Wales Metro has a tough ask in pursuit of its first win up against Vic Country. Meanwhile, the four remaining day one losers have the opportunity to get on the board as Western Australia takes on the ACT at Prospect Oval, and Northern Territory plays host to Tasmania.

DAY ONE SCORECARDS

South Australia def. ACT by 5 wickets

Australian Capital Territory 10-235 (44.3)
Akshay Joseph 53 (59), Thomas Hogan 44* (47), Kai Brunker 44 (38)
Hayden Schiller 3-33 (9), Lachlan Ranaldo 2-47 (7), Matthew LeRay 2-48 (9)

South Australia 5-236 (45.3)
Kane Halfpenny 76 (75), Luke Szabo 51* (61), Dylan James 36 (55)
Raakin Rahman 2-47 (10), Kai Brunker 1-42 (10), Thomas Hogan 1-53 (10)

New South Wales Country def. Tasmania by 8 wickets

Tasmania 10-133 (38.3)
Aidan O’Connor 81 (99), Luke Quinlan 19 (35), Thomas Dwyer 10 (21)
Angus Campbell 4-24 (6.3), Kasey Barton 3-31 (7), Ryan Cattle 1-22 (8)

New South Wales Country 2-134 (25)
Angus Campbell 60 (59), Bailey Abela 39* (59), Harry Roscarel 15* (22)
Joe Groom 1-10 (4), Blake Garrett 1-20 (5)

Victoria Country def. Northern Territory by 134 runs

Victoria Country 5-298 (50)
Archie Lalor 112* (96), Ashton Frost 57* (57), Kyle Parrott 34 (64)
Nicholas Fleming 1-27 (7), Jack Appleton 1-28 (8), Archie McCormick 1-49 (8)

Northern Territory 10-164 (38.3)
Nicholas Fleming 27 (33), Cadell McMahon 23 (32), Suhas Challa 22 (34)
Xavier Wishart 3-50 (10), Ashton Frost 2-11 (5.3), Harry Hoekstra 1-6 (4)

Vic Metro def. New South Wales Metro by 7 wickets

New South Wales Metro 10-144 (34)
James Moore 48 (60), Coby Holland 21 (36), Andrew Boulton 19 (37)
Bailey Toseland 3-21 (8), Vishwa Ramkumar 3-22 (6), Thomas Paddington 1-22 (7)

Victoria Metro 3-145 (33.4)
Alex Turner 62* (90), Archie Flynn 43 (63), Christian Howe 15* (22)
Oliver Patterson 2-34 (9)

Queensland def. Western Australia by 68 runs

Queensland 8-222 (50)
Alexander Procopis 59 (56), Aidan Firman 51 (64), Jack Balkin 36 (67)
Jordan Quiggin 3-38 (9), Zed Hollick 2-45 (10), Will Malajczuk 1-13 (5)

DAY TWO FIXTURES

New South Wales Metro vs. Victoria Country
Friday December 13, 10:00am @ Oval 3

Western Australia vs. Australian Capital Territory
Friday December 13, 10:00am @ Prospect Oval

South Australia vs. Victoria Metro
Friday December 13, 10:00am @ Stratarama Stadium

Queensland vs. New South Wales Country
Friday December 13, 10:00am @ Oval 2

Northern Territory vs. Tasmania
Friday December 13, 10:00am @ Oval 1