THE FOUR semi-finalists are locked in at this year’s Cricket Australia Under 19 National Championships, with Queensland and South Australia finishing the group stage undefeated. Either side will take on Vic Metro and Western Australia respectively for a spot in Thursday’s Grand Final.

>> SCROLL to see the scorecards, standings & fixtures

WA locked up second spot in Pool B with a thumping 263-run win over Tasmania. Captain Simon Budge bludgeoned 153 off 132 balls, including 17 fours and a half-dozen sixes to help the victors set 6-378 from their 50 overs. Tasmania could only muster 115 from 29.4 overs in response.

Budge was able supported by the likes of Adam Solomons (62 off 92), Will Malajczuk (44 off 27), and Zeph Netherway (37 off 20) among Western Australia’s top four. Despite the onslaught, Tasmanian Blake Garrett stood tall with 4-73 from a full allotment of 10 overs.

Tasmanian number eight Ethan Clark (41 off 49) was comfortably his side’s top scorer as eight of his teammates failed to breach double figures. Malajczuk capped off an all-round performance with 4-25, including the wicket of Clark. Meanwhile, Connor Southam took 3-20.

Also in Pool B, Queensland survived an almighty scare to beat the Australian Capital Territory by just four runs. After electing to bat first, the Maroons were restricted to 121, but forged an almighty comeback with the ball to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, and finish the group stage 4-0.

Jayden Draper played a lone hand in Queensland’s batting effort, remaining unbeaten on 55. Raakin Rahman ran through the tail to claim remarkable figures of 5-5, including two golden ducks. A little earlier, Dylan Shillington (3-28) removed three of the top four.

The ACT looked in control as they passed the halfway point with eight wickets in hand. Even at 5-103, things looked all but over for Queensland, but a 5-14 collapse made for the most unlikely of revivals. Jack Balkin (4-29) and Tighe Morris (3-7) combined to get the job done.

Host state South Australia joined Queensland in securing an undefeated record after accounting for Victoria Country. The visitors were bowled out for 183 after electing to bat first but pushed SA in the four-wicket defeat, which was completed with 20 balls to spare.

Roman Crawford (3-21) had the Vics reeling at 2-1 having taken a wicket with the first ball of the match. Lachlan Ranaldo (4-39) then picked up where he left off. Oliver Peake (61 off 84) rallied his side at first drop after the early chaos in his best performance of the carnival.

SA batter Thomas Brown (66 off 108) played a mature innings to again be in the runs, steadying the ship alongside Haard Shah (42 off 72) after SA fell to 2-8. Captain Matthew LeRay (25) and Crawford (21) then closed the show. Zane Attard was the pick of the Vics’ bowlers with 3-25.

Victoria Metro also advanced out of Pool A after picking up its third win. Batting first, the Vics posted 9-227 off 50 overs and successfully defended it by 19 runs, bowling out New South Wales Country for 208 off 49 overs. Despite the margin, they were in control for much of the chase.

Victorian opener Christopher Kellaway (47 off 49) got things going, as most of the top six achieved starts. Blayde Burke, Ryan Cattle, and Riley Keen all claimed two wickets for the Blues. Bailey Abela (66 off 100) and number nine Zakary Graham (50 off 46) raised the bat in response, albeit to no avail.

New South Wales Metro assured the state would come away with at least one win in Round 4, defeating Northern Territory by 193 runs. After setting 8-303 for victory, the Blues made light work of their opponents and bowled them out for 110 with 15 overs in the bank.

First drop Andrew Boulton spearheaded the assault with 110 off 154, while Coby Holland and Alexander Lee-Young both posted 54. The latter did so unbeaten off 21 deliveries, adding handy runs at number eight. James Hatton (4-49) and Joshua Malone (3-58) did their part for the NT.

Opener Charlie Bignell (49 off 59) played a lone hand in response as one of just three NT batters to enter double-digits. Ryan Gupta put up extraordinary figures of 5-12, while Everett Oxenham (3-32) joined the party. The Blues finished the carnival at an even 2-2 ledger.

DAY FOUR SCORECARDS

New South Wales Metro def. Northern Territory by 193 runs

New South Wales Metro 8-303 (50)
Andrew Boulton 110 (154), Coby Holland 54 (51), Alexander Lee-Young 54* (21)
James Hatton 4-49 (10), Joshua Malone 3-58 (10), Jack Appleton 1-39 (6)

Northern Territory 10-110 (35)
Charlie Bignell 49 (59), Joshua Gawthrope 14 (34), Cadell McMahon 12 (20)
Ryan Gupta 5-12 (9), Everett Oxenham 3-32 (10), Oliver Patterson 1-21 (5)

South Australia def. Victoria Country by 4 wickets

Victoria Country 10-183 (48.3)
Oliver Peake 61 (84), Lucas Cavigan 38 (72), Brodie Reaper 20 (22)
Lachlan Ranaldo 4-39 (10), Roman Crawford 3-21 (7), Matthew LeRay 2-29 (9.3)

South Australia 6-184 (46.4)
Thomas Brown 66 (108), Haard Shah 42 (72), Matthew LeRay 25* (45)
Zane Attard 3-25 (10), Archie Lalor 2-34 (10)

Victoria Metro def. New South Wales Country by 19 runs

Victoria Metro 9-227 (50)
Christopher Kellaway 47 (49), Bailey Toseland 39 (66), Christian Howe 32 (46)
Blayde Burke 2-40 (10), Ryan Cattle 2-44 (9), Riley Keen 2-45 (8)

New South Wales Country 10-208 (49)
Bailey Abela 66 (100), Zakary Graham 50 (46), Harry Scowen 21 (33)
Dylan Walker 3-31 (10), Thomas Paddington 2-44 (10), Muhammad Abdulrafay 1-16 (3)

Queensland def. Australian Capital Territory by 4 runs

Queensland 10-121 (35.2)
Jayden Draper 55* (74), Bailey Garnham 21 (37), Tighe Morris 9 (15)
Raakin Rahman 5-5 (4.2), Dylan Shillington 3-28 (8), Jake Smith 1-25 (5)

Australian Capital Territory 10-117 (27.5)
Ansh Tiwary 36 (29), Hugh Taylor 17 (35), Raakin Rahman 15 (34)
Jack Balkin 4-29 (8.5), Tighe Morris 3-7 (3), Seth McGinty 1-21 (5)

Western Australia def. Tasmania by 263 runs

Western Australia 6-378 (50)
Simon Budge 153 (132), Adam Solomons 62 (92), Will Malajczuk 44 (27)
Blake Garrett 4-73 (10), Ethan Clark 1-29 (5), Harry McHugh 1-33 (5)

Tasmania 10-115 (29.4)
Ethan Clark 41 (49), Harry McHugh 17 (21), Joe Groom 17 (32)
Will Malajczuk 4-25 (7.4), Connor Southam 3-20 (6), Zeph Netherway 1-10 (3)

FINAL STANDINGS

POOL A:

1. South Australia | 4-0 | 0.602 NRR
2. Victoria Metro | 3-1 | 0.741 NRR
3. NSW Metro | 2-2 | 0.959 NRR
4. Vic Country | 1-3 | -0.318 NRR
5. Northern Territory | 1-3 | -1.753 NRR

POOL B:

1. Queensland | 4-0 | 0.837 NRR
2. Western Australia | 3-1 | 2.260 NRR
3. NSW Country | 1-3 | 0.094 NRR
4. Australian Capital Territory | 1-3 | -0.940
5. Tasmania | 0-4 | -2.890 NRR

Top two teams from each pool advance to semi-finals

SEMI-FINAL FIXTURES

Semi-Final 1 (A1 vs. B2)
South Australia vs. Western Australia
Wednesday December 18, 10:00am @ Karen Rolton Oval

Semi-Final 2 (B1 vs. A2)
Queensland vs. Victoria Metro
Wednesday December 18, 10:00am @ Park 25 (Oval 2)