NSW Country have surged to the U17 Male National Championships title in Ballarat, overcoming a strong Western Australian outfit by 6 wickets in the grand final.
NSW Country claim historic U17 National Championships title
This is the first time in history that a NSW Country side has claimed a National Championships title, having previously won titles as a combined ACT/NSW Country unit.
First-drop batter, Lachlan Williams, was named Player of the Final after amassing 70 runs in a winning run-chase.
See the scorecard from the final: HERE
NSW Country pair, Blake Mackrell and Shaun Smith, were named in the Team of the Tournament alongside Metropolitan bowler Aarush Soni.
Mackrell finished as the competition’s leading wicket taker with 17 poles, six more than his nearest competitor, which happened to be Soni on 11.
Smith had a successful championships with the willow, striking 303 runs to conclude as the competition’s fourth highest runs-scorer.
NSW Country leading run-scorers
- Shaun Smith – 303 runs | 60.60 average | 99 top score
- Harry Roscarel – 201 runs | 40.20 average | 80* top score
- Kel Wilson – 173 runs | 43.25 average | 67 top score
NSW Country leading wicket-takers
- Blake Mackrell – 17 wickets | 9.35 average | 5-20 best bowling
- Austen Hiskens – 10 wickets | 9.80 average | 3-10 best bowling
- Jacob Curry – 8 wickets | 16.38 average | 3-37 best bowling
NSW Metropolitan leading run-scorers
- Blake Noorbergen – 210 runs | 52.50 average | 73* top score
- John James – 164 runs | 27.33 average | 82 top score
- Alexander Lee-Young | 154 runs | 25.67 average | 53 top score
NSW Metropolitan leading wicket-takers
- Aarush Soni – 11 wickets | 14.91 average | 5-10 best bowling
- Naden Cooray – 6 wickets | 19.33 average | 2-27 best bowling
- Manraj Kahlon – 5 wickets | 22.40 average | 4-28 best bowling
Cricket NSW Pathways Manager, Nic Bills, said:
“I would like to thank Greg, Dean and Brett [Rankin], plus all other coaches and staff who have had touchpoints with these players throughout this season, for their time and efforts.
“This win is for more than just the players and coaches in the team, it is recognition for everyone involved in Country cricket in NSW.
“It was a clean sweep of the awards for CNSW, with Alex Kemp and the NSW Metropolitan side taking out the Spirit of Cricket award at the championships as well. Congratulations to both sides on another successful Championships.”
Cricket NSW congratulates the Country team on their historic victory, as well as the Metropolitan squad, who concluded their tournament with four wins from six matches and took out the Spirit of Cricket award.
We would also like to thank our high-performance staff for ensuring players from both squads were best prepared to take on the competition:
- NSW Country Head Coach | Greg McLay
- NSW Country Assistant Coach | Dean Burke
- NSW Country Physiotherapist | Joel Atkins
- NSW Metropolitan Head Coach | Alex Kemp
- NSW Metropolitan Assistant Coach | Lee Kirk
- NSW Metropolitan Physiotherapist | Jonathon Craig-Dobson
See all the results from the tournament: HERE