Country and Metro both prevail at National Champs

Vic Country lost the toss against South Australia and were sent into the field – despite taking wickets at regular intervals, the Redbacks were able to able to compile 232 from their 50 overs.

Liam Bowe (4-34) was the star with the ball, but he was ably supported by Cameron Brown (2-45), Jackson Mockett (2-47) and Adam McMaster (1-39).

The Victorians had to get off to a good start in their run chase and did so, with a 107-run partnership between Brayden Stepien and Nick King.

Stepien was the main act however, smashing 131 from 132 balls which included 15 fours and five sixes, as the five other batsman used all got into double figures.

Vic Country won by six wickets – their third-straight win of the tournament.

Meanwhile Vic Metro turned in a clinical nine-wicket win against Tasmania.

Losing the toss and bowling, Metro ran through Tasmania’s top order to leave the Tigers in all sorts of trouble at 4-33.

An 81-run partnership seemed to steady Tasmania’s innings, before leg-spinner Gehan Seneviratne ran through the lower order to help bowl the Tigers out for 192 in the final over.

Seneviratne (4-40) was highly impressive, while Jonah Koch (3-20), Nick Fletcher (2-35), and Patrick Turner (1-28) shared the other wickets.

Vic Metro’s batsman would have been a little nervous about chasing 193, given that they fell short of a similar target against Western Australia the day before, but any nerves they had were very well hidden as openers Damon Egan and Edward Newman produced a 176-run partnership to make the result a formality.

Egan hit 79 from 98 balls while Newman stole the show, finishing 100* from 110 deliveries to ensure Metro claimed their second win of the tournament.

Victorians playing in other sides also enjoyed excellent individual performances.

Ryan Quirk (33) hit half of Northern Territory’s runs as they were bowled out for just 66 against NSW Metro.

Blake Parsons and Jonathan Merlo also played very well for the CA XI who defeated Western Australia by three wickets.

Parsons took 2-25 from ten overs while Merlo took 1-29 and then got his team over the line chasing 163, hitting 84* from 88 balls to steer the CA XI to, remarkably, their third win in four games – a remarkable achievement from a group of under 17 players playing against the best under 19 talent in the country.

The players will enjoy another rest day today before their last round robin game on Sunday, with Vic Country coming up against NSW Metro and Vic Metro playing the CA XI.