With multiple high-profile players coming to Darwin for the Top End T20 Cup, Clubs are putting the feelers out for recruits from seasons gone along with fresh faces to jump in for a match or two to construct a finals berth. Southern Districts are rumoured to have Kelly and Symonds back along with Kann potentially chopping in for a fixture while he is up with the Strikers. Additionally with the announcement of Nick Winter as the head of cricket, clubs will be vying for his service whether it be this season or in 2025.
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Round 4 (11) Two Day Competition
Southern Districts v Nightcliff
The Crocs finals campaign starts now against Nightcliff. A win here keeps them right in it, a loss and results going against them such as PINT outright win against TV and Darwin beating Palmerston will mean they need to win all three games including an outright to make the four. Nightcliff will also be hunting for the win to ensure they will not die wondering with their last round of the season being a bye and the potential for the Crocs and Eagles manufacturing a result that could see them both through.
Nightcliff have the most century scorers this season while Southern Districts (along with Tracy Village) are yet to have someone reach triple figures. That, along with the return of Carroll and the Tigers potency to produce big partnerships this season in vicinity of 150+ along will be too much for the Crocs unless their star recruit in Potgieter can shine immediately with the bat.
Tigers win.
PINT v Tracy Village
The Green Caps could really put a cat amongst the pigeons if they were to take the maximum points against the Villagers where if results go their way, could jump into second spot. A loss here means they are playing for experience. Funnily enough, this is the first time PINT have played a two-day fixture on Marrara no. 2 since two-dayhere they destroyed Tracy Village, Berry making a double ton with Edis a century and then rock and rolling TV twice in one day. With the venue being utilised for midweek cricket, there will definitely be question marks on how it plays which may assist with wicket taking as the two worst performing bowling sides go head-to-head.
Tracy will approach this fixture differently to the last, having knocked off PINT in the one-day fixture, they will surely consider themselves in the mix with PINT’s batting depth having dropped and similar bowling line up to themselves.
PINT win.
*May have played a more recent fixture than this.
Palmerston v Darwin
This is a massive match for both sides, a Palmerston win will announce them as contenders, while Darwin will know that a top four spot is on the line. The inclusion of Birthisel has added some potency to the Eagles attack, though they will have a big gap to fill with Raval allegedly flying out this evening having called time on his Darwin season. This leaves the Eagles without a front-line spinner having also said to have lost the services of Dave.
Trends in recent years mean teams are unlikely to win the competition without two frontline spinners and Palmerston currently have one & two on the wicket taking list. They will also take confidence in having beaten the Eagles earlier in the season despite a Dickman ton. This maybe another close affair with competitive pitch being produce at Palmerston that the Eagle’s Victorian quicks might appreciate.
Palmerston to roll on.