With one day cricket dusted and new slate with everyone starting back at zero, the same theme continued as the quick bowlers struggle to make inroads and top order partnership dominated proceedings. Nightcliff, PINT and Waratah are expected to part way with a couple of players as their duties are completed (replacements either here or expected).
With the runs and wicket tally yet to be finalised after 8 matches, Koduru with Montauge, Carroll, Hoogenboezem and Singh rounding out the top five. Spinners dominating with a three-way tie on 15 wickets between Weerasinghe, Martin and Smith, Crocs pair Mullen and McEvoy 4th and 5th.
The Ralph Wiese Medal would be Koduru’s at this stage.
Darwin and District Cricket Competition: Round 1 Recap of Two-Day Season
Palmerston 1-223 (Caleb Montague 106*, Tahj Hill 64*, Matthew Scoble 46) defeated Waratah 10-220 (Aryan Jain 64, Sam Elliott 38; Rommel Shahzad 4-56, Hamish Martin 3-81)
Palmerston kicked off their two-day season with another blazing performance, bouncing back from their one-day semi-final loss with a dominant nine-wicket victory over Waratah at Gardens Oval.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Caleb Montague was the star of the show, scoring an unbeaten 106 to lead Palmerston’s impressive chase of Waratah's total of 220. Coming in at first drop, Montague formed a match-winning partnership of 160 with opener Palmerston product Tahj Hill 64.
Waratah’s 220 the previous week fell short as the bowling department failed to make inroads into Palmerston top order. Hill and nightwatchman Scoble’s blunting of the new ball enabled Montague to bat with freedom on a Garden’s track that offered little after the first hour.
Praise was forthcoming from Palmerston skipper Hamish Martin for Hill’s chanceless 176 ball knock in his first A grade cap for the season. His debut against Waratah in the final round of 2023 also had similar themes with a 50 off 109.
In the first innings, spinner Rommel Shahzad took 4-56, claiming key wickets including those of openers Sam Elliott 38 and Aryan Jain 64. Palmerston's fielding was on point with three run-outs including the pivotal wicket of Waratah's Jagadesh Koduru. The middle order struggled with his demise, leading to a collapse from 1-146 to 10-220.
Nightcliff 2-269 (Douwtjie Hoogenboezem 115*, Connor Carroll 101; Dylan McMahon 2-40) defeated Darwin 10-268 (Jordan Rossi 84, Will Andrews 83; Charlie Smith 4-77, Connor Carroll 2-35, Andrew Richards 2-62)
Nightcliff season rolled on with an eight-wicket victory over Darwin at Nightcliff Oval. The Tigers chased down Darwin’s total of 268 with ease, thanks to centuries from Connor Carroll 101 and Douwtjie Hoogenboezem 115*, their second each for the season. The duo’s third 150+ opening stand for the season set the stage for the win.
Bustling paceman Dylan McMahon the only wicket taker with his 2-40, Nightcliff picking off the total inside 55 overs. Newcomer Tyler Van Luin chalking up the red ink with 28 alongside Hoogenboezem. Debutant for the Tigers, Lachlan Ball will have to wait at least another week or two before appearing with the stick in a main event fixture.
On day one, Darwin’s innings started strongly with main stay opener Jordan Rossi 84 and B grade match winner Will Andrews promotion after strong form continued with 83, putting on 128 for the first wicket in their total of 268. The Eagles will welcome the return of Jacob Dickman to their top order to threaten the 300+ but also have another much needed addition in Footscray CC left arm quick Max Birthisel set to join from late June/early July.
PINT 5-252 (Farzan Chowna 113, Connor Poulton 44; Dylan Mullen 4-96) defeated Southern Districts 10-251 (Dylan Mullen 46, Chris McEvoy 33*; Coby Edmondstone 4-60, Joshua Ash 3-28)
PINT started their two-day campaign with their second main competition victory of the season, mirroring their success against the Crocs in round 1. Led by captain Farzan Chowna’s commanding knock of 113, PINT secured a five-wicket win over Southern Districts at DXC Arena.
Chowna, opening the batting, was well supported by Connor Poulton who scored 44. Dylan Mullen in addition to his top score of 46 last week, bowled valiantly for Southern Districts, taking 4-96, but PINT chased down the target of 251 in 77.5 overs.
Southern Districts had unremarkable first innings, with Mullen’s 46 the meatiest while PINT added new fire power to their bowling with Sunshine Coast CC Oliver Bembrick 1-50 joining assumed brother Nick as a quick bowling pair along with the addition of Joshua Ash from Melbourne CC, debuting with 3-28.