NORTHERN TERRITORY (DEVELOPMENT)
The Territory's young guns will kick their season off in the game's shortest format at DXC Arena tonight, with most having enjoyed a successful start to this year's campaign with their respective club sides. They come up against a rampant Darwin outfit, who dominated PINT in their first T20 thanks to Jacob Dickman (94* off 65) and captain Daniel Kerber (34 off 31). The Territorians will be led by Waratah opener Archie McCormick, who has impressed at the top of the order in Premier Grade to date. The NT will also benefit from the inclusion of PINT's Coby Edmondstone and Palmerston's Harsh Bimbral to bolster their batting stocks tonight. Nick Fleming, Max Menzies, Josh Gawthrope, Matt St Clair and Mithuru Perera have been the beneficiaries of top grade selections for their respective clubs this season, meaning that opposition sides should underestimate them at their own peril. Highly rated Palmy gloveman Cadell McMahon is also included in the NT squad to round out a significantly poignant balance for this format. The talent is a given, but the question will be about competing for 20 overs in all three disciplines to see if they can spring an upset or two along the way. The Academy side upset the Power by 50 runs in their most recent T20 last season, where they were guided by recent South Australian signing Jason Sangha. Fleming, McCormick, James Hatton and McMahon all played in that game, so keep an eye out for some substantial upward trajectory from some of these lads as the season unfolds.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Plenty of atmosphere as the young underdogs look to knock off some experienced teams in Darwin, PINT and Waratah over the ensuing weeks. Expect some quality fast bowling from Fleming and St Clair early doors, supplemented by some legspin from captain McCormick and Darwin's very own Menzies. McCormick's first scalp in Premier Grade this season was Greens captain Farzan Chowna, whilst Menzies impressed with 0/19 (3) against the same side in the Eagles' opening T20. Complemented with some experienced batting from Edmondstone and Bimbral for tonight, the NT definitely have a unique blend of talent to suit all conditions. Ralph Stephens is coming off a couple of big scores for Darwin in B Grade and will be champing at the bit to take on his Premier Grade clubmates tonight. Look for Edmondstone to open and take on the spin of Smit Raval and Adi Dave tonight, and for the bowling duties to be shared around as the Territory search for some combinations.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Nightcliff are absolutely flying to start the Premier Grade season, and the fact that Nick Fleming has become an important part of a very talented attack shows just how much the lanky quick has improved over the course of 12 months. He impressed straight away with an early four-wicket haul against Darwin in his first Premier foray, before playing in both the U17 and U19 National Championships last summer. This time around, Fleming has been entrusted to bowl some important overs in both formats for the Tigers, and 10 wickets at 11.4 (including two four-fors) has only enhanced his reputation. The young gun is currently the leading wicket-taker in the Carlton Mid T20 competition, and a few more tonight certainly won't go astray in extending that lead. The variation and accuracy are already there, and look out over the coming years as he continues to fill out and gain pace. The end product could be seriously scary.