NSW claims tenth country title
Photo: Rob Giese
New South Wales has won its tenth Commonwealth Bank Australian Country Cricket Championships title.
The Bush Blues finished the carnival in style, defeating East Asia Pacific by 74 runs on the final day to finish with six wins from seven matches.
Their only blemish came against Victoria on day nine but the title was effectively won by then after a nail-biting win against Queensland on day.
NSW’s title was its first since 2008 and followed other titles in 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1996 and 2001.
There was added delight for NSW, star batsman Graeme Batty won the player of the carnival award on a count-back from Northern Territory’s Grant Bell. Batty polled eight votes, including two man of the match performances.
Despite losing its final two matches, East Asia Pacific enjoyed its best ever carnival. The combination of players from Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Samoa and Fiji won three matches and provided some of the tournament’s biggest highlights with both bat and ball.
In other final day matches, a leg bye from the second last ball secured Northern Territory a sensational victory against Queensland.
Chasing a whopping 277, Trent Ovens anchored the innings with a 125-ball 85 after combining with Grant Bell (78) for a 127-run opening partnership.
Tailenders Ben Reichstein and Richard Arbon scrambled through for the winning run after Queensland’s Matthew Burton took two wickets in two balls in the final over to give the Brahmans a chance.
Earlier, a great knock from opener Todd Schloss (77 from 98 balls) helped Queensland to its big total, while NT’s Udara Weerasinghe claimed 5/70 to help dismiss the Brahmans with one ball remaining in their innings.
Victoria ended its carnival on a high, defeating ACT by five wickets to finish with victories in its final two matches after losing its opening five encounters.
Veteran Chris Bambury, clearly the host state’s best player during a disappointing campaign, made 71 not out to guide the Vics past ACT’s 8/224 with eight balls to spare.
Earlier, ACT had to overcome a horror start with the bat as it slipped to 3/5 in a devastating opening from Victorian bowlers Richard Tibbett and Josh Vrbovski.
Matthew Gawthrop made a patient 47, before Michael Curtale opened the shoulders during his undefeated 59 to give his side a decent total to try and defend.
South Australia also ended its campaign with a win, successfully chasing down Western Australia’s disappointing 172 with five wickets in hand.
Trent Burge (46 not out) was the star for the Outbacks with the bat after skipper Kieran Ashby worked through the WA batting line-up on his way to figures of 3/27. WA skipper Rod Ford remained undefeated on 73 as his side’s innings expired in the 49th over.
As Cricket Australia’s longest standing partner, Commonwealth Bank supports cricket at all levels - from the Commonwealth Bank Series to sponsorship of the men’s and women’s One Day International teams, right through to the community level of local clubs and teams.
Commonwealth Bank is proud to continue their sponsorship of the Australian Country Cricket Championships in 2012.
For more details on Commonwealth Bank’s involvement in community cricket, go to www.commbank.com.au/cricket
Day 10 results:
NSW 6/258 def East Asia Pacific 184
Queensland 277 def Northern Territory
Victoria 5/227 def ACT 8/224
South Australia 5/175 def Western Australia 172
Commonwealth Bank Australian Country Championships Country XI
Grant Bell – NT
Mitch Green – WA
Ben Smith – SA
Michael Spaseski – ACT
Rod Ford – WA
Kieran Ashby - SA
Sean Fitzsimmons – QLD
Josh McLean - QLD
Udara Weerasinghe – NT
Andrew Maher – NSW
Trent Sorohan – QLD
Ben Reichstein - NT
