ACT VS NSW 2ND Xl – 3 day match

An ACT High Performance team were set a tough task from ball one with NSW electing to bat on a relatively flat Chisholm oval wicket. This saw one of Australia’s best top order batsman Usman Khawaja bat his way to (134) who was eventually bowled by ACT u19s quick Greg West. The bowlers gained valuable experience against players who are regularly playing Sheffield Shield cricket. The team toiled hard to bowl the visitors out for 449. Greg West (3-74) Vele Dukoski (2-72) Luke Behrendorff (3-64) the major wicket takers for the ACT.

In reply ACT fought hard against a very strong bowling line up which included former Australian Test bowlers Nathan Hauritz and Trent Copeland with the ACT eventually bowled out for 370. Queanbeyan opener Aaron Ayre got yet another start to his innings this season and was out for (68) along with Blake Dean (30) Kerian Gray (56), Michael Spaseski was unsettled by Scott Coyte’s short deliveries and eventually dismissed by Abbott at the other end for (23). Vele Dukoski (60) and tail ender Shane Devoy who fought off mean bowling from Coyte ran out of partners and finished with an impressive (53) not out. The pick of the bowlers for NSW were PM ‘s XI fast bowler Sean Abbott (5-86) Scott Coyte (2-53).

New South Wales were then required to bat a second time and finished the day at 4-175 dec, with Scott Henry (44) and Tim Cruickshank (58), enjoying their time in the middle. The best of the ACT bowlers were Dan Rootes (2-68) and Shane Devoy ( 2-42).

ACT VS NSW 2ND Xl – 1 day match

ACT won the toss and elected to bat AT Chisholm Oval. With pressure created by the NSW quicks Trent Copeland and Nick Bills helped the Blues to take frequent wickets and unsettle the ACT batting line up. Dean Solway who is due to play in the Prime Minister’s Xl on Friday February the 3rd, stayed patient whilst in the middle and was ACT’s best for the day with the bat managed (30) with support from Queanbeyan’s Sam Taylor who finished with (26) not out. ACT were bowled out for (147) in 39.4 over’s. The pick of the bowlers for the Blues, Copeland (2-13) and Bills (2-19).

In reply the Blues innings having been interrupted by rain featured both openers getting off to a steady start with Tristan McDonald scoring aggressively with (18) and Tim Cruickshank (19). David Dawson (44) not out and Cameron Merchant (54) not out came to the crease and steadied the ship with the pair seeing the Blues home to finish (2-149) in the 26.4 over.

The ACT High performance team thoroughly enjoyed the experience playing against first class cricketers and the players can take the experience they gained from the match back to club level and into their own game.

By Dan Rootes.