ACT U-19s vs Cricket Web U-19s
in Manuka Oval
Scorecard
Ball By Ball
Mark Hopgood's century and mostly accurate bowling were the highlights of a reasonably convincing 46-run victory for the Cricket Web U-19s against a strong ACT side. The bowling, however, struggled with containment, with only left-armer Jason Behrendorff exercising control.
Choosing to bat first, Zac Ritchie got a good 60-run partnership out of his opening batsmen, as Piper and Death struggled with line and length. Death, indeed, had a fatally poor run, overstepping twice before he was taken out after the first spell, but Behrendorff got Ben Read out on five and threatened to destabilise the whole innings. Ritchie played a solid 58, though, and Kerr saw it through to the end. Particularly embarrassing was the final over, which yielded 15 runs including four wides and a no-ball hit for four by a regal Hopgood, who compiled 119 with ten fours through a fifty-over show.
Josh Forner got the early breakthrough, with Crosthwaite held at slip by Kerr, but as long as May at four was batting with Irvine ACT held a slim chance. They controlled Donald and Reddlapalli easily, milked the spinners for singles, and even the delayed power play was no particular help. After the 37th over, an 8-ball nightmare by Ritchie, ACT were 180 for two, requiring 98 off 13 overs; a stiff ask, but by no means impossible. However, Dwyer's loud appeal against May was upheld despite wide suspicions in Canberra that the ball pitched outside leg; Morschel failed to settle, and Forner and McNamara closed off in style for an easy victory.
Cricket Web U-19s 278 for three (50 overs)
M Hopgood 119*, ZJ Ritchie 58, WA Kerr 49*; J Behrendorff 1-29
Australian Capital Territory U-19s 232 for five (50 overs)
WG Irvine 95, A May 60; JNE Forner 2-42
Cricket Web U-19s won by 46 runs
Man of the Match: M. Hopgood (Cricket Web U-19s)