BATHURST representative juniors Ben Mitchell and Tanvir Singh have added an Australian title to their name after taking out the Under 17s National Cricket Championships at Mackay.
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Mitchell and Singh, along with fellow Central West representative Brock Larance of Dubbo, won the title with ACT/NSW Country after their finale against Queensland was cut short due to the wet weather. The two teams shared the crown.
ACT/NSW Country dominated their pool to finish on 29 points – 11 clear of their nearest rival.
The Central West trio then did the damage with the ball against Victoria Metro in the semi-final as they claimed seven wickets between themselves.
Mitchell (3-22), Larance (3-23) and Singh (1-28) had Victoria all out for 192 to claim a 75-run success.
In the decider against Queensland Mitchell hit 26 runs in a crucial middle order stand for his side, who finished all out for 186.
Queensland made their way to 0-10 after three overs before rain brought the game to a stop.
Mitchell said he took plenty away from his seven matches.
“I got heaps out of it. Was great to play on some of the best grounds in Queensland,” he said.
“It’s a great competition. It probably wasn’t the best level I could have performed to … but that 43 not out against Western Australia to help the boys get home was a good highlight. Getting that 20-odd in the grand final was alright as well.
“There were some good quicks out there and we had a few good contests.”
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ACT/NSW Country opening bowler Singh had several moments to savour with the ball.
The Lithgow native and St Pat’s Old Boys player clean bowled Victoria Country opener Mitch Cammarano with his team’s first delivery of the tournament and against Victoria Metro in the semi-final claimed the big scalp of Max Hatzoglou for a duck in the opening over.
“I got a wicket for the first ball of a national carnival, so that’s definitely the big highlight,” Singh said.
“We had a shaky start in the first game but by the end of it we dominated.
“It was a really fun tournament. It was a really nice team to play alongside. Was great to go the whole way but unfortunately the final was washed out.
“It was an awesome experience and I learned a lot out of it.”
After losing their opening game against Victoria Country the ACT/NSW Country boys went on a seven-game unbeaten run.
Larance received a boost before the tournament when he was named in the Cricket Australia under 17s pathways rookie squad.
The Dubbo player finished with a highest score of 85 at the national championships and an average of 47.7. He also picked up nine wickets at an average of 13.1.
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Alexander Grant
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
