NT Under-16s Show Grit but Fall Short Against ACT

Article written by Grey Morris (Darwin, NT) who is a former Sports Editor at News Corporation

The Northern Territory Under-16 Girls have lost another thriller to the ACT at the National Championships in Ballarat.

Defending 103 in their 50-over match, the NT fought back to reduce the ACT to 7-69 and within sight of a breakthrough win.

But an unbeaten 35-run eighth-wicket partnership between ACT tailenders Dhurdi Patel (20no) and Saranya Chanduri (8no) combined to take the game away from them.

The three-wicket loss came on top of a nail-biting loss to Tasmania in the NT’s Championship debut a day earlier.

Coach Bronte Stray was left to lament both matches which could easily have gone the other way to produce wins.

"We had some really unlucky situations today, with some of our girls being dismissed by some pretty remarkable deliveries I'm not quite sure the bowlers meant," she said.

"But the mood in the team is amazing and after that fielding and bowling effort a win is now a definite possibility."

After winning the toss and deciding the bat first, the NT lost wickets regularly and struggled to find any partnerships as they were dismissed for 103.

Tracy Village’s Ekam Dhillon was the key contributor, scoring a patient 23 from 82 balls, while Eloise Woods' 19 also helped the NT pass 100.

Some super bowling and ground fielding got the Territory back into the match, with local bowlers Skylah Henwood (1/17), Jordi O’Toole (1/9) and Joanna Pickett (1/14) all taking key wickets through the middle period, while Naomi McMahon contributed with another strong catch behind the stumps.

Trisha Bajaj was again the main contributor for a second day with the ball, taking 2/13, however the stubborn eight-wicket partnership between Patel and Chanduri prevented a tremendous win for the NT.

The Championships move into T20’s on Thursday and Friday after a tournament rest day.

The NT play Western Australia and Vic Country on Thursday before another doubleheader on Friday when NSW Country and Queensland are their opponents.

Coach Stray said some consistent batting and a change of luck would give her side a real chance of a breakthrough win.

"We're due for a change of luck, Henwood was pretty disappointed with the ball that dismissed her and Trisha (Bajaj) was unlucky to be run out," she added.

"Jordi (O'Toole) and Abbey (Warton) batted well at the end there and Ekam was amazing at No.3, she really gave us a chance." 

Scoreboard _ ACT 7-104 (D Patel 20no, T Bajaj 2-13, R Flett 1-9, J O'Toole 1-9) d Northern Territory 103 (E Dhillon 23, E Wood 19, J Sill 4-22) by 3 wickets.