Vic Metro Too Good for NT in Opening Round of National Champs

A cricket smart Victorian Metro side opened their 2023-24 under-19 Male Cricket Championship campaign with a 94-run win against the Northern Territory in Albury on Thursday.

The NT Strike reached 9-163 in pursuit of Vic Metro's 8-257 after skipper Tom Menzies won the toss and sent the Victorians in to bat in cloudy conditions on the Murray River.

Menzies' fast medium bowling removed top order bats Harry Dixon (9) and Josh Pace (4) on the way to a three-wicket haul, before two 70-run partnerships for the third and fourth wickets set the Victorians up for a big score.

Opening bat Atharv Deshpande and allrounder Christian Howe both made 50s for Metro, while Menzies' 3-44 from eight overs of fast medium bowling was the best of the Territory attack.

The Strike batters reached 3-107 in the run chase before a mini collapse midway through the innings when three wickets fell for 10 runs.

Waratah top order bat Clancy McCormick hit eight boundaries in his aggressive role as an opener, reaching 46 from only 54 balls before being caught at deep mid off from the bowling of finger spinner Vishwa Ramkumar.

Another Strike batsman to impress was NSW recruit Joel Wright, who hit a patient 32 from 83 balls in his 51-run partnership with McCormick for the third wicket.

Territory coach Udara Weerasinghe liked what he saw from the players in the field and with the bat, despite pointing a slight lack of awareness and intent when chasing down the Victorians' score.

"But there were a few positives we can take further into the competition,'' he said.

"They've shown me what they can do with the ball and the bat, Clancy's innings certainly showed he will be important for us in the next few games and the same with Joel Wright, who batted well in their partnership.''

Victoria's spin bowlers took six of the nine Strike wickets to fall by concentrating on consistent line and length while backed up with a series of astute field placings.

Weerasinghe said the bowling and fielding had been very good, with the exception of 26 extra runs in wides and no-balls, a number they needed to reduce before they meet NSW Country in a second round match.

"But in saying that, it was the boys' first game together and now they know what their roles are and the gameplan we need to succeed, things will get better.''

Male U19 Cricket Championships: Vic Metro 8-257 (A Deshpande 56, C Howe 55, T Menzies 3-44, J Wright 2-19, L Tully 2-56) d Northern Territory 9-163 (C McCormick 46, J Wright 32, V Ramkumar 3-29, C Howe 2-24) by 94 runs.