NSW Metro with the upper hand in Rd 4 of National Champs

The Northern Territory regained its batting poise in the national under-19 Male Cricket Championships in Albury when they spent the full 50 overs at the crease against a powerful NSW Metro side.

NSW won the match by 95 runs, but the Strike were left with several positives after a gutsy performance with the bat.

NSW made 4-331 after winning the toss and batting on the back of a classic 150 from opening bat Sam Konstas.

The tall right hander hit 11 boundaries and three sixes in his stay at the crease to put the match firmly in his side's favour.

The Territory bowlers struggled on the flat wicket, Arjun Sehrawat's 2-70 from 10 overs the best figures from the men in black and ochre as the Blues batters went on the attack.

Faced with a run rate of 6.6 runs an over, the Strike batters dug in and reached 6-225 when time and the overs ran out.

Palmerston left hander Charlie Bignell made a classy 69 batting at No.3, playing his part in a 108-run third wicket partnership with Joel Wright that frustrated the NSW bowlers.

The Blues relied on their spinners to take wickets on a deck resembling long stretches of the Stuart Highway, such was its flatness and tendency to keep low.

Cameron Frendo's left-arm finger spin accounted for Bignell, Wright and vice-captain Zayden Lewis who did not trouble the scorers.

Territory coach Udara Weerasinghe had mixed feelings post-match, saying the platform set by opening batters Amam Nadeem (34) and Clancy McCormick (30) had given his side a real chance of victory.

"Unfortunately the rest of the lineup couldn't go on with it when the opportunity was there, though the NSW spinners bowled a good line and were hard to get away,'' Weerasinghe said.

"The way limited over cricket is played means you have to back yourself when you're out there and that's something we have to learn against top quality bowling.

"I was pleased with the boys attitude and technique, we now have to adapt a more aggressive approach if we are to start winning games.''

NSW Metro 4-331 (S Konstas 150, R Kingsell 72, C Tunks 60, A Sehrawat 2-70) d Northern Territory 236 (C Bignell 69, L Wright 44, A Nadeem 34, C McCormick 30).