After four consecutive semi-final exits, Nightcliff have earned their chance at the DDCC Men’s A Grade Two-Day premiership. They face a determined Palmerston side looking to turn a minor premiership into a two-day title.
The teams meet at DXC Arena on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September, with play starting at 11am both days.
Nightcliff booked their place with a 72-run victory over Waratah, while Palmerston held out for a draw against Darwin to advance on ladder position. Those contrasting results highlight the demands of two-day cricket, where building an innings, taking wickets and adapting to the match situation all carry weight.
For Palmerston, their semi-final approach reflected the advantage earned by finishing on top of the ladder. With a successful chase slipping out of reach, Cadell McMahon and captain Hamish Martin shifted their focus to protecting the draw. McMahon finished unbeaten on 21 from 153 deliveries, alongside Martin’s 23 not out from 71 balls.
It was a significant contribution from McMahon, one of our emerging NT Academy players. Having progressed through NT age-group cricket, the young wicketkeeper-batter showed the concentration and temperament to influence a senior final when his team needed him.
Speaking to NT News, Martin said the semi-final had tested Palmerston’s ability to adapt.
“It was something different, a challenge that we hadn’t seen this season, and we were able to come out on top which was nice,” Martin said.
Alex Bleakley and Joseph McGann will also be important to Palmerston’s hopes of building a substantial total. Martin credits the club’s continued presence in finals to their long-serving players and junior program.
“It means so much getting to play for Palmerston, Alex Bleakley says it perfectly, this is our Baggy Green,” he said.
New Zealand recruit Oliver Tewatiya complements that local core. The left-handed batter and left-arm spinner brings New Zealand Under-19 and Wellington A experience, alongside a season with Kimberley in England’s Nottinghamshire Premier League.
His presence reflects the Territory’s role as Australia’s winter cricket capital, where the dry season brings local, interstate and overseas players together and gives emerging cricketers regular opportunities against experienced opposition.
Nightcliff’s semi-final demonstrated the depth Palmerston’s bowlers will need to contain. Neil Patel’s 103, Will Blair’s 65 and Jordan Roads’ 49 helped the Tigers declare at 8–291, with three batters making substantial contributions.
Patel enters the decider having delivered a century under finals pressure, while Blair and Roads showed they can provide valuable support. Breaking those partnerships before they develop will be important for Palmerston.
With the ball, Ben Vyver’s match-winning 6–37, including a hat-trick, completed Nightcliff’s semi-final performance. Alongside Trent McVeigh, his challenge will be to sustain pressure against batters who have shown they are prepared to occupy the crease.
Speaking to NT News, Nightcliff captain Niven Dovey acknowledged the quality of Palmerston’s line-up.
“Palmerston are definitely the team you want to beat in a final, they’ve obviously got some quality players throughout their line-up,” Niven said.
“Hamish (Martin) and Bleaks (Alex Bleakley) to name a few, so they’ll be up for it.”
Niven said a premiership would also reward the work behind the scenes, particularly that of president Josh Smith.
“There’s been a lot of people at the club that have done a lot of hard work, in particular president Josh Smith,” he said.
“The last two years of work he’s put in to put the club in a nice position so it’d be a nice reward to get this flag, and I think the whole club will be behind us like they were yesterday afternoon, and vibes were going, so fingers crossed.”
Join us at DXC Arena from 11am on Saturday and Sunday as Nightcliff and Palmerston contest the premiership.