CRICKET
A DOMINANT knock of 78 from ACT under-15 batsman Jay Allen inspired his side to an comprehensive victory over Dubbo in the grand final of the Western NSW Under 15 Cricket Carnival at Wade Park on Thursday, completing a stunning tournament for the diminutive right hander.
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Along with his scores of 46, 61 and 19 in his side’s preliminary games against Manly-Warringah, Blacktown and Parramatta respectively, the knock took Allen’s carnival tally to 204 from four digs, at an average of 51.
Allen plundered the Dubbo attack to all corners of Wade Park on his way to his second half century of the carnival, inspiring the ACT to the 172-run win.
He came to the crease with his side in some trouble after losing several quick, early wickets, including that of run machine and day one centurion Josh Low-McMahon.
However Allen, along with Esam Rahman (62), set about ensuring their side had a defendable total.
They did just that, producing a gritty, match-defining, 100-plus fourth wicket partnership to catapult their side to 7-231.
In reply, Dubbo faltered from the get-go. Badly.
Just 24 hours after pummelling an incredible 3-309 - bolstered by 109 not out from Tom Atlee - Dubbo found themselves floundering, and desperately praying for rain at 7-44 in reply.
The rain did come, and for a moment it looked like minor premiers Dubbo might snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat because of it - at that point not enough overs had been bowled to constitute a game.
But, the two sides resumed play, with the ACT snaring another wicket before the game was halted again with Dubbo at 8-59.
That downpour caused the match to be abandoned, and because there had been enough overs bowled, the ACT was deservedly awarded the win and the 2015-16 title.
After producing three sterling performances to, somewhat surprisingly, remain undefeated through the group stages, the Orange Invitational XI couldn’t secure a fourth straight win, losing out to Wagga Wagga in the third place play-off.
Lance Hearn snared three wickets as Orange bowled Wagga out for 150, and Ryan Noon then knocked up a half-ton as the hosts worked their way to 8-120 in reply, with six overs remaining.
However with the game set for a grandstand finish the rain came at Country Club Oval too, gifting Wagga a 30-run win.