As tight as it can get

Tassie U/19s push NSW Metro to the brink

Tasmania and NSW Metro have opened the national under 19 carnival in thrilling fashion with a tie at Kingston. With his side needing 13 runs off the final over, Tigers captain Dylan Hay was run out on the final ball trying to scamper backk for two, leaving ing the sides deadlocked on 269. 9.

TASMANIA and NSW Metro have opened the national under-19 cricket championships in spectacular fashion by playing out a thrilling tie at the Twin Ovals.

On a day when all other round-one matches were called off after a weekend of wild weather, the two sides could not be split at the end of 100 overs.

Chasing 270 for victory, the Tigers required 13 runs from the final over to knock off one of the power sides in the tournament.

Jack Freeman took nine from the first four deliveries, before skipper Dylan Hay picked up a double to leave the equation at two needed from the last ball.

Hay slashed a drive backward of point that appeared destined to beat the field, only to be brilliantly stopped.

He was run out scampering back for a second run, leaving the two teams deadlocked.

It was a bittersweet finish for Hay, who nearly timed the chase to perfection with a runa-ball 70.

Jack White (48) and Noah van de Werken (31) set the platform with a 66-run, second-wicket stand, while Jarrod Freeman provided the late spark with 53 from 38 balls when the asking rate had climbed to nine an over.

“To push a NSW Metro side right to the end, I thought was a really good effort,” said coach Shannon Tubb of an outfit containing the likes of Austin Waugh, son of Test great Steve, and Param Uppal, who played for the CA XI in the One Day Cup tournament.

“We know we still have 10 or 15 per cent to improve, definitely in the field ... it is always exciting when you know you haven’t played your best but you have pushed a good side to the end.

“Dylan Hay in the middle order played his role, batted us really deep into the innings and was really impressive,

“He controlled the game beautifully for a young 18year-old.”

NSW Metro’s total was built on a superb unbeaten century to Ryan Hackney, remarkably his third consecutive ton at the under-19 champs.

Hackney’s 133 not out came after his phenomenal 2016-17 carnival, where he scored 595 runs at 99.2, including back-toback centuries to finish.

Tasmania returns to the Twin Ovals today against the CA XI.