Districts quick helps end Waratah streak
SOUTHERN Districts burst the Waratah bubble yesterday when they beat the Red Caps by 56 runs in the heavyweight Darwin Premier Grade cricket clash at Gardens Oval.
The reigning premiers ended Waratah’s run of five straight wins when they restricted the home side to 8-181 in their run chase.
A superb 76 from wicketkeeper-batsman Daniel Mylius got Districts to 8-237 in their turn at the crease on a wicket devoid of any bounce.
Mylius and allrounder Dean Fry set up their side’s score with a 98-run second wicket partnership before Jackson Isakka’s quickfire 40 with two fours and two big sixes kept the scorebook ticking over.
Waratah threatened to get the runs despite the loss of inform opener Isaac Conway in the third over of his team’s chase when fast man Michael Ninneman trapped him in front of the wickets for nine.
But some costly run-outs when Madura Weerasinghe (36) and Sanka Wijegunarathne (three) were caught short of their ground slowed the side’s momentum.
Opener James Seymour topped the batting with a well-compiled 57 from 93 balls, despite Ninneman going close to claiming his wicket on two occasions when confident appeals for caught behind and leg before wicket were turned down.
PINT won its first match of the season and moved into the top four by beating a disappointing Darwin by 11 runs at Marrara.
Victorian recruit Richie Oliver’s 79 at No.3 in the batting order lifted the Greens to 9-174, a total the Eagles finished marginally short of.
PINT fast-medium Harry Manenti’s 4-26 from 10 overs was matchwinning stuff, including the removal of the first three Darwin batsmen.
Greens skipper Tim Garner found one word to describe the win – relief.
“It’s nice to get a win, even though we all got a bit nervous at the end,’’ Garner said.
“Obviously Richie’s batting and the bowling of Harry and Joel (Logan) at the end were the basis for the win and we’re happy with that.’’
Palmerston had an early day when it passed Tracy Village’s 61 only for the loss of opener Shane Buttfield’s wicket.
Kieran Toner and Darryl Lowe grabbed six of the 10 Village wickets in a rewarding afternoon for skipper Alex Bleakley and his side.