SPORT Kelly in form as Districts deliver

SOUTHERN Districts allrounder Corey Kelly was denied a Darwin Premier Grade century yesterday when he was stranded on 97 not out at Fred’s Pass.

Districts made 230 in their two-day match against last season’s runner-up PINT and reduced the Greens to 4-69 at stumps.

But paceman Kelly — who came in at No.9 — was the main attraction.

He smashed 11 boundaries and four sixes in his 62-ball stay.

His 104-run stand for the eighth wicket with Dan Mylius (27) turned the match fortunes around after Districts had crashed to 7-98 when Matt McEwan was caught off seamer Lachie Field.

An individual ton was denied when No.11 bat Dan McKell was caught at slip.

Districts skipper Graeme Beghin was full of praise for Kelly’s innings when disaster threatened for his side.

“Credit to Corey for continuing to hit the ball hard when PINT kept their field up and stayed positive in the hope our guys would make a mistake,’’ Beghin said.

“Matt McEwan’s bowling late in the day was another plus for us and a big reason why we put four of their bats back in the shed by stumps.’’

Premiers Palmerston needs another 212 runs to beat Waratah at Cazalys Oval, chasing

“Credit to Corey for continuing to hit hard”

DISTRICTS SKIPPER GRAEME BEGHIN 266 for first-innings honours.

James Seymour’s (pictured) quickfire 74 at the top of the order dominated the Tahs innings, though skipper Tom Macrury threatened to take that mantle away from his opener when he hit three sixes in an over from left-arm spinner Hamish Martin.

But Martin had the last laugh, forcing Macrury to pop up a caught and bowled at the start of his next over.

Darwin could not come to grips with the right-arm spin of Coby Edmondstone at Tracy Village.

Edmondstone grabbed 5-57 from 23 overs to bowl the Eagles out for 182, including the wicket of Darwin’s top scorer Harry Chamberlain for a patient 87.

WARATAH 265 (J Seymour 74, T Macrury 43, D Taylor 38; J Lennox 3-55, K Gardiner 3-74) v PALMERSTON 3-54 (T Watson 23no; D Taylor 1-10, J Seymour 1-11, T Glover 1-14).

DARWIN 182 (H Chamberlain 87, T Keep 30; C Edmondstone 5-57) v TRACY VILLAGE 0-15 (W Ryan 7no). STHN DISTRICTS 230 ( C Kelly 97no, M Hammond 37; T Knox 2-18, J Clarkson 2-34, L Field 2-45) v PINT 4-69 (J Clarkson 24, B Allen 13, T Garner 13no; C Kelly 1-13, M McEwan 1-14).