Juniors cricketers impress at Friday’s Hogan Oval T20 match

The Narrabri District Junior Cricket Association’s 2019-20 opens season is now four weeks old following its first Friday night T20 match at Hogan Oval last week.

NDJCA chairman Craig Gleeson said that the competition was operating more successfully than last season’s where teams were picked each Saturday by captains.

“We still have two teams in the opens this year but they are set teams,” Gleeson said.

“We are trying a different way of doing it where they are playing sort of four-week comps between those teams, then we rotate the teams so it doesn’t get too stale.

“We are hoping that if we get a few more numbers we might be able to come up with a super eights comp after Christmas or something like that.

“We have 22 registered in the opens this year, and there was about 18 last year.”

Friday evening’s T20 match completed the first full four-week rotation of the season, so teams will be changed around ahead of round five this Saturday.

The next Friday night opens T20 match at Hogan Oval will be played on November 29.

See below for an NDJCA report on last Friday night’s game.

Hurricanes - back, George Barton, Jonty Fowler, Tallen Robinson, Sam Elms, Darcy Gleeson, Mia Croker, front, Alistair Wheeler, Will Ford, DJ Allen and Lachlan Ford. Hurricanes - back, George Barton, Jonty Fowler, Tallen Robinson, Sam Elms, Darcy Gleeson, Mia Croker, front, Alistair Wheeler, Will Ford, DJ Allen and Lachlan Ford.

Strikers - back, Jackie Collett, Archer Dalton, Bernard O’Connor, Jack Leslie, Sanchit Jagadeesan, front, Blake Fielder, Sidney Harvey, Sam Maxwell and Lucas Hogan. Strikers - back, Jackie Collett, Archer Dalton, Bernard O’Connor, Jack Leslie, Sanchit Jagadeesan, front, Blake Fielder, Sidney Harvey, Sam Maxwell and Lucas Hogan.

Lachlan Ford bowls as umpire David Hogan watches on. Lachlan Ford bowls as umpire David Hogan watches on.

Bernard O'Connor launches into a powerful shot. Bernard O'Connor launches into a powerful shot.

Mia Croker, right, bowls as Sanchit Jagadeesan backs up at the non-striker’s end and umpire David Hogan watches on. Mia Croker, right, bowls as Sanchit Jagadeesan backs up at the non-striker’s end and umpire David Hogan watches on.

Jonty Fowler attempts a runout. Jonty Fowler attempts a runout.

Jackie Collet keeps her eyes on the ball. Jackie Collet keeps her eyes on the ball.

George Barton, right, bowls as umpire Jamie Ford watches on. George Barton, right, bowls as umpire Jamie Ford watches on.

Will Ford throws the ball to the wicketkeeper from the outfield. Will Ford throws the ball to the wicketkeeper from the outfield.

Tallen Robinson fields the ball. Tallen Robinson fields the ball.

NDJCA report:

Under lights with all the glitz and glamour of a scheduled summer night game came the Strikers v Hurricanes rematch at Hogan Oval on Friday.

These two teams have been going at it for four rounds and were about to dig their heels in and do it all again.

The Strikers batted first and were confident that if they could retire their opening batsmen that they would have a good chance of rattling the Hurricanes.

The crowd settled in around the boundary, setting up cold drinks in an esky and sharing their chilled and delectable nibbles from carefully prepared tupperware containers.

Bernard O’Connor and Sanchit Jagadeeson tightened the velcro on their batting gloves and surveyed the pitch.

No matter how hard the bowlers tried, Bernard was set on staying for the duration, and that he did retiring on 42*.

Sanchit was run out from a spectacular direct hit from the field and Jonty Fowler’s accurate right arm.

Jackie Collett was the next soldier sent in and she departed the crease on (3) courtesy of Lachlan Ford’s safe hands and George Barton’s clever bowling.

Sidney Harvey was also keen to retire after his safe and strong fours.

This was a double edge sword as Sidney was safe to retire on his credible (40) but after staying for the final ball in the over he was caught out.

Lucas Hogan brought his skills to the crease and safely tucked away 23 runs which were a combination of boundaries and singles.

Both Archer Dalton and DJ Allen cleaned up the remaining overs and left with reputations intact and not out on 11 and 21 respectively.

The next session saw Alistair Wheeler stride out with partner DJ Allen.

Batsmen have been in fine form of late, so there was definitely anticipation of big scores.

DJ didn’t disappoint knocking 10 runs off many a speedy delivery.

Alistair remained strong at the crease retiring on 40, combining many boundaries with plenty of running and a sailing six over the white posts.

He left the pitch hoping for a return at the end of his team’s innings.

Sam Elms, Noah Mace and George Barton fell victim to the turning ball and all three players departed on (0).

Will Ford (27) made the most of every opportunity smashing fours and keeping the fielders chasing his well placed singles in the field.

Jonty Fowler was impressive in the field in the first innings of the game and continued his reign as an impressive cricketer in the second innings, retiring at 40.

Jonty also put many to the boundary and mixed his tally up with a six and plenty of singles as well.

Lachlan Ford (2) was set for some big hitting however, Dustyn Allen knocked the bails down with a quick ball.

Darcy Gleeson was the next to arrive and cracked a firm shot which slid safely between the Strikers’ fielders.

Unfortunately, confusion set in as Darcy turned blind side, forgetting to ground his bat and was stumped for 1.

Tallen Robinson (1*) and Mia Croker (1*) then had limited opportunity as the overs dried up.

In the end the final score was Strikers 4-163 defeating the Hurricanes 7-148.