Under-17s take thrilling first-innings win

The win was capped off with a brilliant second-innings century from Blake Thomson.

Thomson made 111 from 176 deliveries and smashed 14 fours and three sixes as he was ably supported by Matthew Underwood (58*) who continued his strong form from the first innings.

The pair put on 169 for the second wicket before Thomson fell, and it wasn’t long until stumps were drawn and the match was decided on the first innings result.

Earlier in the day saw a thrilling battle between Victoria’s bowlers and South Australia’s number three batsman, Patrick Page Junior (102*).

After resuming in the morning at 6-83 with Page Jnr on 56 not out, South Australia needed 59 runs to claim first-innings points as they chased Victoria’s 141 (Nick King 43, Underwood 36).

Page Jnr continued to see wickets fall around him as Cameron Brown and Jonah Koch gradually worked their way through the tail.

Some fight was shown by the South Australian lower order however, with number 11 Nick Fox (2) hanging around for 47 balls as Page Jnr kept the scoreboard ticking over, passing his hundred in the process.

Trailing by just two runs, Fox couldn’t hold on any longer and Brown sealed the points with his fourth wicket of the innings.

Brown finished with tournament-best figures of 4-31 (11.3) and Koch 3-17 (12). Blake Parsons, Xavier Crone, and Sam Grimwade all claimed a wicket each while keeper Ryan Hartley took another four catches to take his championship tally to an amazing 15.

Victoria now moves up to third on the ladder with one match to go in the tournament.

To snatch what would be an incredible championship triumph they will need an outright win over top-placed NSW Metropolitan and for ACT/NSW Country to get no more than a first innings victory – among other things.

The requirements are set and anything is possible.

The final round of the championships will take place with another two-day game on Wednesday and Thursday.