Hosts Tasmania muffed a scarce chance on Monday to head the table clear top position during the opening clash of cricket’s under-19 national championships.
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In the chase towards an imposing 4-269 against NSW Metro, Tasmania squared the match off the last ball at Kingston Twin Ovals.
But captain Dylan Hay, playing on his home wicket, was run out attempting to come back for a second run.
Tasmania had required 13 runs off the last over for victory, but failed to reach the boundary once among a series of twos, a three and the final-ball single.
The win would have put either side two points clear of eight rivals after all other matches were abandoned.
Only the superior drainage at the ground had ensured Tassie’s fixture went ahead.
Coach Shannon Tubb was pragmatic over the tie.
“You can look at it both ways – we could’ve ended the day with zero points, and the other teams would’ve got two points, so we would’ve been behind instead,” Tubb said.
“So to take the two points, yes, we’re disappointed to have a tie because we got in a position to win the game, but then again, to push a team that far knowing we haven’t played our best cricket is quite exciting for the boys.”
Gun NSW Metro batsman Ryan Hackney almost proved the difference, but may have already booked his ticket to New Zealand for the World Youth Cup in January.
Hackney amassed 133 not out off 137 balls that included five fours but also five sixes.
It was the Penrith grade cricketer’s third successive century at the under-19 championships – he finished last year’s Adelaide carnival with back-to-back tons and was the second-highest scorer with 595 runs at 99.2.
Former Australian captain Steve Waugh’s son, Austin, took a back step with just 14 from 15 deliveries against the Tasmanian attack.
“We executed well with the ball – I was really impressed with how our bowlers went about the task,” Tubb said.
“The only bit that we let ourselves down is we didn’t field as we would’ve liked.”
Hay can take solace in the tie with a brilliant 70 off 70 batting at No.5 for Tasmania.
Mowbray all-rounder Jarrod Freeman belted 53 off just 38 balls to keep the home side in the game.
Tubb singled out Freeman for praise, saying the George Town product played “really nicely through the middle”.
“To be in a position to be chasing down, and we were around the mark at 4-160 with 10 overs left after Dylan and Jarrod put on 83 in a great partnership, really put us up to have a good charge at the end,” Tubb said.
“It was an exciting game and it could’ve easily gone either way.”