Despite a late scare the HDCA Under 16 players finished victorious over arch rivals South Coast on the weekend.
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The team played away at Keith Grey Oval for the Southern Zone Cricket Champions.
Once again a determined and courageous effort by both the bowlers and batters, supported by some excellent fielding.
This ensured the Highlands team success after a close campaign over a number of weeks.
Batting first South Coast experienced difficulties against the opposition attack but saw out forty overs to finish with one hundred a six runs.
Spearhead Dominic O’Shannessy destroyed any hope of a large South Coast total.
His eight overs resulted in four wickets for thirty runs.
His back up was provided by Zac de Hosson, two wickets for twenty six from ten overs, Ryan Emmerick two wickets for twelve from his five overs.
Conor Taylor-Helme’s one over saw only one run taken from his six balls in capturing two wickets.
Captain James Morton took two catches while Emmerick, O’Shannessy, Toby Smith and Taylor-Helme were credited with a catch each.
The only disappointing aspect of the bowling was thirty four extras, of which thirty were wides.
Set an achievable target Emmerick provided early domination of the South Coast bowlers and missed out by two runs on registering a half century to his name.
He was the mainstay of the innings as HDCA lost quick wickets and were in a precarious position at six down for seventy two runs requiring a rear guard action from the remaining batsmen to claim victory.
This responsibility fell on the shoulders of Ben Tucker and Warwick Preston.
Their thirty three run partnership saw the team home with Tucker not out twelve and Preston twenty runs.
Throughout the season the team has gelled as a unit with some fine individual performances supported by great team spirit and character.
The players proved throughout the competition that, on their day, they were able to challenge any opposition. Many of these players will now be striving for HDCA Jeffrey Cup representation in the next age division. Two HDCA team members will play additional games next week.
O’Shannessy will fly to Tasmania to represent the Australian Under 17 team at the national Under 19 championships. Bowral’s Charlie Dummer will also head south as a member of the Under 19 ACT/Country NSW team.
