Nair leads NSW Metro to third straight U19 men’s cricket title

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Updated: December 12, 2015

ARJUN Nair’s amazing all-round skills were again on show as New South Wales Metro cruised to a win in the final of the national under-19 men’s cricket final.

The son of Indian immigrants, Nair bamboozled ACT/NSW Country’s batsmen with his leg-spin in claiming 6-24, before hitting 41 opening the batting.

His player of the match efforts at Gliderol Stadium, Glenelg, South Australia, played no small part in NSW Metro claiming its third straight Kookaburra Shield

ACT/NSW Country capitulated to be all out 160 following a promising opening stand worth 66 from Matthew Gilkes (32) and Henry Hunt (42).

Both opening batsmen, however, were left clean-bowled by Nair, Gilkes’ wicket triggering a collapse of 10/94. Jake Wholohan also chipped in with an impressive 4-12 with the ball.

Nair then joined Jonathan Rose for a 70-run opening stand, Rose going on to make an unbeaten 80 and seeing his side home with first-drop Jordan Gauci (38 no).

NSW Metropolitan coach Beau Casson said he was proud of the way his team had rebounded from two early defeats in the tournament, and finishing behind ACT/NSW Country on the Pool A ladder.

“It’s a testament to how hard they have worked in the off-season to be able to come back and win the tournament again,” Casson told cricket.com.au.

“It’s also a great thing for New South Wales cricket in general to have both sides play-off in the final for the first time.”

NSW Metro had beaten South Australia in the semi-finals, while ACT/NSW Country progressed to the final after overcoming Victoria Country.

Despite Nair’s final heroics, Western Australian all-rounder Clinton Hinchliffe was named the player of the tournament after hitting a series-high 446 runs at 55.8.

South Australian spinner Michael Cormack, meanwhile, topped the wickets table with 21 – at an average of 16.6 – three more than Nair.

Source: National Champs