NSW Metropolitan and Western Australia were the two undefeated teams in this year's Under 19 National Championships going into their match at Adelaide's Railways Oval today, but Sydney University's Lawrence Neil-Smith and Devlin Malone helped to ensure that the contest was never a close one.
After NSW Metropolitan had posted a competitive 9 for 254 from its 50 overs (Gordon's Axel Cahlin hitting 91), Lawrence-Smith knocked the top off the WA innings, trapping both openers lbw inside his first two overs. Reduced to 2-4, WA threatened to recover only briefly, when the fourth wicket added 44 in rapid time, but Malone came on to strangle the middle and lower order, allowing only 17 runs from his first six overs. WA was dismissed inside 35 overs for 142, giving NSW Metropolitan a conclusive victory. Malone took the bowling honours with 3 for 40 from ten overs, while Neil-Smith ended with 2 for 24 from 7 overs.
NSW Metropolitan defends its unbeaten record against the Northern Territory tomorrow.