The Western Australian Under 19 team has got off to a fantastic start at the National Championships in Canberra, winning both matches of their opening day Twenty20 double-header.
WA began the day with a comfortable 36-run victory over the ACT, before backing up in the afternoon with a thrilling six wicket defeat of Tasmania, achieved with just four deliveries to spare.
Promising Wanneroo all-rounder Anthony Del Borrello starred with the bat in both matches, striking 52 from 32 against the ACT in the morning fixture and backing up with a blistering 72 from 48 a few hours later against Tassie, while Bayswater-Morley paceman Luke Waterhouse took eight wickets in the two games to lead the way with the ball.
WA Captain Tom Beaton won the toss against the ACT and chose to bat first, and rocketed to 4-159 from their 20 overs, led by Del Borrello and Bayswater-Morley batsman Aaron Todd (52 from 41).
The ACT was dismissed in the final over of their run chase for 123. Skipper Jordan McLennan played a lone hand for his team with 62 from 58 deliveries, while Waterhouse was the best of the WA bowlers with a superb 5-19 from 3.3 overs.
Scarborough all-rounder Darryl Mitchell took 3-20 from three overs, while Mount Lawley quick Matt Dixon took 2-27 from four after battling a serious illness in the week preceding the start of the tournament.
WA worked hard to overcome a Tom Triffitt-inspired Tasmania in the afternoon fixture, which was also held at Stirling Oval. The Tasmanian skipper and wicket-keeper, who is also a rookie-listed player with the PKF Tasmanian Tigers, struck a magnificent 74 from only 49 deliveries to contribute the bulk share of his team's total of 8-137 from their 20 overs.
Waterhouse followed on from his five wicket haul against the ACT to take 3-25 from four overs. University all-rounder Andrew Cameron took 2-19 in four frugal overs after opening the bowling with his off-spinners. Dixon, Mitchell and Phil Adams took one wicket apiece.
Del Borrello helped get the run chase off to a flyer, and he found able support from Beaton (19 from 20) and Todd (11 from 16), before Adams carried WA over the line in the final over with an unbeaten 26 from 24 deliveries.
WA returns to Stirling Oval today for the first of the 50-over matches against South Australia.
