The CDU Men’s Top End T20 Series 2023 featured a one-sided affair. The Melbourne Stars Academy (MSA) secured a convincing 80-run victory against the ACT Comets (AC) in the 11th match. The MSA vs AC cricket live score might not tell the entire story. However, it clearly shows MSA’s dominant performance throughout the game. Xavier Crone, the young pace bowler for MSA, emerged as the player of the match. He delivered a stellar performance, taking 3 wickets for just 11 runs.
MSA vs AC Cricket Live Score Highlights
MSA Batting First
The MSA opted to bat first after winning the toss. They posted a competitive total of 145 runs on the board for the loss of six wickets in their allotted 20 overs. The innings witnessed a collective effort from the top order. None of the batsmen scored a blazing fifty, but they all contributed valuable runs. Openers Joseph Slater (5 runs off 9 balls) and Kai Brunker (6 runs off 15 balls) provided a cautious start. However, their early dismissals put some pressure on the middle order.
Meanwhile, the likes of Sam Elliott (40 runs off 14 balls) and Harkirat Bajwa (34 runs off 17 balls) steadied the ship with a crucial 53-run partnership for the third wicket. Elliott, known for his aggressive batting style, smashed four boundaries and three sixes in his quickfire knock. Bajwa played a more composed innings, anchoring the middle order.
Following their dismissals, Arjun Nair scored 9 runs off 9 balls, and Lachlan Stevens scored 18 runs off 13 balls. They added valuable lower-middle order runs, propelling MSA to a defendable total. The ACT bowlers were disciplined but lacked penetration throughout the innings. Only three bowlers managed to take wickets.
AC's Batting Woes
Chasing a target of 146 runs in 20 overs, the ACT Comets’ batting unit faltered under pressure. Openers Jason Oakes (12 runs off 15 balls) and Josh Fennell (4 runs off 8 balls) were dismissed cheaply. Their early dismissals put AC on the back foot early in their chase.
The middle order, heavily reliant on a strong showing, failed to deliver. Captain Ryan Ayres (17 runs off 19 balls) and Liam Davis (14 runs off 18 balls) showed some resistance. However, their dismissals within a quick succession exposed the lower order’s vulnerability.
Xavier Crone, the young pace bowler for MSA, proved to be a thorn in ACT’s side. He took advantage of the batting weaknesses by dismissing three key batsmen. Crone took the wickets of Jason Oakes, Ryan Ayres, and Liam Davis within his economical spell. The remaining ACT batsmen struggled under the bowling pressure. They managed only singles and occasional boundaries.
In the end, the ACT Comets were bowled out for just 65 runs. They fell short of the target by a massive margin of 80 runs.
MSA vs AC Cricket Live Score: Match Info and Squads
| INFORMATION ABOUT THE MATCH | |
| Date & Time | 04 Aug, 09:00 AM IST |
| Venue | Marrara Cricket Ground, Darwin |
| Match | 11th T20, CDU Men's Top End Series 2023 |
| Toss | Melbourne Stars Academy elected to bat |
| MELBOURNE STARS ACADEMY | |
| WK Batter (C) | Sam Harper |
| Batter | Tom Fraser Rogers |
| Batter | Harry Dixon |
| Batter | Harrish Kannan |
| Batter | James Doherty |
| Batting All Rounder | Arjun Nair |
| Batting All Rounder | Sam Elliott |
| Bowler | Xavier Crone |
| Bowler | Wil Parker |
| Bowler | Harkirat Bajwa |
| Bowler | Toby Gray |
| MELBOURNE STARS ACADEMY BENCH | |
| Batter | Campbell Kellaway |
| Batting All Rounder | Reiley Mark |
| Bowler | Tom O'Donnell |
| Bowler | Cameron McClure |
| ACT COMETS | |
| WK Batter | Tom Vane-Tempest |
| Batter | Nicholas Broes |
| Batter | Tyler Hays |
| Batter | Zak Keogh |
| Batter | Kai Brunker |
| Batting All Rounder | Blake Faunce |
| Batting All Rounder | Brad Thomas |
| Batting All Rounder | Mark Solway |
| Bowler | Lewis Evans |
| Bowler (C) | Hanno Jacobs |
| Bowler | Joseph Slater |
| ACT COMETS BENCH | |
| WK Batter | Michael McNamara |
| Batter | Eric Bell |
| Bowler | Zak Honeybrook |
MSA vs AC Cricket Live Score
MSA Batters and Bowlers Stats
| Batters | R | B | 4S | 6S | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Dixon | c Hanno Jacobs b L Evans | 30 | 21 | 5 | 0 | 142.86 |
| Sam Harper | b Hanno Jacobs | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Harrish Kannan | c Z Keogh b Hanno Jacobs | 47 | 40 | 4 | 1 | 117.50 |
| Tom Fraser Rogers | c T Hays b L Evans | 33 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 122.22 |
| Arjun Nair | b Hanno Jacobs | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 140.00 |
| Sam Elliott | Not out | 18 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 105.88 |
| Xavier Crone | c L Evans b T Hays | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| James Doherty | Not out | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Extra | 7 15 (b 0, w 5, nb 0, lb 2) | |||||
| Total | 145/6 (20 ov) | |||||
| Bowlers | O | M | R | W | ECON |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Hays | 3 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 8.67 |
| Hanno Jacobs | 4 | 0 | 25 | 3 | 6.25 |
| Joseph Slater | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Nicholas Broes | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 4.00 |
| Lewis Evans | 3 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 8.33 |
| Blake Faunce | 4 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 8.50 |
| Kai Brunker | 3 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 5.33 |
AC Batters and Bowlers Stats
| Batters | R | B | 4S | 6S | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas Broes | c T F Rogers b Sam Elliott | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Zak Keogh | c SB Harper b Xavier Crone | 18 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Brad Thomas | c J Doherty b Sam Elliott | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 37.50 |
| Mark Solway | c SB Harper b Xavier Crone | 6 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Tom Vane-Tempest | c SB Harper b Sam Elliott | 13 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 86.67 |
| Hanno Jacobs | c SB Harper b Xavier Crone | 8 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Tyler Hays | lbw b Harkirat Bajwa | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Blake Faunce | b Harkirat Bajwa | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
| Joseph Slater | Not out | 5 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 55.56 |
| Lewis Evans | lbw b Sam Elliott | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Kai Brunker | c Wil Parker b Harkirat Bajwa | 6 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
| Extra | 1 15 (b 0, w 0, nb 1, lb 0) | |||||
| Total | 65/10 (16 ov) | |||||
| Bowlers | O | M | R | W | ECON |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Elliott | 4 | 0 | 14 | 4 | 3.50 |
| Harkirat Bajwa | 4 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 4.25 |
| Arjun Nair | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Xavier Crone | 4 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 2.75 |
| Wil Parker | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 5.50 |
| Toby Gray | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3.00 |
Xavier Crone: A Well-Deserved Player of the Match
Xavier Crone’s all-round performance was a major factor in MSA’s emphatic victory. His valuable contribution with the bat made him a standout player of the match. Crone’s exceptional bowling figures of 3 wickets for 11 runs further highlighted his performance. His ability to perform consistently under pressure is a valuable asset for the MSA team.
Conclusion
The MSA vs AC encounter in the CDU Men’s Top End T20 Series 2023 was a one-sided affair. MSA’s dominance was evident in the MSA vs AC cricket live score. Crone’s player-of-the-match performance highlighted their superiority. Their performance on the day showcased their ability to outclass the opposition. While the specific details of the match are limited due to its archived nature, the core takeaways remain significant.
This match serves as a valuable learning experience for both teams. MSA can build upon their momentum and refine their strategies for future matches. The ACT Comets, on the other hand, can analyze their shortcomings. They can work on improving their batting under pressure. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how both teams adapt and perform in upcoming encounters.
