Local Hamish Case represented South Australia in the Under 19 national championships competing against the best young cricket players from across the country.
The championship was held over a week in December from the 15th to the 22nd. Each side would play one game each day, with three rounds followed by four sets of finals.
The first game saw South Australia face off against Tasmania, with Tasmania batting first they would be all out for 223, with Case contributing a catch.
Case would then be the star with the bat, top scoring with 63 in South Australia’s successful run chase.
South Australia faced Northern Territory in Round 2 and scored another win with Case getting a good start of 18 before being bowled.
Case scored his second half century for the tournament in the third round, again top scoring for the game with a score of 66 while also contributing with the ball taking 2/22 from his six overs, taking the equal most wickets for South Australia for the game.
South Australia finished fifth of 11 teams, only missing out on the top four by percentage.
Despite Case losing his wicket for just the one run in the qualifying final he performed well with the ball to take two wickets for 35 runs off nine overs, with the side going down to Victoria Metro by a solitary wicket.
The semi final had South Australia bowling first to New South Wales Country who would post a total of 187.
Case continued his run of form into scoring 56 before being dismissed LBW, with South Australia winning by five wickets and Case top scoring with 56.
In South Australia’s final game it batted first against Western Australian. Case got off to a nice start scoring 18 from just 31 deliveries before being dismissed before taking the wicket of one of Western Australia’s openers. Despite this it was not enough to score the win.
Case was happy with his performances at the championships, saying “anytime you make consistent runs it feels good”.
A highlight for the national championships came in the semi final games against NSW Country when Case predicted a run out he would take during the game.
“We had spoken about it as a team saying someone will get one today and with my cheeky personality I went ‘yeah easy, I’ll do it’,” he said.
“It was probably my favourite moment over the trip.”
A disappointment for Case was not making 100 at least once. He was also disappointed to not make the carnival side, which was a goal.
However while Case was not selected for the team of the carnival, his excellence with bat and ball was acknowledged with runner up for the Brian Taber Medal as the MVP for the under 19 national championships.
Case was not expecting the award, admitting he was a little surprised.
“I was pretty happy though as my performances were noticed by others within the comp, and gave me confidence that I can play at that level and play well,” Case said.
Overall the young star performed well at the national championships with the 12th most runs at an average of 37. He also performed well with the ball to claim five wickets along with a run out and two catches.
He was a key part of the South Australian side winning all but two of its games for the carnival.
