Kaleb Phillips helps ACT/NSW Country charge into semi-finals at under 19s nationals

Phillips’ side opened their tournament with a four-wicket win against Victoria Country (6/211 to 4/210) at Park 12, with the former Nowra High School student taking 1/21 from his 10 overs before scoring four with the bat.

They backed it up the next day against South Australia at Karen Rolton Oval – winning a tight one 9/201 to 200, thanks to Phillips 1/40 and 18.

After the day off, ACT/NSW Country, which also features fellow Greater Illawarra Zone products Blake Nikitaris, Iain Carlisle, Matt Calder and Dom O’Shannessy, edged Western Australia (4/295 to 132) at Price Memorial Oval – with Phillips scoring 24 and taking 3/37.

The side’s fourth match was against Northern Territory at Port Adelaide Reserve, with Country winning 5/174 to 173 behind Phillips’ 56 and 0/13 from four overs.

Phillips’ side’s winning streak extended to five games when they defeated Victoria Metro at Woodville Oval.

After being sent in, Country made 8/233, with Phillips contributing seven, before Metro were all out for 189 in the 45^th over, with Phillips only bowling one over and finishing with 0/5.

The very next day, Country played the same opponent Henley Grange Memorial Oval but on this occasion, Victoria Metro got the win 6/177 to 176 despite nine runs from Phillips.

On the back of their 5-1 record, Phillips side, who finished second in Pool B, booked their spot in the semi-finals, where they will face rivals NSW Metro, who topped Pool A, at Glenelg Oval on Wednesday from 10am.

The winner of this match will progress to the final, where they will play the victor of the other semi-final between South Australia and Queensland.