Armed with a new-found confidence Zac Clarke returned from last month’s Bradman Cup vowing to put into practice the lessons he had learnt in Albury.
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The teenager has, and is reaping the rewards.
Since returning from the under-16s country carnival, Clarke has registered two half-centuries and just missed out on a third.
His outstanding form was highlighted on the weekend when he scored an unbeaten 44 for his McDonald’s Chargers on Friday night and backed up on Saturday with 62 for Albion as they accounted for Mornington.
It was his highest score in senior cricket this season, and followed an unbeaten 59 for the Gunnedah Second XI last month.
“I came out of that carnival (Bradman Cup) and felt like I had a lot of confidence.
“Before I went I didn’t think I was capable of playing at that level,” he said.
Coming in on Friday night with the Chargers in early trouble at 3-29, Clarke finished unconquered on 44 and helped steer them to 5-122. He followed up with 4-14 as they held on for a two run win.
On Saturday he had to bide his time as Albion’s top order laid a strong foundation
Brad Cady (31) and Zach Martin (31) set the tone with a 63 run opening stand.
They had a brief stumble with Martin’s dismissal but captain Brad Jenkinson and Andy Mack put on 49 to get things back on track. Making a surprise return, Mack belted 40 of those, off just 18 balls.
Clarke then joined his skipper and together they took Albion beyond 250 with Jenkinson smacking 74 off 70 including seven fours and two sixes.
Clarke faced 58 balls and struck six boundaries and a six in his stay.
“I thought there was plenty of time to bat if I could knuckle down,” Clarke said.
Stan Gaynor then kept Mornington in the game with a brilliant 80 at the top of the order, Albion eventually dismissing them for 201.
In the other game another defiant half-century from Kookaburras skipper Cameron Milne wasn’t enough as Court House got the last laugh.
Humbled last time the two sides met, Court House restricted Kookaburras to 7-159 and then chased the runs down with four overs to spare.
They did have a couple of wobbles along the way, Ben Irwin (21no) and Darrin Cameron (13) putting on a 39 for the eighth wicket to get them home.
Earlier, Milne again anchored the Kookaburras innings with 71 - his third half-century in as many digs.
The spinners did the damage for Court House with Sam Doubleday picking up 2-31, Brad Gander 4-24 and Brodie Cleal 1-33.
Court House then got off to a solid start with openers Oscar King (29) and Jay Urquhart (17) putting on 44 for the first wicket, but then lost their way losing 6-22.
Blake Small (36) and Lamb (17) rebuilt the innings but when both fell within the space of eight runs it gave Kookaburras a sniff.
But Irwin and Cameron polished off the runs to get them level.
Following on from his efforts with the ball, Milne was the chief wicket-taker for Kookaburras with 4-19.