Darwin, 22 August 2026:
Adithya Ashok and Jayden Lennox combined for seven wickets before Tim Robinson led a brisk chase as New Zealand ‘A’ beat Adelaide Strikers Academy by seven wickets with 40 balls remaining in the Top End T20 Series on Saturday.
Ashok took 4-16 and Lennox 3-9 as the Strikers Academy were bowled out for 118 in 19.4 overs at Marrara Oval. New Zealand ‘A’ then reached 119-3 in 13.2 overs, with Robinson top-scoring with 41 from 30 balls.
New Zealand ‘A’, which won the toss and elected to field, kept the Strikers under pressure despite a 44-run opening stand.
Connor Carroll made 24 from 36 balls before Josh Clarkson dismissed him, and the Strikers quickly slipped from 44-0 to 53-4.
Jerrssis Wadia and Lachlan Bangs revived the innings with a 59-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Wadia struck five boundaries in his 37 from 29 balls, while Bangs made 23 from 20.
But Ashok and Lennox dismantled the lower order as the Strikers lost their final six wickets for six runs. Ashok took three wickets in the 20th over to finish the innings.
New Zealand ‘A’ lost Katene Clarke for a duck in the first over of its chase, but Robinson and Matthew Boyle responded with a 57-run second-wicket partnership.
Boyle made 22 before falling to Bangs, while Robinson struck three fours and a six before he was dismissed with New Zealand A needing only 12 more runs.
Bevon Jacobs finished unbeaten on 28 from 18 balls, hitting four boundaries, and Muhammad Abbas was 9 not out as New Zealand A completed the emphatic victory.
The win earned New Zealand ‘A’ two points in the tournament.
Scores in brief:
New Zealand ‘A’ beat Adelaide Strikers Academy by seven wickets
Adelaide Strikers Academy 118 in 19.4 overs (Jerrssis Wadia 37, Connor Carroll 24, Lachlan Bangs 23; Adithya Ashok 4-16, Jayden Lennox 3-9)
New Zealand A 119-3 in 13.2 overs (Tim Robinson 41, Bevon Jacobs 28 not out, Matthew Boyle 22)
