Jackson’s six wickets help WA claim third place

A three-wicket haul from rising Albany fast bowler Bryce Jackson in WA’s final match has helped his side finish third at the Under-19 National Cricket Championships, which wrapped up last Friday in Tasmania.

WA reached the semifinals of the tournament after a five-wicket win over ACT-NSW Country in their quarterfinal but the Sandgropers were outclassed by NSW Metro as they missed out on a berth in the grand final.

NSW Metro finished 6-288 from their 50 overs and the target proved too much for WA as they were all out for 179 in reply, with Jackson unbeaten on two.

Earlier Jackson, representing WA for the first time, was one of his side’s best bowlers, returning 1-50 from his 10-over spell which included one maiden and the key wicket of dangerous opener Ryan Hackney in the semifinal.

In last Friday’s third and fourth play-off WA batted first and piled on the runs to finish at 3-291 against South Australia, who made a good fist of the chase before being bowled out for 230.

Jackson snared 3-62 off his nine overs, bowling all three of his victims while also taking a catch as WA finished their campaign on a high.

“I felt like I went pretty good over there,” Jackson said. “I went over and did the best I could.

“As a team we played some good cricket and built great friendships as the tournament went on.”

The 17-year-old took six wickets in the seven championship matches at an average of 41 with an economy rate of five runs an over.

Jackson, who hails from Collingwood Park, also scored 22 runs at an average of 11.