Mackenzie Harvey, former Australia all-rounder Ian Harvey's nephew, and Italy international Harry Manenti both scored fifties in the 2025 Top End T20 Series final on Sunday (August 24), but their efforts went in vain.
The previous year’s title-holders Adelaide Strikers Academy entered the final with a chance of winning their second consecutive trophy.
Winning the toss in the summit clash, they elected to bowl first and conceded 205-2 against Perth Scorchers Academy. Baxter Holt, who is yet to score a fifty in professional T20s, spearheaded the innings with a 63-ball 114 not out, studded with 12 fours and four sixes. However, it is worth noting that due to the unofficial status of the 20-over matches in the competition, the landmarks do not count in the official T20 records.
Holt, along with Scorchers Academy captain Teague Wyllie (56 not out off 44), stitched an unbeaten 164-run stand.
Mackenzie Harvey's second Top End T20 fifty in two days goes in vain
The Strikers Academy dealt with an early blow when opener Jack Winter perished for just one. Harry Manenti, who made his T20I debut for Italy in 2022, then joined the other opener, Mackenzie Harvey, to bring the innings back on track with an 82-run stand. Manenti, born in Sydney, was selected as part of the South Australia Pathway Academy in 2023 and played for Adelaide Strikers in the 2024-25 BBL season.
When Manenti fell for a 31-ball 60 (with the help of six fours and four sixes), the defending champions were still in the game. From there on, barring Mackenzie, no other batter looked fluent. Harry Nielsen struggled for his 28 off 27, and the Strikers Academy needed 43 more from 17 balls when Nielsen was dismissed. They finally ended at 190-6, losing by 15 runs.
Final, Perth Scorchers Academy vs Adelaide Strikers Academy
vs
- Ball by ball Over
Mackenzie remained unbeaten on 83 off 52, a knock laced with six fours and four sixes. This was his second fifty-plus score in two days. Against Bangladesh A on Saturday (August 23), he had hit 102 not out off 53 to take his team to the semi-finals, which took place earlier on Sunday.
Facing league stage table-toppers Chicago Kingsmen in the top four clash, he made five, though the Strikers Academy won by seven wickets. He finished as the tournament's leading run-getter with 306 runs to his tally at 51 and 146.41. He was also the leading run-getter in the previous Australia One-Day Cup, helping South Australia become champions.
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