Finals begin in Commonwealth Bank Under-17 Championship Series

The semi-finals of the Commonwealth Bank Under-17 Championship Series begin in Perth today ahead of the competition finals beginning on Monday (13 January).

After three rounds of matches, New South Wales and Victoria lead section A of the championship with 12 points a-piece while Western Australia heads section B, also with 12 points, elevating the western state into the top-part of the finals draw.

The draw for the semi-final matches is as follows:

1 v 5      New South Wales v Western Australia          Aquinas College
2 v 3      Victoria v South Australia                   Lilac Hill 2
4 v 8      Queensland v Northern Territory              Twight Reserve 2
6 v 7      Tasmania v Australian Capital Territory      Macabbean Memorial

Results of these games will determine the draw for the final round of two-day matches, on Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 January.

Western Australia's Drew Porter is the championship's leading run-scorer after round three, with 227 runs at an average of 113.50.

South Australian left-arm medium-pace bowler Gary Putland heads the wicket-takers list with 11 at 10.81, closely followed by team-mate, off-spinner Logan Pastyn (11 wickets at 13.10).

Strong performances by the players in this year's Commonwealth Bank Under-17 Championship Series could lead to selection in the Australian under-17 development squad.

A squad of 16-players will attend a one-week training camp in April at the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy in Adelaide, to participate in an intensive training program under the guidance of Australian Institute of Sport coach Troy Cooley.

The development squad will be announced at the completion of the 2002-03 Commonwealth Bank Under-17 Championship Series on Tuesday 14 January. It will be selected by Cooley and former Australian player Brian Taber.

Scorecards, reports and statistics from the Commonwealth Bank Under-17 Championship Series are available from the ACB's official website, www.baggygreen.com.au.