Explosive Start to Country Championships
The NSW Country Championships exploded into life on Thursday with North Coastal opening batsman Jack Cooper producing a breathtaking century that electrified the tournament. In a display of pure power hitting, Cooper reached triple figures in a blistering innings that captivated spectators at Pasterfield Sports Complex.
Cooper's Dominant Batting Display
Cooper's remarkable knock saw him bring up his hundred with a boundary at the end of the 19th over, having faced just 72 deliveries and barely an hour into the statewide tournament. The opening batsman was eventually dismissed for 109 runs from 78 balls, having smashed an impressive 20 boundaries that included 16 fours and four sixes.
The North Coastal star had earlier reached his fifty with a six midway through the eighth over, taking only 32 deliveries to achieve the milestone. His opening partnership with Tyh Murphy, who contributed 29 runs, yielded over a century stand before Illawarra bowler Blake Cattle and fielder Aaryn Kornberger combined to break the partnership.
Other Championship Action
Meanwhile, at No.1 Sportsground in Newcastle, the six-time defending champions found themselves in a challenging position at 4-97 against Riverina approaching the 25-over mark of their one-day fixture. Down on the Central Coast, Western reached 2-137 against the co-hosts, while Central North posted 3-123 against Southern in other tournament action.
The 2025-2026 NSW Country Championships are being played across multiple venues in Newcastle and the Central Coast, showcasing the best regional cricket talent from across the state. Cooper's explosive performance has set an early benchmark for batting excellence in the competition.
