Young guns to bring the heat to Twenty20 competition

YOUNG guns Jack Cooper and Kai Dalli are among a host of big hitters set to light up the Far North Coast LJ Hooker League Twenty20 cricket competition.

The first round will be split between Oakes Oval in Lismore and Reg Dalton Oval in Kingscliff on Saturday, December 20.

Cooper and Dalli were standouts playing for North Coast at the NSW Country Championships recently.

Dalli, 17, is one of the top emerging players in the competition and a key part of the Tintenbar-East Ballina team.

“He’s hitting the ball a lot harder and cleaner this season,” captain Abe Gibson said.

“I know he’s keen to score more runs and I’m sure he’ll post a few big ones along the way.”

Cooper, 25, plays for Goonellabah Workers Sports and was the opening batsman for the North Coast team.

He scored two centuries at the carnival, including 135 from just 70 balls against Newcastle. Cooper hit 21 fours in that innings and was also 85 not out against Riverina, finishing with 426 runs from five matches.

“Jack is unbelievable and Kai is doing really well for a young bloke,” North Coast captain Alec Williams said.

“The fields were almost too small for Jack at Newcastle and he’s hard to stop once he gets going.”

Williams is also one of the more aggressive batsmen in the competition and is well suited to the T20 format.

He has played at NSW Country level and won multiple LJ Hooker League premierships with Cudgen.

There will be a short break for Christmas after the opening weekend, with another round of Twenty20 games on Saturday, January 3.

Finals will be played on Sunday, January 11.