Representing ACT/NSW Country at the competition in Queensland, Zahra-Smith struggled through the early games of the tournament. 

The Dapto junior admits he was caught off guard by the pace opposition quicks were bowling.  

Despite the tough start to the tournament, Zahra-Smith kept working hard on his game and eventually found the comfort at the crease he had been seeking. After opening the tournament with two scores of one, he made a statement with 44 in the team’s third game.  

“At the start of the competition, the quicker bowlers were a bit challenging,” Zahra-Smith said. “They were bowling quicker than I was used to facing, but the more I faced them, the more confidence I got and it felt easier for me to bat.”

Zahra-Smith’s performances came as ACT/NSW Country lost just one game throughout the competition, an opening round defeat to Victorian Country.

The opening batsman played a crucial role in the team’s success at the business-end of the tournament, htiting a rapid-fire 75* off 45 balls in their final pool game, before adding an important 50 in the semi-final and 43 in the final. 

ACT/NSW Country finished the tournament joint champions after the final was washed out. 

“Overall I was pretty impressed with how I played,” Zahra-Smith said. “I was happy I scored some runs later in the tournament. My coach told me to go out there and look to score freely and back myself.

“If I’m back there next year I’ll look to back myself more earlier in the tournament.”

The batsman was straight back into the swing of things on Saturday, helping to lead Dapto to a victory over Wests and he’s looking forward to a fruitful summer.

“I can’t wait for the rest of the season, I’m really looking forward to it. Playing with those older heads, I can gain more cricket knowledge off them, so it’s going to be heaps good.”