The region’s most promising junior cricketers will take on the state’s best at the NSW Youth Country Championships this week in Dubbo.

The Monaro District Cricket Association (MDCA) will be better represented than ever before at the championships with eight junior cricketers set to feature in South East Storm sides. South East Storm comprises cricketers from Monaro, Far South Coast and Shoalhaven.

Four Monaro juniors are ready to star in the under 13s and under 14s South East Storm teams across a busy week of cricket.

In the under 13s - William O’Keeffe (Berridale), Smaran Kshetri Lamichhane (Cooma), Samuel Preston (Jindabyne) and Khizar Sadaat (Cooma) - are looking forward to showcasing their talents.

The under 13 South East squad head into the carnival following a thrilling three-run win over the Greater Southern Marlins (Illawarra/South Coast side) last week. South East set the Marlins 177 to win with O’Keeffe the best of the Monaro batters with 11. Despite being younger than most his teammates, O’Keeffe is a key member of the side as a top order batter and one of the side’s main bowlers.

South East bowled the Marlins out for 174, thanks largely to the efforts of Sadaat and Lamichhane who picked up two wickets each. Sadaat bowled four terrific overs for 2/19 and Lamichhane 2/16 off six overs. O’Keeffe picked up a wicket in four tight overs, 1/18.

The South East Storm under 14s found form in the rounds leading into the Dubbo carnival. The team at Dubbo will comprise Monaro talents - Thomas Preston, Isiah Peisley, Lakyn Tonks and Rishit Raman.

The side defeated the Marlins under 14s by four wickets with Tom Preston top scoring with 44 not out. Preston guided the Storm to a strong win. Tonks batting at four, contributed nicely with 25.

Peisley will take the new ball in Dubbo for the under 14s, and has been in good form for the Storm and for his Rhythm side in the Monaro senior competition. Raman, Tonks and Preston will also be key to the side’s bowling efforts.

The Monaro district is not only represented on the field but in the coaching ranks. Stuart Preston (Jindabyne) is the assistant coach/manager of the under 14s side and Andrew O’Keeffe (Berridale) is coach of the under 13s.

Matches run from Tuesday to Friday. Live streams can be found through the Monaro District Cricket Facebook page.