Cricket Victoria’s premier regional junior competition, the Manhari Country Cup, is set to return this December, with fixtures unveiled ahead of what promises to be another exciting edition of regional representative cricket. Celebrating the best of Victoria’s Under 15 Female and Under 16 Male cricketers, the Country Cup forms a key pillar of the Victorian […]
Cricket Victoria's premier regional junior competition, the Manhari Country Cup, is set to return this December, with fixtures unveiled ahead of what promises to be another exciting edition of regional representative cricket.
Celebrating the best of Victoria's Under 15 Female and Under 16 Male cricketers, the Country Cup forms a key pillar of the Victorian Player Pathway, providing equal opportunities for talented regional cricketers to showcase their skills and take the next step in their development.
Strong performances in the competition can lead to selection in Cricket Victoria's Emerging Players Programs, continuing the proud tradition of producing elite talent from country regions.
This year's tournament will feature six proud regions – Gippsland Pride, North East Knights, Northern Rivers, Mallee Murray Suns, Western Waves, and Central Highlands, all competing across both One-Day and T20 formats.
The Under 15 Female competition will be held in Albury/Wodonga, while the Under 16 Male competition will compete in Hamilton, with matches to run from December 7-18.
Cricket Victoria Talent Development Specialist, Shane Koop, said the competition continues to play an essential role in supporting country cricket.
"Cricket Victoria is committed to ensuring country cricketers have access to our Player Pathway regardless of their postcode. The Country Cup is a fantastic opportunity for talented regional players to develop and showcase their skills while forming lifelong friendships.
"We thank Monivae College, Hamilton DCA, and Cricket Albury Wodonga for their ongoing support and for providing excellent facilities that allow players to demonstrate their skills."
"We look forward to seeing more country players like Matt Short and Sophie Molineux emerge from this pathway in the years to come."
Now entering its third year, the competition continues its valued partnership with Manhari as naming rights partner.
An organisation deeply connected to regional Victoria, Manhari employs more than 120 staff across three locations in Horsham, Ararat, and Tottenham, with its Tottenham site equipped to process over 180,000 metric tonnes of in-feed materials annually. The company's regional facilities focus on processing agricultural scrap, construction and demolition materials, and rural waste – further highlighting its strong ties to country communities.
Through its support of the Country Cup, Manhari aims to further strengthen its bond with regional Victoria and encourage participation in cricket across rural areas.
Cricket Victoria General Manager of Consumer Business, Dylan Prescott, said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to supporting grassroots cricket.
"Cricket Victoria is grateful for Manhari's continued support of cricket across our great state," Prescott said.
"We're proud to work alongside like-minded partners who share our passion for growing the game and creating more opportunities for junior players. Together, we're helping inspire the next generation of Victorian men's and women's cricketers coming through the pathway."
Manhari Country Cup Fixtures
U15 Female Competition: https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/org/cricket-victoria-country-cup/cricket-victoria-country-cup-summer-202526/u15-girls/52681d82
U16 Male Competition: https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/org/cricket-victoria-country-cup/cricket-victoria-country-cup-summer-202526/u16-boys/d9ffd154
