New Zealand’s top Year 7 and Year 8 school cricket teams started a hard fought national finals tournament in Palmerston North today.
The NZC Cup (boys) and NZC Shield (girls) tournaments see the leading four teams in each competition vying for top honours over two days of cricket.
The national primary school competitions – now in their eleventh year – have been a major part of New Zealand Cricket’s junior cricket development since their inception in 2000. The competitions provide exciting opportunities for primary and intermediate schools to enter their Year 7 and 8 first elevens into these prestigious contests.
This year 347 schools entered the competitions with the competition played across the school year. Each school compete within their Major Cricket Association to determine regional winners.
Results from day one:
DAY 1 – NZC Cup (Boys)
Tauranga Intermediate v Ellesmere College
Tauranga Intermediate won the toss and batted on what looked a very good wicket. They got off to a solid start thanks to their captain, Jamie Oakley who hit six boundaries in a fine innings of 43 off 52 deliveries at the top of the order. Other useful contributions came from fellow opener Finn Russell who struck a pacey 20 off 24 and Luke Mannix who smashed 20 off 8 including two massive sixes. Tauranga finished with a total of 131 for 9 from their 20 overs. Alex Caunce was the standout in the Ellesmere attack, finishing with figures of six for 32 from his allotted 4 overs. In reply, Ellesmere were never in the hunt thanks to a disciplined performance from the Tauranga bowlers. Both Jamie Oakley and Luke Mannix took three wickets apiece. The only Ellesmere batsman that managed to get a start was Jack Symes who crafted 30 from 44 deliveries. Ellesmere was dismissed in the 18th over for 72.
Result: Tauranga won by 59 runs.
Ellesmere Intermediate 131-9 from 20 overs (James Oakley 43, Finn Russell 22, Luke Mannix 20; Alex Caunce 6-32, George Franklin 2-31) beat Ellesmere College 72-all out from 18 overs (Jack Symes 30; James Oakley 3-15, Luke Mannix 3-6)
Inglewood Primary School v Heaton Intermediate
Heaton Intermediate batted first on what looked like another good Fitzherbert Park deck but never really developed any solid partnerships, finishing their allotted 20 overs on 62 for seven. The only batsman of note was Rico Syme who scored a solid 23 from 39 deliveries. In reply, Inglewood cruised to victory in the 13th over losing only two wickets. Luke Dravitzki brought his team home with a classy 32 from 37 deliveries.
Result: Inglewood won by 8 wickets.
Heaton Intermediate 62-7 from 20 overs (Rico Syme 23; Cody Chilcott 2-11, Luke Dravitski 2-8) lost to Inglewood Primary School 63-2 from 12.4 overs (Luke Dravitski 32, Joshua Reeve 13)
