Day two NZCT Junior Boys match reports

Hutt International Boys’ School v Tauranga Boys’ College

Tauranga Boys College won the toss and for a second consecutive time chose to bat in what was an important match for the school who is chasing their first win of the tournament. 

The Fitzherbert ground looked in great condition and had many of the young players looking forward to putting their skills to the test on a first class wicket. Tauranga had a shaky start losing Andrew Mascall in the fourth over and shortly after lost their second opening batsman, Craig Baldry bowled out for 5 after Josh Rogerson found a way passed the bat. 

Sean Dykes and Mikaere Leef steadied the ship until there was a mix-up between the wickets and Dykes was run out for 13. Taylor Kite joined Leef and their partnership of 35 looked to get Tauranga back on track until Leef was caught out by Harry Simpson through some good bowling by Rachin Ravindra. Kite managed to stick around to make a much needed 26 but wickets kept regularly dropping down the opposite end through some terrific bowling by Caleb Hewson and Jess Tashkoff who both picked up 3 wickets. 

Tauranga were restricted to 88 runs and would need to bowl very well in order to get any points out of this match.

Coming off a terrific batting display yesterday Hutt International Boys’ School would have been confident in their chase and after two early catches were put down the confidence was starting to show as Hutt’s opening pair of Adam Webster and Ravindra made a 41 run partnership, halving the team’s required runs before Ravindra was caught well in the outfield by Korban Eades off the bowling of Bradley Howard. 

Howard managed to pick up the wicket of Webster shortly after for 13 runs but that was as good as it got for Tauranga as Josh Rogerson (19*) and Tashkoff (25*) batted well together to help Hutt cruise to an 8 wicket win in the 16^th over.

Result: Hutt International Boys’ School won by 8 wickets

Hutt International Boys’ School 91-2  (Rachin Ravindra 31, Jesse Tashkoff 25*; Bradley Howard 2-29) beat Tauranga Boys’ College 88-all out from 30.5 overs (Taylor Kite 26; Caleb Hewson 3-7, Tashkoff 3-20).


Otago Boys’ High School v Hastings boys’ High School

Hastings Boys’ High School won the toss and elected to bat first but were off to a shaky start on a perfect Palmerston North day at Fitzherbert Park. Three quick wickets saw Hastings in trouble sitting on 25/3 after 9 overs. 

Hastings’ middle order tried to steady the ship and looked positive until further wickets fell at regular intervals leaving Hastings’ lower order too much to do as they were dismissed in the 39^th over for 109 runs. Pick of the bowlers for Otago Boys’ High was Jack Pryde with 3 for 18 runs off his 8 overs.

Otago Boys’ High were keen to get their title defence off to a better start than yesterday and this was shown through a strong batting performance by Hunter Kindley, who made an impressive 64 runs off 64 balls and Max Chu did well to support Kindley with a quick-fire 20. Kindley scored the winning runs in the 25^th over to cap off a great performance and a much needed win for the reigning champions.

Result : Otago Boys’ High School won by 5 wickets

Otago Boys’ High School 111-5 from 24.2 overs  (Hunter Kindley 64*, Max Chu 20; Rohan Fendall 2-32) beat Hastings Boys’ High School 109-all out from 38.2 overs (Sachan Dadrah 20:  Jack Pryde 3-18, Nathan Coldwell 2-22).

Christchurch Boys’ High School v Auckland Grammar School

For the second match in as many days, Christchurch Boys High School have been pushed to the end of their mettle.  And for the second time in as many days they have come through under significant pressure.  This time, on a sunny Manawatu day, they won the toss and elected to bat, a positive move.  

However, some tight bowling from Auckland Grammar meant that runs were hard to come by.  At the half way mark, with CBHS on 62/1, and Simon Yorston and Henry Workman on 23 and 39 respectively, their seemed to be hope for a dynamic finish.  In the 22^nd over both Workman and Yorston were removed by Sam Jenkin, and the momentum shifted in favour of Auckland Grammar. 

Their 65/3 soon became 67/5 and CBHS were reeling, with the big strikers back in the hut.  Ben Hartland played a sensible innings for his team and top scored with 34* from 46 balls to help his team limp to 152 all out.  Wickets were shared for Auckland Grammar, but Sam Jenkins spell of 6 overs, 3 wickets for 17 runs was the standout performance with the ball.

The Auckland Grammar openers came to the crease with a very positive game plan.  After losing an early wicket, Yatin Ramesh and Harry Miller set about knocking the runs off.  With the score at 30/1 after 4 overs, things were looking good for Grammar, but such an aggressive run rate was unsustainable.  

Miller departed for 16 and not long after Ramesh was dismissed for 25, which signalled the turning point in the game for Christchurch Boys High School.  Line and lengths were narrowed, fielding became electrifying and fortunes began to change.  Auckland Grammar lost wickets steadily from the 10 over mark and went to the drinks break 76/5 with Clay Watson offering some resistance.  

With James Lewis at the crease Auckland Grammar’s prospects looked good, as he pulled the score up to 107.  There was hope for Grammar, but his dismissal soon after signalled the end as Christchurch Boys sniffed victory.  The last three wickets fell quickly and Christchurch Boys wrapped the Auckland Grammar innings up for 128 in the 35^th over.  

Campbell Reid’s 3/19 from his 8 overs was the strength of the CBHS bowling attack and deserves special mention for the pressure he exerted on the Auckland Grammar batsmen.  

Another close victory sees Christchurch Boys High School sharing the leader board with Hutt International Boys School after two days of the 2014 NZCT Junior Secondary Schoolboys’ Tournament.

Result : Christchurch Boys’ High School won by 24 runs.

Christchurch Boys’ High School 152-all out from 39.5 overs (Ben Hartland 34*, Henry Workman 30; Sam Jenkin 3-17, Clay Watson 2-20) beat Auckland Grammar School 128-all out from 35 overs ( Yatin Ramesh 25, James Lewis 22; Campbell Reid 3-19, Callum Cameron 3-43).