Day 5 – Christchurch Boys’ High School complete impressive victory
Christchurch Boys’ High School have completed a dominant Secondary School Boys’ First XI Cup with an impressive final day performance against Nelson College.
The win means the local side have won four out of the last five editions of the tournament. The year they didn’t win they finished third.
Christchurch Boys' High School celebrate. Image: www.photosport.nz
On Lincoln No.3 Hamilton Boys’ bounced back from a heavy defeat in the previous completed round to finish the tournament on a high against Hutt International Boys’ School.
In the final match on Lincoln Green Saint Kentigern College confirmed second place in the tournament with a solid victory over Otago Boys’ High School.
Christchurch Boys’ High School’s Fraser Sheat was named player of the tournament and Hutt International Boys’ School won the Spirit of Cricket award.
Image: www.photosport.nz
Full Points Table and Stats
Nelson College 62 (Josh Mariu 3/10, Fraser Sheat 3/18) lost to Christchurch Boys’ High School 64/3 by 7 wickets.
Nelson may have won the toss and elected to bat first on Bert Sutcliffe Oval but it was the last thing that went right for them against the unbeaten Christchurch Boys’ High School.
Boys’ High captain Ben Donkers walked away from the toss pleased with the result, eager to give his bowlers the chance to use the ball in the overcast morning conditions.
The Donkers led side then impressed from the outset. After looking to cautiously defend early things started to come unravelled for Nelson in just the fifth over. Wickets fell at regular intervals as Christchurch stuck to tight bowling plans and caught superbly. The team looking sharp even from the early warm ups. Nelson lost three wickets between overs five and seven to be battling at 10/3.
Ben Donkers takes a catch at second slip. Image: www.photosport.nz
Ben Hazlett and Nicholas Clark then briefly offered Nelson some stability but their resistance couldn’t hang on. A flurry of wickets then fell at the other end from Hazlett and Nelson were suddenly eight down. With the loss of Hazlett’s wicket for 13 off 36 Nelson found themselves 47/9.
Then the unlikely duo of Nelson’s final two batsmen Jarrod McKay and Sam Berkett were able to frustrate Christchurch’s bowlers from the 20th to the 27th over before the innings ended.
Christchurch Boys' High School huddle after a wicket. Image: www.photosport.nz
In response Christchurch Boys’ looked to get their chase going in a hurry. But their positive start was put to a stop in the fourth over as Nelson attacked early. Nelson were right in the game an over and half later with Christchurch Boys’ High 14/2. They had luck again as CBHS were suddenly three down in the 9th over.
That then led to a calmer spell from the locals as they looked to build past the total. Louie Chapman and Fraser Sheat were able to comfortably take their side to their target.
Sheat for the second match in a row helping with the winning runs.
Full scorecard
Saint Kentigern College 222 (Conor Ansell 51, Matthew Soroka 47*) defeated Otago Boys’ High School 180 (Jack Pryde 51, Cameron McAuslan 37, Angus Anderson 4-36) by 42 runs.
After a rapid finish in the Christchurch Boys’ High School Nelson College game the match between St Kents and Otago became a playoff for second place.
Early on it looked like the Auckland representatives were going to try and push the run rate with Sandeep Patel trying to pick up where they had left off in the previous completed round. It ended up being a bright and breezy stay at the crease for Patel however as he went for 19 off 17. That then saw a more even tempo to the Auckland side’s scoring rate as they survived the bump of losing New Zealand Under 19 rep Finn Allen for just 16.
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With the loss of Patel and Allen, Conor Ansell stood up and led the scoring for his side with 51. The side’s efforts were bolstered by a plucky 47 not out from number eight Matthew Soroka.
In response Otago found going tough early and after an opening stand of 36 wickets fell regularly. In a particularly tough patch for Otago numbers three, four and five couldn’t trouble the scorers.
It wasn’t until the arrival of Jack Pryde that Otago’s batting line up offered some pluck. Pryde was able to bat well with the tail and raise his on half-century. However after he lost his wicket it looked like things may come to a quick conclusion with numbers 10 and 11 at the crease.
But against the odds Ben Lockrose and Declan Su’a offered impressive resistance. The pair hung from the 37th to 42nd over and frustrated the Aucklanders. The partnership giving a glimmer of hope to the southerners.
Full scorecard
Hamilton Boys’ High School 246/9 (Riyan Perera 67, Jamie Moore 63, Max Gaskell 52, Nathan Watt 5-48) defeated by Hutt International Boys’ School 128 (Rachin Ravindra 44, Brayden Gaylor 4-30) by 118 runs.
In a top bounce back performance following a heavy defeat to St Kents, Hamilton Boys’ dominated last year’s champions Hutt International Boys’ School.
The victory for Hamilton completed a difficult tournament for defending champions HIBS as they finished without a win.
Hamilton’s strong batting show with the bat was led by their middle order. As their number three, five and six all notched half-centuries.
The middle order allowed Hamilton to build a strong series of partnerships throughout the middle. The total could’ve been much higher if it weren’t for a late collapse by the lower order. The Waikato side went from 222/5 in the 46th over to 246 in the 50th.
While coming off the park feeling they could’ve added more runs Hamilton then went about their bowling work quickly. Both HIBS openers were back in the sheds inside 12 overs and it was only captain Rachin Ravindra could offer any stiff resistance for Hutt. The New Zealand Under 19 rep ending up with 44.
After Ravindra was dismissed only Adam Webster offered further opposition as he managed to notch 20 off 21. Brayden Gaylor leading the way for the Hamilton bowlers with 4-30.
Full scorecard
Day Four
Unfortunately rain has prevented any play on the fourth day of the Secondary School Boys’ First XI Cup at Lincoln University.
With 1 point assigned to each team because of the abandonments it leaves Christchurch Boys’ High School in a strong position at the top of the tournament table.
Full Points Table
It also means tomorrow’s fixture between Otago Boys’ High School and Saint Kentigern College will see the two sides battling it out to challenge CBHS for top position.
Day 5 Fixtures
Christchurch Boys’ High School v Nelson College– Bert Sutcliffe Oval
Otago Boys’ High School v Saint Kentigern College – Lincoln Green
Hutt International Boys’ School v Hamilton Boys’ High School – Lincoln No. 3
Day Three
A bout of early rain couldn’t dampen the momentum of the three leading sides in the First XI Cup at Lincoln University.
Local qualifiers Christchurch Boys’ High School maintained their unbeaten record as they extended Hutt International Boys’ School’s winless streak. While those spectators gathered around Bert Sutcliffe Oval were treated to a show by Saint Kentigern’s opening batsmen.
It was another opener, this time Otago Boys’ High School’s Max Chu who helped his side to a big win over Nelson College.
It all sets up an intriguing final two days at Lincoln University with a tightly grouped table.
All matches were reduced to 48 overs a side after a rain delay.
Full Points Table
Hamilton Boys’ High School 168 (Bodie Hodges 50, Riyan Perera 32, Jonathan Low 4-45) lost to Saint Kentigern College 171 (Sandeep Patel 104*, Conor Ansell 50*) by 10 wickets.
Full scorecard
Saint Kentigern College captain Sandeep Patel played a superb innings as he notched a quicker than a run-a-ball hundred to help his side to a bounce-back win over Hamilton Boys’ High School.
Patel, along with his opening partner Conor Ansell, methodically went about ticking off the chase milestones as the duo offered few chances to Hamilton. Earlier it had looked like the pair may only have a much more modest chase to mount, but determined middle order batting made sure Hamilton fought to a defendable total.
Under grey skies, Saint Kents had looked to be making serious early moves with the ball but, firstly through Cullen Aislabie and Riyan Perera, and then Perera in combination with Ben Hodges, the side from the Waikato built a total. The side nearly batted out their overs, but St Kents wouldn’t let up and they were all out just a few balls short.
That left the Patel and Ansell to roll out their show after lunch, Sandeep Patel in particular impressing with his range of shots as he put together 14 fours and a six.
Hutt International Boys’ School 79 (Fraser Sheat 3-11) lost to Christchurch Boys’ High School 85/6 (Nathan Watt 3-19) by 4 wickets.
Full scorecard
Christchurch Boys’ High School are strong historic performers in this tournament and they showed why in their bowling and fielding effort against last year’s champions Hutt International Boys’ High School today.
The blue and black capped team restricted HIBS on Lincoln Number 3 and limited the Wellingtonians to just 79. The side from Upper Hutt could offer just pockets of resistance as only three batsmen made double figures. Christchurch’s Fraser Sheat showed why he is the tournament’s leading wicket-taker so far as he produced the excellent figures of 3-11 off 7.2 overs with one maiden.
While the Cantabrians showed impressive poise in their bowling efforts they may feel their own high standards went awry when it was their turn to bat.
All looked to be on track for the chase as Sandy Heard and Simon Yorston looked to go about their work quickly. The pair combined for a quick, nearly 40-run stand before things came unstuck for Christchurch Boys’ High School and a flicker of hope ran through the HIBS camp.
The local side continued with a positive batting plan, but HIBS was able to take regular wickets and it took a solid cameo from Fraser Sheat to claim the side’s third win in a row. Sheat played a watchful knock, picking his balls to send to the boundary or keep out. Sheat calmly hit a straight six for the winning runs. HIBS resurgent bowling performance was led by the impressive Nathan Watt who sits equal fourth on the wicket table.
Otago Boys’ High School 295/6 (Max Chu 136, Taine Bayly 57, Cameron McAuslan 43) defeated Nelson College 148 (Patrick Howes 65*, Ben Lockrose 4-43) by 147 runs.
Full scorecard
Otago’s Max Chu produced the highest score of the tournament so far to lead his side to an impressive win over Nelson College.
Opening the batting Chu helped himself to 136 runs at a pace of just under a run-a-ball. His stay at the crease included 15 fours and a six as he troubled the Nelson bowlers from start to finish. He enjoyed an impressive, more than 70-run opening stand with Cameron McAuslan as the pair set the tone early. Chu wouldn’t lose his wicket until the final over as Otago amassed the imposing total of 295. Skipper Taine Bayly provided valuable middle order support for Chu as he chipped in 57 from 70 balls.
The scoreboard pressure applied by the southerners may have had an early impact on Nelson’s top order as they found starting tricky. Nelson’s lower order however provided some spark as Patrick Howes shone with 65 from 59 batting at seven. Howes enjoying a chance to look for the fence as he notched five fours and two sixes in his 59.
Otago’s Ben Lockrose claimed 4 Nelson wickets to stay well in the hunt on the top wicket takers table joining Saint Kentigern’s Jonathon Low in a tie for second.
Day Two
Christchurch Boys’ High School 243/8 (S. Heard 74, B. Donkers 63) beat St Kentigern College 241 all out in 48.2 overs (F. Allen 110, S. Patel 37)
There has been a simply sensational finish at the First XI Cup. Christchurch Boys' looked down and out against Auckland’s St Kentigern College, but a dramatic turnaround meant Christchurch Boys' picked up valuable tournament points. Christchurch Boys' chose to bat first and it didn’t look like a good decision when they were struggling at 91/5. Opener Sandy Heard had hung around during the five wickets, and was joined by his captain Ben Donkers.
The pair rebuilt their team’s innings, putting on 109 runs before New Zealand U-19 representative Finn Allen had Heard caught. In the very same over, Allen broke through again, this time dismissing Donkers. The lower order scraped together an extra 40 runs, leaving St Kentigern with 244 runs to win. In reply, St Kent’s got off to the worst possible start, losing a wicket in the second over. Captain Sandeep Patel and Jimmy Webb put on 61 together before Patel skied an attacking drive shot. This brought to the crease Finn Allen, and he looked the part from the start.
The problem for Allen was that his partners kept getting out, but with five wickets in hand and only 50 runs needed, the match was St Kentigern's to lose. Donkers knew he needed to build some pressure and created a very economic bowling partnership with off-spinner Louie Chapman. The pair kept the runs down, meaning multiple wickets fell. Again, St Kent’s put themselves in a match-winning position at 238/7, but a caught and bowled from Chapman meant it could go either way. Two balls later, opening bowling Fraser Sheat bowled number ten James Parker with a very quick yorker.
Jonathon Low managed to skirt away a single down to fine leg. This meant with one shot Allen had a chance to win the game. He, as well, managed only a single, but he would have another chance to win it during the next over. Charlie Sidey bowled a dot. He walked back to his mark and turned to start running in. The ball was a good length on around middle stump. Allen looked to flick it onto the leg-side, but the ball caught the outside edge and spooned to backward point where Chapman took a simple but highly pressured catch. The Christchurch crowd erupted and the Christchurch side celebrated knowing they had won a potentially crucial match in the national First XI Cup Finals.
Otago Boys’ High School 301/5 (H. Kindley 103, M. Chu 48; T. Bayly 44, J. Taig 30*) beat Hamilton Boys' High School 181 all out in 42.1 overs (M. Gaskell 42; H Kindley 3-18)
Otago Boys' was looking to bounce back after a first-round loss, and Hunter Kindley made sure they did. Wicketkeeper Max Chu and opening partner Cameron McAuslan set a nice base of 74. This brought to the crease Kindley, who batted exceptionally for his 103. He hit six sixes and eight fours during his 83-ball innings. He had good support from Chu, McAuslan, and captain Taine Bayly, but the star for the innings was clearly Kindley.
Angus Lynch picked up a couple of wickets, but it was a tough day for the Hamilton bowlers. It was going to take something special to chase down a total over 300. Max Gaskell hit a good 42, but that was about all Hamilton had to celebrate during their innings. Josiah Turner and Ben Lockrose grabbed two wickets a piece, but it was star man Kindley who was the pick of the bowlers as well. Off his 6.1 overs he produced figures of 3-18.
Nelson College 279/7 (B. Hazlett 93, T. Zohrab 81, N. Clark 60*) beat Hutt International Boys' School 198/9 (J. Tashkoff 67, H. Simpson 34, R. Ravindra 33*)
Bert Sutcliffe Oval hosted the final match of the second round of the First XI Cup Finals, a contest battled out between Nelson College and Hutt International Boys' School. Nelson decided to bat first, but lost both openers early. This brought together Thomas Zohrab and Ben Hazlett. When their partnership was finally broken, the damage was done, the pair combining for 137 runs. Zohrab batted at a quick pace throughout his innings, but was finally undone by Hutt International's Jesse Tashkoff. Hazlett had struggled to build momentum during his innings, and was going at a strike rate fewer than 50 for most of his innings. This changed when wicketkeeper Nicholas Clark joined him at the crease. Hazlett seemed to flick a switch when Clark joined him, hitting multiple boundaries before being bowled on 93. Clark got the rate going after Hazlett was dismissed. He eventually finished the innings unbeaten on 60, off just 33 balls. Hutt International was in trouble early in reply, losing several wickets. Things weren’t helped by the fact star batsman Rachin Ravindra was injured. Tashkoff came to the crease at number four and batted very well for his 67. He built a good, but slow, partnership with Tyler Simpson who was stumped on 34. Ravindra then came to the wicket at number eight and was unbeaten on 33 when Hutt’s tenth wicket fell.
Day One
St Kentigern College 296/6 (S. Patel, C. Ansell 78, F. Ellis 35*; R. Ravindra 4-89) beat Hutt International Boys' School 198 all out in 39.5 overs (R. Ravindra 65, A. Webster 57; D. Bhatti 3-23)
The opening match of the national First XI Cup brought together two tournament favourites. St Kentigern batted first to make use of perfect batting conditions. Captain Sandeep Patel and Conor Ansell combined for an opening partnership of 130 before Patel was caught on 83. Ansell continued to anchor the innings, a number of batsmen pitching in with valuable runs towards the end of the innings. St Kentigern hit 10 sixes and 32 fours during their 50 overs, helping them to a formidable total of 296. The pick of the bowlers for Hutt International Boys' School was last year’s tournament MVP and NZ Under-19s representative Rachin Ravindra, who picked up four wickets for 89 runs. Ravindra was then the star with the bat also, top-scoring with 65. Other than 57 for Adam Webster, Hutt International struggled to get close to St Kentigern's 296, eventually falling 98 runs short.
Otago Boys’ High School 149 all out in 41.3 overs (H. Kindley 47, J. Taig 44*; F. Sheat 4-28, L. Chapman 3-31) lost to Christchurch Boys' High School 153/3 in 33.2 overs (B. Hartland 66*, S. Heard 33)
Bert Sutcliffe Oval hosted a southern rivalry with Christchurch Boys' High School playing against Otago Boys' High School. It was Christchurch Boys' that won the toss and elected to bowl first. It looked a good decision after a couple of early wickets fell. The standout performer of the first innings was quick bowler Fraser Sheat, who picked up figures of 4-28. Hunter Kindley looked good during his 88-minute stay at the crease, picking up 47 runs. It was starting to look positive for the Otago school when Kindley was joined by Jarryd Taig but, once Kindley was bowled, Taig didn’t get any support from his partners. Taig watched seven of his batsmen get out from the non-striker’s end, ultimately stranded not out on 44 when the final wicket fell. With run rate potentially playing a role in the tournament, Christchurch Boys' decided to go on the attack. Opener Sandy Heard hit a quick-fire 33 before mistiming a shot to mid-on where he was caught. His opening partner Benjamin Hartland made sure there was no chance of a collapse. Hartland batted steadily for his 66, and played a stunning straight drive to get the winning runs.
Nelson College 137 all out in 45.5 overs (A. King 46*, F. Murray 34; K. Clarke 3-20, B. Morris- Brown 3-21) lost to Hamilton Boys' High School 138/8 off 48.3 overs (M. Gaskell 37)
The final match of round one was battled out between Nelson College and Hamilton Boys' High School. Nelson College batted first and struggled to 137. The first drop, number four and five all were removed without troubling the scorers. Felix Murray fought his way to 34 before being removed by Brayden Gaylor. Number eight batsman and captain Alistair King saved their side's innings. King finished 46 not out, batting for nearly two hours. Both Ben Morris-Brown and Kristian Clarke picked up three wickets for Hamilton Boys'. In reply, opener Max Gaskell gave his side a good platform with 37. However, when the score was 85/6, the match was dead even. Luckily for Hamilton Boys' a lower-order partnership eventually got them across the line. Jake Russ faced 74 balls for just 25 runs, but his innings was crucial. Hamish Mellow also battled for over an hour, hitting an unbeaten 21. When Russ was run out, it looked like Nelson College could be taking the match. Instead, Mellow held his nerve, and hit a couple of boundaries that got his side across the line.
