An aggressive 81 not out from Palmerston North Boys High batsman Dane Cleaver was the top score on day two of the Gillette Cup secondary schools national tournament, in fine, warm but increasingly overcast conditions.
Palmerston North, Hamilton and Westlake all recorded relatively straightforward wins, while Christchurch earned their victory over Whangarei the hard way.
Results:
Pool A
Hamilton Boys High School v New Plymouth Boys High School
Hamilton BHS won the toss and elected to bat. They started well but then lost wickets at regular intervals. The only Hamilton batsman to show any determination was Nikhil Vishwanath, batting at 8, who scored 48. In reply New Plymouth was all out for 86 in the 29th over. The pick of the bowlers was Matthew Thomas who took 4 wickets for 21.
Hamilton BHS 200 (Vishwanath 48; Johnston 4/36) beat New Plymouth BHS 86(J. Dickson 28 n.o.; Thomas 4/21)
Westlake Boys High School v Otago Boys High School
Otago BHS struggled against the attack of Westlake BHS, particularly medium-fast bowler Ashley Martinus who grabbed five wickets and was well supported by Andrew Cowell who took three wickets. They were all out for 89 with Lance Taylor and Kane Russell each scoring 20.
Westlake Boys High lost two quick wickets, but were generally untroubled in reaching the target in the 16th over thanks to a quality innings by Craig Cachopa who finished on 48 n.o..
Otago BHS 89 (Taylor 29, Russell 22 n.o.; Martinus 5/25, Cowell 3/34) Westlake BHS 90/4 (Cachopa 48 n.o.)
Pool B
Whangarei Boys High School v Christchurch Boys High School
Whangarei BHS had a vastly improved batting effort today reaching 225/8 in their 50 overs thanks to an excellent innings from opener Todd Beehre, 49 n.o., and number three Henry Cooper with 93. The best of the Christchurch BHS bowlers was Jordie Gibbens who took 4/47.
Christchurch BHS were made to work for their victory today passing the required target seven down, thanks to a series of solid contributions anchored around Matt Rowe who was left not out on 59.
Whangarei BHS 225/8 (Beehre 49, Cooper 93; Gibbens 4/47 van Worekum 2/29) Christchurch BHS 228/7 (Rowe 59 n.o., Latham 37, Richards 30, Rux 30, Huyser 20, Gibbens 20; Darkins 2/35, Herman 2/65)
Palmerston North Boys High School v St Patricks Silverstream
Palmerston North BHS won the toss and put St Patricks into bat. St Patricks struggled against the pace and accuracy of the bowling attack and were all out in the 46th over for 116. Only James van Dissen scored more than 20. Outstanding bowlers again for Palmerston North were Adam Milne and Tim Richards. Richards backed up his 3/3 off 10 overs yesterday with 4/9 from 10 overs today.
Palmerston North made short work of reaching the target bringing up the score in the 19th over with opener Dane Cleaver scoring a belligerent 81 not out off just 61 balls.
St Patricks Silverstream 116 (van Dissen 25; Richards 4/9, Milne 3/24) lost to Palmerston North BHS 122/2(Cleaver 81)
