Day two of the 2013 Gillette Cup in Lincoln was full of drama, with Lindisfarne College the only unbeaten team in the competition.
Lindisfarne College continued its winning ways, surpassing Whangarei Boys’ High School’s total of 187 in the 48th over. Other matches today saw Mt Albert Grammar fall 44 runs short in chasing down Otago Boys’ High School’s 222 runs; and Christchurch Boys’ High School find it’s form with a resounding 145 run win over Scots College.
Lindisfarne College vs Whangarei Boys’ High School
After a slow start with the bat, Whangarei Boys’ High School eventually found its stride and put up 187 runs by the end of its innings. Captain Max Davis led the charge with 77 runs, while 53 runs came in the last five overs.
Great bowling from Nick Stobart initially kept the Lindisfarne College batsmen at bay. Stobart took the first three wickets, including the crucial wicket of in-form Lindisfarne College Captain Dominic Thompson. The Lindisfarne batsmen found their feet in the second half of the innings, reaching 188 with 10 balls to spare. The team is looking to continue its winning streak in tomorrow’s match against Mt Albert Grammar.
Mt Albert Grammar vs Otago Boys’ High School
Otago Boys’ High School decided to bat first after winning the toss. Opening batsman Will Kindley put in a solid performance for over two hours at the crease, scoring 81 runs. The school’s middle order kept the runs ticking over but struggled to produce any long partnerships. Team manager Sam Blakely sums up the batting: “In the middle period, we lost a bunch of wickets all at the same time – it really set us back.”
Otago Boys’ High School reached 222 runs with the tenth wicket falling in the last over. Mt Albert Grammar’s Jared Donnell was the best of the bowlers taking four wickets.
At the start of the second innings Blakely said “We need to take all the chances we can get. The guys need to make sure they’re alive in the field and ready for the ball.”
That direction saw Mt Albert reach 50 runs in 89 balls.
The Otago Boys’ bowlers did a great job of keeping the pressure on. It was a spirited fielding effort including three run outs; two of them hitting the stumps from afar. Mt Albert was all out for 178 after 45 overs.
Christchurch Boys’ High School vs Scots College
Christchurch Boys’ High School elected to bat after winning the toss. Opening batman Daniel Stanley scored the first century of the tournament, and was eventually caught out on 116. A solid 114 run partnership with Sean Forster contributed to the team’s final score of 286 after 50 overs.
On accomplishing the century Daniel says “It was a great feeling. I was so nervous in those 90s and the next minute I was raising the bat – it was awesome.”
The Christchurch Boys’ High School bowlers were clinical, only allowing two of the Scots College batsmen to enter double digits. Mitchell Ross took four wickets, and Alex Hooper took three. Scot’s College was all out for 131 in the 31st over.
The Gillette Cup competition is an integral part of the player development pathway for secondary schools, with intense competition among school first elevens to reach the national finals. The national finals tournament has also launched over 60 players into first class crickets with 22 graduating into the ranks of the BLACKCAPS.
Tournament Manager Carl Frauenstein says the competition is invaluable in player development.
“Players get to show what they’re worth before major association teams are selected for under 17s and under 19s. Any worthwhile performances here are noted, and those players might get selected for their regional or provincial age group teams,” says Frauenstein. “It's the top six school boy teams from around the country so there’s always a high standard of cricket.”
Points table
Lindisfarne 4
Christchurch BHS 2
Otago BHS 2
Mt Albert 2
Scots College 2
Whangarei BHS 0
