Hutt International and Otago Boys go top
Hutt International Boys’ School won a crucial match in the second round of the New Zealand Community Trust Junior Finals, beating defending champions Christchurch Boys’ High School to go top of pool A.
Otago Boys’ High School sit on top of pool B having beaten St Kentigern College, while St Paul’s Collegiate and New Plymouth Boys’ High School both picked up their first victories of the tournament.
Taine Bailey of St Kentigern College and Davis Mills of New Plymouth Boys’ High School had particularly special days, both picking up hat-tricks.
Otago Boys’ High School v St Kentigern College
St Kentigern got off to a solid start with their openers putting on an opening stand of 61. Otago Boys’ fought back though and made a double break through immediately after the drinks break to have their opposition at 61 for two. St Kentigern failed to recover and were finished off by Taine Bayly, who completed a spectacular hat-trick with all three of his victims bowled.
Otago Boys reply got off to a horror start by losing their opening batsman Will Hunter for nought, but their response was built around a slow but solid innings by Jaryd Taig. Taig went on to make 49 not out and hit the winning runs for this team in the 37th over. He was supported by Dylan Buttar Scurr who again was significant for the Southerners.
St Kentigern College 111 all out (35.1 overs) (A Thapa 52, T Bayly 4/10) LOST to Otago Boys’ High 114/2 (36.3 overs) (J Taig 49*, D Buttar Scurr 28*)
Result: Otago Boys’ High School won by eight wickets
Hastings Boys’ High School v St Paul’s Collegiate
St Pauls took control of the game from ball one with an outstanding opening stand of 70 from Alastair Blackett and Dillon Kelliher. The following batsman built on the solid platform and posted the highest total of the day of 181 for five.
After the fall of the openers, Chris Swanson continued on with a fine innings of 56 from 65 balls, ensuring Hastings would have a large total to pursue.
The Hastings side struggled against an impressive bowling unit and didn’t manage to get a batsman into double figures. For St Pauls the outstanding bowlers were Scott Spence, Alastair Blackett and Bede Higgins.
St Paul’s Collegiate 181/5 (40 overs) (C Swanson 56*, D Kelliher 36, S Field 3/20) BEAT Hastings Boys’ High 62 all out (32.1 overs) (S Spence 3/13, A Blackett 2/7)
Result: St Paul’s Collegiate won by 119 runs
Hutt International Boys’ School v Christchurch Boys’ High School
Defending Champions Christchurch Boys’ High had Hutt International Boys’ under pressure early on in the match, having restricted their opponents to 24 for three.
This however brought Caleb Tashkoff to the crease, who formed crucial partnerships with Ben Sears and Joshua Rogerson before being dismissed for 39. Hutt International Boys finished their innings with 119, leaving Christchurch Boys a target of 120 for victory.
The Christchurch Boys’ High openers made a positive start to the run chase, although when they were both dismissed within six runs of each other Hutt International had stolen the momentum. The fielding was backed up by some tight bowling from Caleb Tashkoff who picked up three wickets for 21 runs.
The pressure that mounted on the Christchurch Boys’ batsmen proved too much.
It lead to the loss of regular wickets and eventually being dismissed for 95 runs, handing Hutt International Boys a well-deserved 24 run victory.
Hutt International Boys’ School 119 all out (34.2) (C Tashkoff 39, F Fairbarn 2/23, M Hay 2/18) BEAT Christchurch Boys High School 95 all out (30.3) (S Bint 25*, C Tashkoff 3/2)
Result: Hutt International Boys’ School won by 24 runs
St Peter’s School v New Plymouth Boys’ High School
New Plymouth Boys’ High batted first and posted a competitive total of 156 for nine, mainly thanks to a fine knock of 72 from Kaylum Boshier. The best of the St Peters bowlers was Sukraj Mahal who picked up figures of three for 31.
In reply St Peters got off to a shaky start, losing two early wickets with only four runs on the board. Brandon Weal however did his best to keep them in the game, but unfortunately ran out of partners thanks to a great spell of bowling from New Plymouth Boys’ captain Davis Mills. Mills claimed the second hat-trick of the day, ripping through St Peter’s batting line up to leave them reeling. Weal was the last to be dismissed on 52, handing New Plymouth Boys’ High a 34 run victory.
New Plymouth Boys’ High School 156/9 (40 overs) (K Boshier 72, S Mahal 3/30) BEAT St Peter’s School 122 (33.5 overs) (B Weal 52, D Mills 4/29)
Result: New Plymouth Boys’ High School won by 34 runs
Points table
Pool A:
Hutt International Boys’ High 4
Christchurch Boys’ High School 2
New Plymouth Boys’ High School 2
St Peter’s School 0
Pool B:
Otago Boys’ High School 4
St Paul’s Collegiate 2
St Kentigern College 2
Hastings Boys’ High School 0
