NZC National Men’s Under-17 Tournament
ROUND FOUR
Central Districts Under-17 beat Otago Under-17 by 6 wickets
One-day match
Lincoln Number 3
10 January 2020
Central Districts overtook Otago at Nationals with a well controlled six-wicket victory, moving on up into second on the table in the process.
The day had started well for Otago captain Jacob Cumming as he won the toss and batted, but he would be an early casualty for his side who then continued to struggle to build an imposing partnership.
Otago had lost its top three by the 17th over at 73 for three, but number four Jacob Gilbert dug in for more than an hour and a half to anchor his side with a watchful 64.
Unfortunately for Gilbert, CD continued to chip out wickets regularly - including his own in the 34th over, Josh Fairbrother taking the catch off Ronan Restieaux (2-33) to have Otago 140 for six.
Fairbrother couldn't stay out of the action, producing a runout in the next over and taking 3-21 to boot in his seven overs with the ball.
Wrapping up the Otago innings with seven overs to spare, he had helped restrict Otago to 162, and got to put his feet up for the rest of the afternoon as CD cruised home, despite having lost both openers early.
Otago's Toby Hart had struck in each of his first two overs to have Central 14 for two, but from there captain Curtis Heaphy and James Rawnsley took charge with a 102-stand for the third wicket.
Both batsmen reached half centuries, CD going on to win in just 32.5 overs.
