Palmerston North Boys’ High won the 20089 NZCT Cup after a 16-run win over Ashburton College in the final.
Very light overnight rain delayed play slightly on this the final day of the tournament, but play was uninterrupted for the rest of the day.
Playoff 1/2
Palmerston North BHS v Ashburton College
Palmerston North BHS won the toss and batted. After a sound beginning Ashburton College started to apply the pressure through energetic fielding and very tight bowling. Lead by Ben Mably who was miserly with his 2/5 off eight overs Palmerston North BHS could only inched their way to a modest score of 128/8. Kurt Polson and Tom Meyrick were also economical with two wickets each. For Palmerston North BHS only opener Regan Dewar and Richard Langley could muster twenties. In reply Palmerston BHS were equally determined to restrict Ashburton College with their dogged fielding and line and length bowling. As such Ashburton College also found runs hard to come by as they slowly edged towards the target through twenties by Ben Ward and Kurt Polson, but an excellent catch by captain Robbie Marshall turned the match in their favour, with Ashburton College falling 17 runs short. Matthew Wells, Robbie Yule and Michael Gattsche were the main wicket takers. An outstanding final match by two quality teams.
Summary
Palmerston North BHS: 128/8 [Regan Dewar 20, Richard Langley 27 no] [Ben Mably 2/5, Kurt Polson 2/29, Tom Meyrick 2/24] Ashburton College: 112 [Ben Ward 25, Kurt Polson 24no] [Matthew Wells 3/23, Robbie Yule 2/18, Michael Gattsche 2/14]
Result: Win to Palmerston North Boys’ High School by 16 runs
Playoff 3 v 4: Rosehill College v Westlake BHS
Westlake BHS won the toss and opted to bat and at 4/11 were quickly in trouble due to a fine spell of medium pace bowling by Neil McIntosh who took 5/23. It wasn’t until Matthew Bidwell [48] came to the wicket that Westlake BHS’s tally gained some respectability. However, they were all out in the 36th over for 113. Joshua McEvoy 2/30 and an economical Josh Snell 2/11 off his eight overs were the best of the bowlers. Rosehill College’s response was punctuated by a regular procession of dismissals and they were all out for 88 with Josh Snell adding 22. Wesley Jarman, Reesan Naidoo and Neet Patel were the pick of Westlake BHS’s bowling attack.
Summary
Westlake BHS: 113 [Matthew Bidwell 48] [Joshua McEvoy 2/30, Josh Snell 2/11] Rosehill College: 86 [Josh Snell 22] [Wesley Jarman 2/12, Reesan Naidoo 2/9, Neet Patel 3/16]
Result: Win to Westlake Boys’ High School by 27 runs
Playoff 5v6: Otago BHS v Gisborne BHS
Gisborne BHS batted first and got through to 4/45 before Nick Greeks made a difference to the scoring with a hardhitting 67. Unfortunately he had few partners and so they were restricted to 131/9 after 40 overs. Gregor Croudis 4/23 and Ricky Black 2/12 bowled well for Otago BHS. In reply Otago BHS made short work of chasing down the total with Andrew Sinclair knocking up 62 not out to see them through with the loss of just two wickets.
Summary
Gisborne BHS: 131/9 [Nick Greeks 67] [Gregor Croudis 4/23, Ricky Black 2/12] Otago BHS: 132/2 [Andrew Sinclair 62no]
Result: Win to Otago Boys’ High School by 8 wickets
Playoff 7v8: Scots College v Wanganui Collegiate
Scots College batted first and reached 164/9 in their 40 overs. This was based on a good opening stand of 51 by Andrew Graham [23] and Toby Barton [29]. Tom Howard [21] and Matthew Rountree [27] made valuable contributions. Wickets for Wanganui Collegiate were shared by Michael O’Leary 2/36, Sam O’Leary 2/21 and Kulwinder Nagra 3/15 of his eight overs. Wanganui Collegiate fell just short of the total making 155/8 with captain Nicholas Harding scored 54 and Thomas Holden 30. James Cross and Khrunal Mahendra both captured two wickets.
Summary
Scots College: 164/9 [Andrew Graham 23, Toby Barton 29, Tom Howard 21, Matthew Rountree 27] [Michael O’Leary 2/36, Sam O’Leary 2/21, Kulwinder Nagra 3/15] Wanganui Collegiate: 155/8 [Nicholas Harding 54, Thomas Holden 30] [James Cross 2/17, Khrunal Mahendra 2/22]
Result: Win to Scots College by 9 runs
Final Placings
1 Palmerston North Boys’ High School
2 Ashburton College
3 Westlake Boys’ High School
4 Rosehill College
5 Otago Boys’ High School
6 Gisborne Boys’ High School
7 Scots College
8 Wanganui Collegiate
Player of the Tournament for each School
Palmerston North BHS – James Holland
Ashburton College – Ben Mably
Rosehill College – Matthew Cole
Westlake BHS – Charles Elton
Otago BHS – Gregor Croudis
Gisborne BHS – Izaya Broderick
Scots College – Patrick Fraser
Wanganui Collegiate – Tom Considine
1 Palmerston North Boys’ High School
2 Ashburton College
3 Westlake Boys’ High School
4 Rosehill College
5 Otago Boys’ High School
6 Gisborne Boys’ High School
7 Scots College
8 Wanganui Collegiate
Player of the Tournament for each School
Palmerston North BHS – James Holland
Ashburton College – Ben Mably
Rosehill College – Matthew Cole
Westlake BHS – Charles Elton
Otago BHS – Gregor Croudis
Gisborne BHS – Izaya Broderick
Scots College – Patrick Fraser
Wanganui Collegiate – Tom Considine
