Gillette Venus
Women's Under 19 National Tournament
NZC High Performance Centre, Lincoln, Canterbury
6 January 2022
ONE-DAY
A rematch between last year's Finalists headlined the first day of action as two exciting weeks of NZC Under 19 National Tournaments got underway for 2021/22.
Last season in the women's arena, Auckland U19 had snatched the title from defending champions Central Districts, who had held a slim one-point lead heading into the final game. These two strong teams met again today on Lincoln Number 3 to do it all over again - with CD this time taking the honours.
Wellington U19 and Canterbury U19 were also Day One winners as lurking showers thankfully permitted results in all three matches.
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CDU19 captain, Central Hinds allrounder Ocean Bartlett made a great start to the tourney as she top-scored with 46 and then backed it up with 3-23 in a strong first-up game for CD.
Sent in, CD put up a total of 169 all out in 39.1 overs. It was a good collective effort with the ball from the Aucklanders but a solid 39 from Jess Hollard at the top underpinned a 52-run stand with Central Hind Ashtuti Kumar, and that allowed Bartlett to come in and carry on from a start of 61/2.
The lurking showers saw Auckland's target adjusted ever so slightly upwards to 171 but, other than an unbeaten 36* from first drop Prue Catton, no one really got going and it remained a long way off.
Opening bowler Aniela Apperley finished with a superb 3-14 off 5.5 overs to back up captain Bartlett for a handy 60-run DLS win on Lincoln No.3.
Central Districts U19 v Auckland U19 scores
Over at St Andrew's College, Otago sent in Wellington, but also came off second best after the opponent's top order fired up with the bat.
After a delayed start due to the weather, Wellington opening duo Jamie Mason-Jones and Antonia Hamilton put on 80 for the first wicket inside the first 15 overs, in a 42-over contest.
Otago fought back with regular wickets after the pair was prised apart, but there was a sense the damage had been done as the capital cricketers reached a good score of 206/9 in their 42.
Otago's reply suffered from a lack of partnership as first drop Paige Loggenberg was left playing a gutsy lone hand of 73 not out against a tight attack, Rachel Bryant picking up 3-23 in the 63-run win for Wellington.
Wellington U19 v Otago U19 scores
On Bert Sutcliffe Oval, home side Canterbury came through in the tightest result of the day.
Cantebury was the only side that elected to bat first on the day, a put up a total of 193/9 in 41 overs, opener Harriet Graham top-scoring with a knock of 53 that included seven boundaries.
ND didn't get the same solidity from their top order, with ND rep and captain Makayla Templeton a big loss at 33/2 after she was bowled by Canterbury skipper Libby Stead.
First drop Amy Brown soldiered on for a top score of 37, but Canterbury had the knack of breaking developing partnerships just when it mattered in their 19-run win.
