2023/24 NZC GILLETTE U19 MEN'S TOURNAMENT
Unbeaten Auckland Under 19 is looking the team to beat at the Gillette Men's Under 19 National Tournament this season.
Chalking up another big victory in today's fourth round of one-day action in Lincoln, the Auckland young guns have become the first team to qualify for Saturday's 1v2 Final, with a round up their sleeve.
Tomorrow is a rest day for all the teams in Lincoln before Friday's fifth round and, if defending champion Wellington U19 can score a win over Otago Under 19 on friday, they will join Auckland in the title match on Saturday.
Otago is just four points behind Wellington in third spot, meaning a bonus point win on Friday will instead propel Otago into the Final. A regular win would meanwhile see Wellington and Otago become level on 14 points, meaning the last spot in the 1v2 Final will come down to which side has the better net run rate.
One of the youngest players at the Nationals, Central Otago 15-year-old Hugo Bogue, played a winning hand in today's Otago U19 victory against luckless Central Districts, smacking 143 off 142 balls.
Canterbury U19, Northern Districts U19 and Central Districts U19 can't make the top 1v2 final, but the teams still have everything to play for as they jostle for position ahead of the 3v4 and 5v6 playoffs that will conclude the Nationals on Saturday.
POINTS SNAPSHOT
Auckland: 19
Wellington: 14
Otago: 10
Canterbury: 8
Northern Districts: 4
Central Districts: 0
Round 4 RESULTS
Auckland U19 defeated Northern Districts U19 by 191 runs
Wellington U19 defeated Canterbury U19 by 11 runs
Otago U19 defeated Central Districts U19 by 135 runs
