Christchurch Boys’ High School held their nerve in an absolute thriller to finish as Gillette Cup champions for the 12th time in school history.
CBHS went unbeaten through five matches, showing some real fight to emerge victorious against a Westlake Boys’ team who took it to the very end.
On Lincoln No.3 more tournament records were broken as Wellington College opener, Will Julian (156 runs), amassed the third-highest individual score at a Gillette Cup against Otago Boys’ HS.
Palmerston North Boys’ HS claimed a comprehensive 8-wicket win against St Peter’s to finish third on the tournament leaderboard.
COMPETITION CENTRE
Read the match reports below!
ROUND FIVE:
Christchurch Boys’ HS 241/8 (C Ellison 47*, A Kirkland 3-41) beat Westlake Boys’ HS (J Van Zyl 51, L Harrison 2-30), Bert Sutcliffe Oval
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Christchurch Boys’ held their nerve to pick up a thrilling 13-run victory over Westlake Boys’, and in the process claiming their 12th Gillette Cup title in school history.
Batting first, CBHS were put on the back foot early, losing yesterday’s heroes - Harry O’Loughlin and Toby Robinson - in quick succession to WBHS seamers Nishil Patel (2-28) and Matthew Ross (1-49). WBHS were able to keep the squeeze on through off-spinner Luke Harrison (2-30), who picked up the big wickets of Callum (13) and Ryan Samson (21). From a desperate position, Jack Lough (45) and Chris Ellison (47*) dug their heels in – managing to put on an important 71-runs for the sixth wicket before the loss of Lough. Ellison then paired with Mitch Suddaby (18) and Hanroux Wessels (28) who scored a late-innings flurry of boundaries to push the team total to 241 runs.
CBHS seamer, Alex Kirkland (3-31), gave his side an ideal start with the ball - picking up the two big wickets of Ethan Holman and WBHS captain Cambell Brighouse. An LBW to Jack Dry (2-46) and a run out of the in-form Brandon Matzopoulos then putting CBHS firmly in the driver’s seat, with the score at 54/4. Tournament MVP Jordan Van Zyl (51) had other ideas, pairing with Matthew Ross (29) to tally a valuable 59-run partnership. Following the dismissal of Ross, Van Zyl continued to take it to the CBHS bowling unit, dispatching six boundaries in what was a pivotal half-century for the Aucklanders. When Van Zyl holed out to Chris Ellison (1-53), many would have written WBHS off.. but Darcy Taylor (41) kept the faith. The number nine batsman scored an inspired 41-runs, and seeing his team to needing 13 runs off 8 balls before he was caught at long off by that man, Alex Kirkland.
CBHS winning in memorable fashion by just 13 runs.
Wellington College (W Julian 156, A Vannucci 2-34) beat Otago Boys’ HS 294/9 (L Garden 54, H Wilson 3-39), Lincoln No.3
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Otago Boys’ and Wellington College met on Lincoln No.3 today, with both sides looking to finish their tournament on a high note.
Electing to bat first, Otago Boys’ got off to a positive start through openers Ben Turnbull (23) and Lewis Garden (54). Again, OBHS enjoyed a team performance with the bat – with middle order batters; Daniel Lawrence (24), Zac Cumming (44) and Hamish Wilson (29) making significant contributions. Lower-order bat, Ashton Hansen (43) provided some power to end the OBHS innings – whacking seven boundaries and pushing the team total to 294/9. Spin bowlers, A Vannucci (2-34) and S Doig (2-51), were the best of the Wellington College bowling unit, both taking two wickets apiece.
After being sent all around the park yesterday, WC openers Ari Bonnar (84) and Will Julian (156) set about repaying the favour. The two amassed a remarkable 196-run opening partnership, which would have been a record if not for CBHS’s efforts yesterday. The in-form Ari Bonnar whacked 12 boundaries, while striking at over 100. Julian’s innings was simply breath-taking – bringing up a century in just 66 balls, and his 150 runs in just 93 balls. He carted 17 x fours and 9 x sixes while bringing up the third highest individual score in Gillette Cup history. Remarkably, Otago Boys’ stayed in the battle, through spinners Hamish Wilson (3-39) and Zac Cumming (2-64). They took a valiant seven wickets, giving themselves half a chance, before WC eventually eclipsed their total.
Palmerston North Boys’ HS 138/2 (J Robinson 68, A Pringle 3-27) beat St Peter’s Cambridge 134/10 (R Harvey 31, X Bell 1-48), Lincoln Green
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Palmerston North Boys’ HS picked up a strong victory to finish a commendable third at the 2023 Gillette Cup.
After being sent in to field, PNBHS got off to a fantastic start thanks to Jordan Last-Harris (2-12), who picked up two wickets in consecutive deliveries. St Peter’s opening bat Ryan Harvey (31) and Xavier Bell (31) showed encouraging signs for SPC, however it was PNBHS’s spinners who would again do the damage. Alex Pringle (3-27) and captain Ethan Campbell (3-28) continued their form from yesterday, removing the set batsmen and taking wickets through the middle. Lower-order bat, Caleb Woodfield (26), scrapped hard for SPC to see them through to 134/10.
An early wicket would not stop the PNBHS batting unit from having a go. Van Prenter (27) looking classy in his innings, while Jerome Robinson (68) carted 13 boundaries for is first tournament half-century. Robinson was joined by Keiran Gill (26), who saw their team to a comfortable victory in just the 24th over.
