New Zealand’s top Year 7 and Year 8 school cricket teams started a hard fought national finals tournament in Palmerston North today.
The NZC Cup (boys) and NZC Shield (girls) tournaments see the leading four teams in each competition vying for top honours over two days of cricket.
The national primary school competitions – now in their eleventh year – have been a major part of New Zealand Cricket’s junior cricket development since their inception in 2000. The competitions provide exciting opportunities for primary and intermediate schools to enter their Year 7 and 8 first elevens into these prestigious contests.
This year 347 schools entered the competitions with the competition played across the school year. Each school compete within their Major Cricket Association to determine regional winners.
Results from day one:
Blue Mountain College v Takapuna Intermediate
Takapuna won the toss and elected to bat on another good Manawaroa batting surface with the pick of the batsmen being opener Rosie Davison who hit 19 and No 4 batsman Sydney Bultitude who made an unbeaten 22. Blue Mountain new ball bowler Sinead O’Leary was the pick of the attack taking three for 10 off four overs. Takapuna ended up reaching 91 for five from their allotted 20 overs. In reply Blue Mountain was never really in the hunt, losing wickets regularly and ended up on 69 for 7 from their 20 overs.
Result: Takapuna Intermediate won by 22 runs
Takapuna Intermediate 91-5 from 20 overs (Rosie Davison 19, Sydney Bultitude 22; Sinead O’Leary 3-10) beat Blue Mountain College 69-7 from 20 overs.
Tawa Intermediate v Heaton Intermediate
Heaton Intermediate batted first and after losing an early wicket steadied their ship thanks to a solid 21 from number first-drop Megan Crosbie. Tawa picked up wickets at regular intervals, restricting Heaton to 91 runs for eight from their 20 overs. In reply Tawa cruised to victory in 16 overs with the bulk of the runs coming from to a solid opening partnership of 46 between Olivia Macrae (27) and Danielle Watson (14).
Result: Tawa won by 7 wickets
Heaton Intermediate 91-8 from 20 overs (Megan Crosbie 21) lost to Tawa Intermediate 92-3 (Olivia Macrae 27, Danielle Watson 14)
