Hamilton Boys High School have been crowned Gillette Cup champions for 2008 after a two wicket win over Westlake Boys High School in the final today [Sunday 14 December] in Palmerston North.
The win caps off a remarkable tournament for Hamilton who were bowled out for just 61 in their first match before bouncing back with a tournament high score of 301 for 5 on Saturday which helped them reach the final.
Hamilton’s win also rounded off a fantastic day for the school in Palmerston North, with their touch team winning the national secondary schools touch competition as well, adding to the joint secondary schools rugby title Hamilton also holds.
“Hamilton Boys High has had a very successful year this year and winning the Gillette Cup just really tops it off, just to win the final like that was amazing,” said Hamilton Boys captain Anurag Verma.
However it was a bitter pill for Westlake who have made the final for the last two years but lost on both occasions.
After winning the toss Westlake chose to bat first in the final, but steadily lost wickets, managing just 157 for 9 off their 50 overs.
Charles Elton top scored with 27, while Scott Kuggeleijn and Joseph Walker each snared two wickets for Hamilton Boys’.
In reply Hamilton made a good start and were 24 without loss after four overs, however from there, wickets fell at regular intervals and it took till the final over of the match and with just two wickets in hand for Hamilton to reach the target.
“I was very nervous sitting up in the stands watching, but it was such a great relief how we pulled it off,” Verma said.
Tauranga Boys College claimed third place at the tournament after a four wicket win over Wellington College.
In another low scoring match Wellington batted first and were all out for just 124. Tauranga made a terrible start in reply and were 10 for 3 after four overs, however they recovered to reach the target in the 38th over for the loss of just a further three wickets.
Palmerston North Boys High School beat Wanganui Collegiate by 65 runs to claim fifth. Palmerston North scoring the highest total of the day with 214 for 8 off their 50 overs, while Collegiate were all out for 149.
In the other match of the day St Bedes beat Otago Boys High School by 7 wickets to claim 7th spot in their first win of the tournament.
Adam Milne from Palmerston North Boys High School was named Gillette Cup Player of the Tournament.
Final:
Westlake Boys College: 157-9 (Josh Tasman-Jones 21, Craig Cachopa 25, Charles Elton 27, Elliott Herd 26 no; Scott Kuggeleijn 2/31, Joseph Walker 2/22) lost to Hamilton Boys High School: 158-8( Scott Kuggeleijn 36, Anthony Koers 26, Peter Bocock 21; James Coughlan 2/8, Josh Tasman-Jones 3/28) by 2 wickets.
3rd place play-off:
Wellington College: 124 (Chamika Gajanayaka 36, Tom Pere 26, Sam Lawson 22; Brian Jurisich 3/17, Sean Sievwright 3/18, Bharat Popli 2/18) lost to Tauranga Boys College 126-6(Zac Scott 48 no, Nick Evemy 33; Harry Wright 2/30 Patrick Whelan 2/36) by 4 wickets.
5th place play-off:
Palmerston North Boys High School: 214-8 (Ahbi Ganugapati 26, Mitchell Renwick 67, Roald Badenhorst 30, Tim Richards 45; Luke Burgess 2/34, Declan McKeefry 3/46) beat Wanganui Collegiate: 149 (Ben Smith 36, Angus Middleton 22; Campbell Findlay 2/33, Adam Milne 3/16, Chris King 2/30) by 65 runs.
7th place play-off:
Otago Boys High School: 188 (Ciaran McMeekan 57, Daniel Duke 21, Callum Wardell 20; Andrew Ireland 6/35, George Earl 3/44) lost to St Bede’s College: 189-3 (Ken Henry 63) by 7 wickets.
The win caps off a remarkable tournament for Hamilton who were bowled out for just 61 in their first match before bouncing back with a tournament high score of 301 for 5 on Saturday which helped them reach the final.
Hamilton’s win also rounded off a fantastic day for the school in Palmerston North, with their touch team winning the national secondary schools touch competition as well, adding to the joint secondary schools rugby title Hamilton also holds.
“Hamilton Boys High has had a very successful year this year and winning the Gillette Cup just really tops it off, just to win the final like that was amazing,” said Hamilton Boys captain Anurag Verma.
However it was a bitter pill for Westlake who have made the final for the last two years but lost on both occasions.
After winning the toss Westlake chose to bat first in the final, but steadily lost wickets, managing just 157 for 9 off their 50 overs.
Charles Elton top scored with 27, while Scott Kuggeleijn and Joseph Walker each snared two wickets for Hamilton Boys’.
In reply Hamilton made a good start and were 24 without loss after four overs, however from there, wickets fell at regular intervals and it took till the final over of the match and with just two wickets in hand for Hamilton to reach the target.
“I was very nervous sitting up in the stands watching, but it was such a great relief how we pulled it off,” Verma said.
Tauranga Boys College claimed third place at the tournament after a four wicket win over Wellington College.
In another low scoring match Wellington batted first and were all out for just 124. Tauranga made a terrible start in reply and were 10 for 3 after four overs, however they recovered to reach the target in the 38th over for the loss of just a further three wickets.
Palmerston North Boys High School beat Wanganui Collegiate by 65 runs to claim fifth. Palmerston North scoring the highest total of the day with 214 for 8 off their 50 overs, while Collegiate were all out for 149.
In the other match of the day St Bedes beat Otago Boys High School by 7 wickets to claim 7th spot in their first win of the tournament.
Adam Milne from Palmerston North Boys High School was named Gillette Cup Player of the Tournament.
Final:
Westlake Boys College: 157-9 (Josh Tasman-Jones 21, Craig Cachopa 25, Charles Elton 27, Elliott Herd 26 no; Scott Kuggeleijn 2/31, Joseph Walker 2/22) lost to Hamilton Boys High School: 158-8( Scott Kuggeleijn 36, Anthony Koers 26, Peter Bocock 21; James Coughlan 2/8, Josh Tasman-Jones 3/28) by 2 wickets.
3rd place play-off:
Wellington College: 124 (Chamika Gajanayaka 36, Tom Pere 26, Sam Lawson 22; Brian Jurisich 3/17, Sean Sievwright 3/18, Bharat Popli 2/18) lost to Tauranga Boys College 126-6(Zac Scott 48 no, Nick Evemy 33; Harry Wright 2/30 Patrick Whelan 2/36) by 4 wickets.
5th place play-off:
Palmerston North Boys High School: 214-8 (Ahbi Ganugapati 26, Mitchell Renwick 67, Roald Badenhorst 30, Tim Richards 45; Luke Burgess 2/34, Declan McKeefry 3/46) beat Wanganui Collegiate: 149 (Ben Smith 36, Angus Middleton 22; Campbell Findlay 2/33, Adam Milne 3/16, Chris King 2/30) by 65 runs.
7th place play-off:
Otago Boys High School: 188 (Ciaran McMeekan 57, Daniel Duke 21, Callum Wardell 20; Andrew Ireland 6/35, George Earl 3/44) lost to St Bede’s College: 189-3 (Ken Henry 63) by 7 wickets.
