2020/21
NZC National Men's Under 19 Tournament
NZC High Performance Centre, Lincoln, Canterbury
22 December 2020
ROUND FIVE
The Under 19s moved from the 50 to 20 over format for the final three rounds, with the national title still up for grabs. Here, instead of a maximum of five points per game (inclusing a bonus point), only three points were on the table per T20, upping the pressure to stand and deliver in order to stay in the title hunt.
In the morning T20s, Wellington Under 19 continued their winning ways with a one-wicket win over Auckland to maintain their one-point lead over Canterbury at the top of the table. Wellington elected to bowl on Bert Sutcliffe Oval and that waa a great decision for Jakob Vandenburg who seared through the Auckland line-up for an impressive T20 five-wicket bag: 5/23 off his four overs. He would bowl both openers but one of them, Bevon John-Jacobs, got 50 off 46 in a 78-run second wicket stand with Nathan Robinson (41).
That was what gave Auckland a chance.
Setting a chase of 140 after finishing 139/7, Auckland then made a top start with the ball with both Wellington openers gone at 15/2 inside the first two overs, including Vandenburg.
First drop Tim Robinson has had an excellent tournament and was all class again with a key contribution of 54 off just 29 balls that ensured Wellington stayed in the game. He took them through to 71/3 in the ninth, before Auckland's impressive bowling attack bit back with regular wickets.
Nikith Perera grabbed 3-24 as the match careered towards nailbiter territory, Wellington needing nine off the last over - and getting there, with just one wicket in hand.
Despite some gallant late hitting from ND, Central Districts got back to winning ways in their first T20 with a 10-run win on Lincoln Green, putting them five points behind Wellington in fourth spot.
CD captain Seb Lauderdale-Smith (44 off 31) and Finn Raxworthy (48 off 41) smoked a 93-stand for the first wicket that got Central off to a sound start, allowing the tall allrounder Will Clark to continue the momentum with an unbeaten 39* off 29 balls in a 50-stand for the third with Curtis Heaphy.
The run rate stayed above RPO 8 for almost the whole innings after Lauderdale-Smith had elected to bat, putting 171/4 on the board.
That consistent push proved too much for ND who made an explosive start but then found themselves mired by some tight bowling through the middle from Tom Sutherland, Liam McCarthy and Jordie Gard who took 3-35. ND's Leon Marconi gave it death with 36 off 25 before he was run out, Kuwyn Price swinging hard for an unbeaten 44* off 30 that gave CD a fright and got ND close - just not able to get out from behind that eight ball as they finished 10 short on 161/5.
Otago meanwhile would be left to continue to search for a first win after their tough tourney continued, Canterbury winning by 87 runs to keep their campaign on track. Dangerous Rhys Mariu got Canterbury out of the blocks early with 49 off 26 on Lincoln No.3 before he hit his wicket to miss out on a 50, ending a 90-stand with Matt Boyle (31). After they fell in swift succession, Nic Lidstone took over with 35 off 26 to ensure Canterbury kept heading in the right direction and, although Otago fought back with wickets, all the Canterbury batsmen played aggressively to keep the run rate fat.
They set Otago a big chase of 211 which was too much for the southerners after NZ Under 19 rep Beckham Wheeler-Greenhall was run out at the top by Jesse Frew for a 22-ball 27. Wheeler Greenhall had punched three sixes, but as Canterbury gathered quick wickets, Otago went into their shells until a fighting run a ball 33 from Jed Mockford at six. Harry McMillan (2/28) and Will Anderson (2/19) did the damage as Otago was restricted to 123/9 to finish a long way short, Canterbury winning by 87.
POINTS after Round 5: Wellington 17, Canterbury 16, Auckland 13, CD 12, ND 4, Otago 0
ROUND SIX
Wellington had looked unstoppable - until a very good performance with bat and ball from CD U19 saw them drop their second T20 and surrender the lead, CD U19 winning by six wickets. It was a big match for Central if they were to finish the tournament at the right end of the table, but they managed the pressure and closed out a tight win.
Wellington again won the toss for the second T20 of the day, but came under fire early from tall paceman Chris Logan who had joined the CD squad from Taranaki.
Bowling star of the morning game Vandenburg this time got going with the bat, his 41 off 27 threatening to take things away from CD before the consistent Jordie Gard (2-24 off four) had him caught in the ninth over. But Wellington were stringing together partnerships. CD needed to make breakthroughs - and they did, Tom Sutherland (2-19 off four) getting the big wicket of Tim Robinson for just 2, and Liam McCarthy rattling through the lower order for 3-25 as Wellington wound up on 150 for eight off their 20 on Lincoln Green.
That was well within CD's reach and they chased it down with six wickets and five balls to spare. Curtis Heaphy finished unbeaten on 34*, the flamboyant Will Clark boosted the chase with 32 off just 21 and Sam Ferguson had got things off to a good start at the top with three sixes in his 21-ball 27.
Canterbury meanwhile beat Auckland by three wickets, which saw Canterbury assume the lead, two points ahead of Wellington with one three-point match to go. All on!
A big clash, and it started with Auckland electing to bat and putting up 155 for five on No.3. Bevon John-Jacobs continued his good form from the first game of the day with 42 off 39, but was stumped before he got a second fifty.
He and Abbas put on 59 for the opening stand, before a flurry of wickets - Jesse Frew again showing what a dangerous fielder he can be - pushed Auckland back to a less favourable position at 109 for five in the 17th. A good rally got them up to 155 with brutal Jock McKenzie plundering an unbeaten 46* off just 22 balls, with four sixes and two boundaries on the small ground.
Rhys Mariu again got Canterbury off to a sound start with 74 off 49 balls at the top, keeping things in control until his dismissal in the 16th at 137 for five. Auckland still had their chances, Nikith Perera grabbing two late wickets, but Canterbury ultimately got home with ease with five balls in hand.
Otago still couldn't get a lucky break, going down to Northern Districts by four wickets to remain anchored to the bottom rung of the ladder despite some exciting youth talent in their line-up.
After they elected to bat first on The Bert, Otago put up a total of 143 for four, recovering from the early loss of both opening batsmen at 18/2. Payton Spencer had accounted for them both and went on to finish with 3-24 off his four, but in the interim Jacob Cumming (49 off 43) and Benji Culhane (59 off 48) had out on 96 for the third wicket.
ND was set a chase of 144, but Otago had an exciting start with the ball after their sub fielder (Beale) got greedy and took three catches to have ND 60 for four in the eighth. A 40-ball half ton from Luke Trigg rescued it for ND, good support coming from Leon Marconi as they got home with one and a half overs to spare.
POINTS after Round 6: Canterbury 19, Wellington 17, CD 15, Auckland 13, ND 7, Otago 0
