2020/21
NZC National Men's Under 19 Tournament
NZC High Performance Centre, Lincoln, Canterbury
21 December 2020
ROUND FOUR
After a rest day, the last round of one-dayers (before the T20 section of the tournament) ran into some wet weather. All teams faced an extensive wait to get on the park, and when they did it was fast and furious reduced overs action.
It couldn't stop Wellington Under-19 from shattering the deadlock at the top of the table as they continued their strong winning roll with a DLS win over Otago.
That gave Wellington a one-point lead ahead of Auckland and Canterbury as all teams head into the T20 phase of the competition.
CANTERBURY U19 beat NORTHERN DISTRICTS U19
By 7 wickets (25 over game)
Canterbury continued its escalation up the ladder, this time at ND's expense. NZ Under 19 star Rhys Mariu (an explosive 71 off just 45 balls on Lincoln Green) and Matt Boyle (51 off 23) providing a ballistic start to ensure Canterbury chased down ND's 197 for nine after ND had elected to bat.
With the ball lost into the bushes, they made it easy for Nic Lidstone (37 off 30) and Jesse Frew (27 not out off 11) to continue that momentum to the finish line. Earlier, Zak Foulkes had done the job for Canterbury with the ball picking up 3-34 as they came close to dismissing ND in the nervy reduced overs first innings. Number four bat Jacob Parker top-scored for ND with 41 off 33 before he was bowled by Mariu, while Payton Spencer contributed a quick 31 down the order then took 2-38 with the ball to no avail.
WELLINGTON U19 beat OTAGO U19
By 7 wickets (26 over game, DLS)
Wellington's Tim Robinson continued his cracking form across the tournament with the bat with a smoking unbeaten 71* off 40 balls, plundering 20 runs off his last four balls and helping the capital run down Otago's tally of 118 all out, for a vital bonus point to push Wellington to top spot.
Otago top order man Jacob Cumming had had a lean time of it by his own standards coming into this match, but ignited with a run-a-ball 58 to top-score for Otago after they were sent in on the Bert. Unfortunately for Cumming and his fellow southerners, Jed Mockford's unbeaten 40 was the only other score in their undercooked innings, Matt Scoble starring for Wellington with 3-15.
Robinson then showed them how it was done with his classy performamce, assisted by Micah Conroy (36* off 25) as they got home in just 13.4 overs for the bonus.
AUCKLAND U19 beat CENTRAL DISTRICTS U19
By 5 wickets (26 over game)
The last match to finish was another nervy affair with Auckland just doing enough to stay in front of CD. Much earlier in the day, Auckland had won the toss and were set to bowl first before hours sitting around watching the grey clouds do their thing. Eventually the reduced overs game on little Lincoln No.3 got started and Auckland made a great start with the ball in the conditions, getting CD four down for just 17 runs. CD gun Curtis Heaphy clung on, however, at four and produced the bulk of his side's 122 runs with his unbeaten run-a-ball 64.
His effort ensured CD got through their allotment eight down, with Auckland needing RPO 5 to win. Jordie Gard then gave his side a chance with the ball, taking 3-27 at fourth change to try to hold back the Aucklanders. The total was just too low to defend on the small ground, but it was tight - Auckland getting home five down with two balls to spare.
