2020/21
NZC National Women's Under 19 Tournament
NZC High Performance Centre, Lincoln, Canterbury
6 January 2021
ROUND ONE
The second edition of NZC's National Under 19 Nationals for women has begun, with more at stake than ever this season. Exciting opportunities are on the horizon, an inaugural NZ Women's Under 19 squad - to train for the very first ICC Women's Under 19 World Cup - to be selected from the action over the coming days.
Defending champions Central Districts, Otago and Auckland were all bonus point winners on the first day of one-day cricket, played under blue skies in Lincoln.
• CENTRAL DISTRICTS u19 beat CANTERBURY u19 by 59 runs
Defending champions CD got off to a winning start on Bert Sutcliffe Oval thanks to a dogged anchorwoman and searing start with the ball, with captain Ashtuti Kumar claiming three wickets in the space of four balls early in the chase.
Kumar had won the toss and batted, but was part of a middle order collapse as Missy Banks - who bowled Kumar after just a single en route to a fine 4-21; Libby Stead and Jodie Dean (2-15 off her seven overs) combined to put CD on the back foot.
But opening batsman Jess Hollard wouldn't budge, and brought up a resilient half century off 99 balls in the 35th over - a heart-stopping moment as she survived a direct hit at the bowler's end.
Banks would eventually claim Hollard at 192/9 in the 47th but by then the right-hander had given her side 74 runs and, importantly, someone to bat around as they reached a total of 168 before being bowled out with three balls left in the innings.
Canterbury will have been disappointed to dish up 33 wides in that total themselves and they would prove crucial errors after Central Hind Kumar attacked with the ball.
Now bowling spin after switching from pace, the Palmerston North schoolgirl took 4-28 off five overs and she was well supported by her teammates as CD ripped throught the wickets.
Harriet Graham's 18 was the top score at the top as the hosts were dismissed inside 29 overs, Jess Ogden picking up 2-13 and Ocean Bartlett 2-26.
• OTAGO u19 beat WELLINGTON u19 by 90 runs
Batting first after winning the toss on Lincoln Green, Otago got their tournament off to a flier with a fine unbeaten century from Otago Spark and first drop Olivia Gain.
Gain came in in the third over at 11/1 after the early loss of Saffron Wilson, and saw Otago through to a solid 278 for five in their 50 overs.
Gain's 100 came off 122 balls and included 11 boundaries, and she had excellent support from both Jordan Meltzer (52 off 79) in a 121-run stand for the second wicket, and from number four Gemma Adams who fell just short on 45 in a 75-run partnership for the third.
Natasha Codyre with 3-43 and Bethany Trethaway couldn't prevent Otago from finishing well on top of that platform, and 278 proved more than enough to defend - especially after both openers were lost for no score.
Tretheway was run out in the second over, while Jamie Mason-Jones followed an over later when she became Gemma Adams's first victim with the ball, Adams taking 2-37.
Fellow opening bowler Molly Loe finished with 3-26 as Otago kept the pressure on, four of the Wellington batsmen ultimately walking back in with ducks.
Codyre produced a fighting 68 off 58 balls at eight, but a 69-run stand for the last wicket was too late to save her side and, when Angelique Peyroux bowled her in the 42nd over, Wellington had reached just 188 in reply.
• AUCKLAND u19 beat NORTHERN DISTRICTS u19 by 79 runs
Over on Lincoln No.3, Northern Districts sent Auckland in and picked up regular wickets from the outset, but Emma Irwin's patient 37 at the top allowed her side to scratch together a competitive score.
The Aucklanders had been under the pump at 101 for seven in the 31st when Makayla Templeton (2-19) bowled Emily Thurman for no score, but number seven Emily Handyside produced the top score of 43 in a 52-stand with Marama Downes (22 off 18) for the eighth wicket, and they proved invaluable efforts.
Defending 187 after having being bowled out in the 46th, Auckland showed they could wreak havoc themselves with the ball with four of the ND line-up dismissed for no score.
It started with the loss of Northern Spirit youngster Nensi Patel at the top, bowled by Breearne Illing while Marama Downes put herself on an uncoverted hat-trick in the ninth over to have ND in all sorts at 19 for five.
Despite a top score of 39 from number seven Rubi Perano, ND couldn't get close as they were bowled out for 108 in the 35th over. Illing wrapped it up to finish with 3-8 off 4.4 overs, Downes pocketing 2-9 and Emma Irwin 2-7 in an exciting start for Auckland.
