POINTS TABLE
FINALS DAY
Auckland U17's late push continued as they upended top qualifiers Central Districts U17 by five wickets to claim the 2018/19 national title in a hard-fought final.
Sent in for the first time all tournament, CD U17 did well to reach 224 for eight in their 50 overs, with some explosive late hitting from Jordie Gard (40* off 25 balls, 1 x 4, 4 x 6) helping get their tally up over the 200-mark.
Earlier, vice-captain Will Clark had held their innings together with a vital 99 at first drop, after Auckland U17's opening pace attack made a tight start with the ball, and removed the tournament's leading runscorer and dangerman Sam Ferguson for no score.
Clark would be denied his century by leg-spinner and top wicket-taker at this year's tournament, Adithya Ashok, fresh off a sensational haul of 6-12 the previous day.
Ashok would settle for 2-39 off his 10 overs in the final, having already claimed CD captain Sam Sherriff in a top battle between bat and ball.
Chasing CD's 225, Auckland U17 first drop Dimithri Gallage took his side a long way towards their target, but would also suffer a bittersweet demise in the 90s when he was caught in the 39th over on 95, at just under run-a-ball pace.
Earlier, opening batsman BJ Jacobs had set up the winning chase with an innings of 72 off 86 deliveries before he was caught and bowled by Finn Restieaux in the 27th, 132/2 providing the platform for his teammates in a well controlled chase, completed with 6.4 overs to spare. The largely fresh-look Auckland team had made it an impressive three-peat for Auckland at the Under-17 nationals.
Northern Districts edged Wellington Under 17 for third spot in the tightest battle of Finals day. On Lincoln No.3, Wellington sent ND in and restricted them to 217 in 48.3 overs, fighting back with the ball after both ND openers had got off to a good start at 60 for no loss. ND opening batsman Tim Pringle would continue his fine tournament and eclipse them, however, with a pivotal unbeaten knock of 96 in reply, carrying his bat in a three-wicket win as ND chased down their target in the last over.
In the 5v6 playoff, Otago Under 17 restricted Canterbury U17 to 200, then chased down the runs in just 35.5 overs for a comfortable eight-wicket victory, with each of their top three batsman reaching half centuries.
DAY FIVE
At the conclusion of the round robin phase, Central Districts maintained their grip on the top slot albeit while suffering their first loss of the tournament, while a startling win to Auckland U17 against ND U17 ensured they qualified in second place to set up a CD U17 v Auckland U17 1v2 final on Bert Sutcliffe Oval tomorrow.
Wellington U17 and ND U17 will square off on Lincoln No.3 for the bronze medal position while Canterbury U17 and Otago U17 will be looking to avoid the wooden spoon against each other after the two teams met today.
Despite captain Sam Sherriff winning his fifth toss straight, Central Districts U17 suffered its first loss of the tournament at the hands of Wellington U17, whose strong start ensured they chased down their DLS adjusted target with ease as wet weather hit the tournament in the afternoon. There was disappointment for Wellington College opener Peter Bonar however who was caught just one short of a century.
On Lincoln No.3 ground leg-spinner Adithya Ashok starred with the ball with stunning figures of 6-12 off 10 overs, including a phenomenal six maiden overs. The tight bowling kept the pressure on ND who, after losing their anchor on 49, were bowled out for just 111. When he claimed his five-wicket bag, Ashok was sitting on 5-10!
Otago U17 opted to bat first on Bert Sutcliffe Oval but a tally of 208 all out wasn't enough to stop Canterbury picking up their first win. Both sides had struggled to pick up the points over the tournament but Canterbury seized their opportunity, opening batsman Jesse Frew scoring 101 off just 72 balls (13 x 4, 5 x 6) getting the chase well under control by the time he departed at 169 for two.
Wellington Under 17 beat Central Districts U17 by 63 runs (DLS)
Auckland Under 17 beat Northern Districts U17 by 151 runs (DLS)
Canterbury Under 17 beat Otago U17 by seven wickets
DAY FOUR
Central Districts U17 opening batsman Sam Ferguson backed up his round-three unbeaten double century with an innings of 144 (25 boundaries, one six) the very next day, setting up a good win against Canterbury U17 that kept leaders Central unbeaten.
Wellington's Micah Conroy meanwhile scored 140 off just 115 balls (23 boundaries, three sixes) against Auckland U17 but the young Wellingtonians were unable to stop the defending champions chasing down their tally of 229.
Otago U17 meanwhile picked up their first win of the tournament with a well controlled run chase to hunt down ND's 236 for eight with 3.2 overs to spare.
Central Districts U17 beat Canterbury U17 by 96 runs
Auckland U17 beat Wellington U17 by five wickets
Otago U17 beat Northern Districts U17 by seven wickets
DAY THREE
Central Districts opening batsman Sam Ferguson scored a rare double century, carrying his bat for an unbeaten 200 at Lincoln's Bert Sutcliffe Oval.
The first double century at the tournament since Auckland's Simon Middleton scored 210* in the 2009/10 season, Ferguson reached his double century with just two balls remaining in the Central U17 innings, off just 166 deliveries. The stunning knock included 21 boundaries and six sixes, powering his team to an imposing tally of 368 for six.
Ferguson's feat wasn't the only big score of the day with Wellington opening batsman Caleb Montague cracking 166 off just 129 balls (21 boundaries, five sixes) on the Lincoln No.3 ground as Wellington went after Northern Districts' tally of 336 for six.
However, Montague lacked support from his teammates and his side was dismissed for 250, 86 runs short in their first loss of the tournament.
Central moved into the tournament lead as the only unbeaten team after three rounds, having also pocketed a second bonus point to open up an early five-point lead over defending champions Auckland; Wellington and ND who all sit on nine points with two wins and one bonus point apiece
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Central Districts U17 beat Otago U17 by 100 runs
Auckland U17 beat Canterbury U17 by five wickets
Northern Districts U17 beat Otago U17 by 86 runs
DAY TWO
Central Districts U17 beat Northern Districts U17 by 61 runs
Wellington U17 beat Canterbury U17 by three wickets
Auckland U17 beat Otago U17 by five wickets (DLS)
DAY ONE
Defending champions Auckland Under 17 has claimed this national age-group trophy for two summers on the bounce, but this year the work begins anew with a fresh-look team with only one returnee from 2017/18's successful campaign. The learnings began quickly with Central Districts Under 17 taking the chocolates from their opening match on Bert Sutcliffe Oval.
Central Districts U17 beat Auckland U17 by five wickets
Wellington U17 beat Otago U17 by 145 runs
Northern Districts U17 beat Canterbury U17 by 21 runs
