Palmerston North BHS v Ashburton College will play off for the NZCT Boys Cup at Taupe’s Owen Delany Park after wins in their final pool games.
In cooler conditions than the previous two days, the final round of pool matches determined the final rankings.
In Pool A, Palmerston North eased to a 10-wicket win over Rosehill College to progress to the final,
Rosehill College won the toss and batted first despite winning their previous games by chasing.
They were quickly in trouble and never recovered to be all out in 32nd over for 75.
A strong fielding performance was led by bowlers Nathan Hill, who took 3/7 off eight overs, and Richard Langley, who continued his very good form with 4/8 off six overs.
Palmerston North BHS were untroubled in their response knocking off the runs without loss.
The other match in the group saw a win to Otago Boys’ High School by 104 runs over Scots College.
Scots College won the toss and put Otago BHS into bat. The ploy worked and Otago BHS were quickly in trouble at 30/4, however, Scott Hunter [84] combined with Ryan Littlejohn [20] and Kayne Wardell [23] for fifth and sixth wicket partnerships of 51 and 70 respectively to see them post 211/8.
Scots College struggled to maintain the run rate and were dismissed in the 38th over for 107. Ricky Black with three wickets and Gregor Croudis with two were the main wicket takers.
Ashburton College topped Pool B after a four-wicket win over Westlake Boys’ High.
Ashburton College won the toss and inserted their opponents, who batted steadily, with Charles Elton to the fore with an exciting innings of 85 to their total of 191/4.
In reply Ashburton College had a series of solid partnerships between Ben Ward [34], Ben Mably [30], Matt Tait [46] and Kurt Polson [26no] to see them to victory with three balls to spare.
Gisborne BHS earned third place in the group with a 115-run win over Wanganui Collegiate.
Gisborne batted first and made 195/8, through innings from Danny Gibbs [36], Sam Tallot [22], Nick Greeks [58] and Izaya Broderick [31no].
The Wanganui Collegiate batsmen were always under pressure and were all out for 80 in the 18th over.
Many were mesmerised by left arm chinaman bowler Izaya Broderick who was rewarded with 5/6, while Nathan Story also captured two wickets.
Final day matches
Final: Palmerston North BHS v Ashburton College
3 v4: Rosehill College v Westlake BHS
5 v 6: Otago BHS v Gisborne BHS
7 v 8: Scots College v Wanganui Collegiate
POOL A:
Scots College v Otago Boys’ High School
Summary: Otago BHS: 211/8 [Scott Hunter 84, Ryan Littlejohn 20, Kayne Wardell 23] Scots College: 107 [Matthew Rountree 23, Tom Howard 20 and Cameron Tonks 22] [ Ricky Black 3/32, Gregor Croudis 2/9]
Result: Win to Otago Boys’ High School by 104 runs
Palmerston North Boys’ High School v Rosehill College
Summary: Rosehill College: 75 [Nathan Hill 3/7, Richard Langley 4/8] Palmerston North BHS: 76/0 [James Holland 25no, Regan Dewar 33no]
Result: Win to Palmerston North Boys’ High School by 10 wickets
POOL B:
Westlake Boys’ High School v Ashburton College
Summary: Westlake BHS: 191/4 [Charles Elton 85, Tom Dobier 35, Max O’Dowd 30] [Matt Tait 2/29] Ashburton College: 192/6 [Ben Ward 34, Ben Mably 30, Matt Tait 46, Kurt Polson 26no] [Darren Celliers 2/39, Wesley Jarman 2/41]
Result: Win to Ashburton College by 4 wickets
Wanganui Collegiate v Gisborne Boys’ High School
Summary: Gisborne BHS: 195/8 [Danny Gibbs 36, Sam Tallot 22, Nick Greeks 58, Izaya Broderick 31no] [Kulwinder Nagra 2/39] Wanganui Collegiate: 80 [Izaya Broderick 5/6, Nathan Story 2/19]
Result: Win to Gisborne Boys’ High School by 115 runs
