A nail-biter between St Peter’s Cambridge and Wellington College highlights a fantastic opening day of cricket at the 2023 Gillette Cup.
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ROUND ONE:
Wellington College 270/7 (J Pettit 95, A Bonar 3-31) beat St Peter's, Cambridge 266/10 (X Bell 79 & 3-35), Lincoln No. 3
In what was surely match of the day, Wellington College beat the odds to secure a come-from-behind victory against St Peter’s Cambridge.
Wellington College’s decision to bowl first on Lincoln No.3 seemed a good decision early, as fast bowler Ryan Tsourgas (1-39) took a wicket in the opening over. Fellow opening bowling Ari Bonnar (3-31) struck early, before SPC stabilised through Ryan Harvey (67) and Xavier Bell (79) – putting on a whopping 155 runs for the third wicket. Just as SPC looked to be cruising, the WC bowling unit found another gear – taking four wickets in the space of four overs. Three of those wickets went to captain Dylan McArdle (3-33) - who bowled a crucial spell for his side and helped restrict SPC to 266 runs.
WC’s innings played out very similarly, with three wickets falling early to Xavier Bell (3-35) who backed up his fine effort with the bat. Jack Pettit (95) and captain McArdle (87) then set about resurrecting the innings, totaling a record 171 runs for the fourth wicket (beating Tauranga Boys’ Cameron Neal (107) and Joshua Dwight (57) in 2011).
Again, just as things looked to be getting easy for the Wellingtonians, Baxter Smith (3-20) struck, taking three wickets in the course of seven overs, including the big wicket of McArdle. Archie Sims (26) and Ryan Tsourgas (15*) played vital supporting roles alongside Pettit, who all but saw his team home – getting out with just four runs needed. Tsourgas then launched a pull shot for six to claim a memorable victory in the 49th over.
Westlake Boys HS 273/7 (B Matzopoulos 69, CT MacCarthy-Morrogh 3-31) beat Otago Boys’ HS 225/10 (B Turnbull 48, Z Cumming 4-64), Bert Sutcliffe Oval
Westlake Boys’ top order shone against Otago Boys to give them a handy day one victory on the Bert Sutcliffe Oval.
After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, WBHS were able to make inroads through openers Ryan Coetzee (22) and Ethan Holman (52) – putting on a valuable 72-run opening stand. Holman continued this trend with captain Cambell Brighouse (38) and Brandon Matzopoulous (69), putting on 40+ run partnerships with both players. For Otago Boys’, it was off-spinner Hamish Wilson (2-40) who was able to remove two of a dangerous top four. Matzopoulous, however, continued his barrage – swatting five fours and two sixes to help his side to a good score. Zac Cumming’s (4-64) leg-spin proved important for OBHS in the dying overs – picking up four key wickets.
After losing an early wicket, OBHS showed promising signs. Opener Ben Turnbull (48) fell just shy of what would have been a resolute half-century. Charlie Ottrey (27) and Zac Cumming (22) also looked in good touch – shooting at better than a run-a-ball before being dismissed. For WBHS, it was Luke Harrison (2-47) and a handy run out that removed the set batters. Otago’s Daniel Lawrence (38) launched a late-innings fightback, but regular wickets would see OBHS fall 48 runs short. Connor MacCarthy-Morrogh (3-31) took some late wickets to finish with the best figures for WBHS.
Christchurch Boys’ HS 238/5 (H O’Loughlin 85, N Smith 4-39) beat Palmerston North Boys’ HS 236/10 (E Campbell 67, J Last-Harris 2-30), Lincoln Green
A strong all-round performance led CBHS to their first Gillette Cup win on the Lincoln Green.
Palmerston North were another side to fall victim to early wickets, losing both openers to fast-bowler Nick Smith (4-39). Captain Ethan Campbell (67) and year 11 student Jordin Last-Harris (50) showed composure and grit to will their side to 119/3 before the loss of Campbell. Last-Harris continued fighting alongside Oliver Murray (21) and Matt Campbell (27), before it all started to go CBHS’s way. The Cantabs took regular wickets through Alex Kirkland (2-49), Chris Ellison (2-38) and Callum Samson (2-28) – all picking up two wickets to see PNBHS bowled out for 236 runs.
Continuing the trend – CBHS found themselves down two wickets early before Harry O'Loughlin (87) and Callum Samson (59) amassed 121 runs for the third wicket. O’Loughlin looked in exceptionally fine form, walloping ten boundaries in his innings. After losing Samson LBW to Oliver Murray (2-60), O’Loughlin continued on his merry way with Callum’s brother, Ryan (54*) – who put on another 71-run partnership. Despite a handy spell from Jordin Last-Harris (2-39), CBHS would cruise home in the 45th over to a 5-wicket victory.
