Auckland take unassailable lead at National U18’s
Otago win twice to occupy second spot
Auckland recorded Twenty20 wins over Central Districts and Canterbury to move four points clear of the field at the National Under 18 Tournament at Lincoln today. Otago also impressed today, beating Northern Districts and Wellington to remain in second spot but with just three points up for grabs on tomorrow’s final day they will not be able to overtake Auckland.
The leaders started their day with a resounding 10-wicket win over Central after reaching 139 in 11.4 overs in pursuit of Central’s 137 for seven. Auckland opener Michael Chapman was particularly brutal, lashing and unbeaten 65 off 29 deliveries while fellow opener Ben Horne smacked 64 off 43. Their second win over Canterbury was also impressive as they restricted the opposition to 87 for nine before hitting 90 for five off 15.2 overs.
Otago’s first match of the day saw Tom Griffin hit 51 to help them through to 163 for seven before some exceptional fielding helped kept Northern Districts to 145 for six and led to an 18 run win. The team completed three run-outs while Jacob Duffy picked up the vital wicket of Northern’s Tim Seifert for 71. The second win was set up by Josh Renton who struck 60 as Otago made 172 for six. Michael Rae and Duffy then ran through the Wellington line up to ensure they recorded a comfortable 20 run win. Duffy was particularly difficult to get away, finishing with figures of three for 10 while Rae ended with three for 40.
In other matches, Northern beat Central by 19 runs and Wellington beat Canterbury by 20 runs.
Results, full scorecards and full match reports -
http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/domestic/National-under18/120/schedule.aspx
First round of Twenty20 matches:
Canterbury v Wellington - http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match1371/scorecard.aspx
Northern Districts v Otago - http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match1372/scorecard.aspx
Auckland v Central Districts – http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match1370/scorecard.aspx
Second round of Twenty20 matches:
Wellington v Otago - http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match1378/scorecard.aspx
Central v Northern - http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match1379/scorecard.aspx
Auckland v Canterbury - http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match1377/scorecard.aspx
Points
Auckland - 31
Otago - 27
Central Districts - 24
Canterbury – 21
Wellington – 11
Northern Districts – 9
Auckland were too good for Otago in today’s top of the table clash with a commanding seven wicket win in the 50-over match to see them vault into first place at the National Under 18 Tournament in Lincoln today. Central Districts remain in second spot after accounting for Northern Districts while Canterbury now have a share of third place after beating Wellington.
Batting first, Otago could only muster 117 with Auckland reaching 118 for three in 33.3 overs. Shaun Hicks was the most impressive of the Auckland attack, picking up one of the openers before ripping through the tail to finish with figures of five for 24 off eight overs. The bulk of Auckland’s runs came from Sachin Variath who struck 53. Otago paceman Jacob Duffy bent his back and was rewarded with two wickets for 23 runs.
Sam Chamberlain snared four for 45 to help Canterbury defend 202 and claim a 13 run win over Wellington. Canterbury’s total was held together by captain Leo Carter who made 52 with a number of other players getting starts but not kicking on. Wellington’s Will Brunton was impressive taking five for 41 and completing a run-out. In reply, Sam Keegan top scored for Wellington with 54 as they made 189 in 49.3 overs.
Central Districts managed to edge past Northern Districts total of 180 to win by three with just three balls to spare. Byrnn Cleaver struck 49 to get the Central reply off to a decent start before James McDougall’s guided them home with a superb 87, including the winning boundary, as they made 182 for seven. McDougall also did a great job with the ball taking three for 35.
Results, full scorecards and full match reports -
http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/domestic/National-under18/120/schedule.aspx
Otago v Auckland - http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match1367/scorecard.aspx
Canterbury v Wellington - http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match1368/scorecard.aspx Northern Districts v Central Districts - http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match1369/scorecard.aspx
Points
Auckland – 25
Central Districts - 24
Otago - 21
Canterbury – 21
Wellington – 8
Northern Districts – 6
A huge bonus point win by Otago over Wellington and similarly impressive victory by Auckland over Central Districts saw a shift in the rankings at the National Under 18 Tournament in Lincoln with the Southerners taking a slender one point lead at the top of the table. Auckland and Central now share second place on 20 points while Canterbury are just three points further back after their 50-over victory over Northern Districts today.
Batting first, Otago’s Tim O’Malley anchored the inning with 68 as they made a respectable 237 for eight and then bundled out Wellington out for 101 in 35.4 overs. The Otago attack were relentless from the outset with the top five Wellington batsmen all back in the hut for single figure scores. New ball bowlers Jack Hunter (three for 24), Jacob Duffy (three for 14) along with first change Michael Rae (three for 19) all impressed for Otago.
Auckland beat Central Districts by 190 runs today after making 325 for five and then dismissing Central for 135 in 37.3 overs. The Auckland top four all hit half-centuries with opener Sachin Variath’s 74 providing the backbone of the innings and Robert O’Donnell’s quickfire 71 off 44 propelling them towards the massive total. The bowling attack then collectively chipped in to roll the Central line up cheaply.
Canterbury made 301 for seven and then bowled out Northern Districts for 259 to register a 42 run win. The Canterbury defence was helped by some exceptional fielding with three the team completing three run-outs while three bowlers picked up two wickets apiece. The Northern batsmen did put up a decent fight with Nikhil Vishwanath’s 61 the top score. Earlier, Canterbury’s opener pair of Ben Ward (68) and David Wakefield (57) laid a solid platform for the rest of the team to take advantage of while Freddie Anderson hit a rapid 53 at the end of the innings.
Results, full scorecards and full match reports -http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/domestic/National-under18/120/schedule.aspx
Otago v Wellington – http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match1366/scorecard.aspx
Auckland v Central Districts - http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match1365/scorecard.aspx
Northern Districts v Canterbury - http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match1364/scorecard.aspx
Points
Otago - 21,
Auckland – 20
Central Districts - 20
Canterbury – 17
Wellington – 8
Northern Districts – 6
Northern record first win
Otago edged past leaders Central Districts and Auckland beat Canterbury in 50-over matches to tighten the gap at the National Under 18 tournament at Lincoln.
With victory in their sights Central lost five wickets for 11 runs to hand Otago a one run win. Batting first, Otago hit 215 for eight, largely thanks to their openers Gregor Croudis and Tom Griffin who struck 48 and 49 respectively. Central captain Angus Schaw was the best of the bowlers, taking three for 39 from his ten overs. The Central chase was on track with Matthew Edmondson hitting a crisp 69 and Schaw cracking a quick-fire 50. However, the Central bowling attack, led by Jack Hunter’s three for 18, ripped through the lower order to sneak a remarkable win.
Auckland were convincing winners over Canterbury, rolling them for 168 before reaching 172 for three to record a seven wicket victory. A number of Canterbury batsmen got starts but the Auckland bowlers continued to peg them back with Shaun Hicks the chief destroyer, claiming five for 13. In reply, Ben Horne struck 92 to ensure they reached the target comfortably.
Northern Districts picked up their first win of the competition, beating Wellington by seven wickets. Batting first, Wellington were kept to 204 in 47.2 overs despite Henry Walsh making a classy 96 off 107 deliveries. The Northern bowlers hunted as a pack with three bowlers taking two wickets apiece to go with two run-outs. The Northern reply got off to the perfect start as Thomas MacRury hit a brilliant 98 at the top of the order while Anish Desai chipped in with an unbeaten 52 as they cruised to 207 for five in 45.4 overs.
Results, full scorecards and full match reports -
http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/domestic/National-under18/120/schedule.aspx
Otago v Central Districts – http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match1362/scorecard.aspx
Auckland v Canterbury - http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match1363/scorecard.aspx
Northern Districts v Wellington - http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match1361/scorecard.aspx
Points
Central Districts – 20
Otago – 16
Auckland – 15
Canterbury – 13
Wellington – 8
Northern Districts – 6