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| Saving the Best Til Last |
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By Mick Jensen - Mid Canterbury’s under 15 rep cricketers left the best til last at last week’s regional tournament in Ashburton. With a mixed bag of games behind them, the green and golds hammered the West Coast by 106 runs in the 7/8th playoff which was played on a good wicket at Fairfield. Good knocks from Sam Whiting (37), Jack Dudley (21) and 34 from Drew Beckley helped the team post a respectable 186 for their 50 overs. Bowlers Jay Houston (3-19) and Alex Hooper (4-14) tore threw the opposition for a comprehensive victory. The eight team regional tournament was made up of teams from the Christchurch area, Buller, the West Coast and South Canterbury. “It was good feedback all the way,” said Mid Canterbury Cricket chief executive officer Richard Pithey. “Canterbury Cricket’s director of coaching and development Richard Hayward said that they were some of the best wickets for an under 15 tournament that he had seen and a big improvement on wickets used at the recent under 17 tournament. “Parents and the whole local cricket community are to be congratulated for bringing the wickets up to the mark,” said Mr Pithey. Three pitches in the Ashburton Domain were used, as well as pitches at Fairfield, Lowcliffe and Methven. Taking the tournament honours was a very strong Canterbury Country team, which beat Christchurch White in the final by 2 wickets. The eight teams were split into two pools and contested pool play over the first three days before cross-pool play offs on the last day. Two Canterbury Teams (A and B team) were also selected during the tournament and announced at the closing function at Walnut Avenue Pavilion. Mid Canterbury’s Jay Houston was selected as a non-travelling reserve. “Jay was unlucky not be make one of the teams, but there were a number of good bowlers of a similar pace who also performed well,” said Mr Pithey. Next up for the district’s young cricketers is a Junior Tournament in Alexandra in January, followed by Year 6 and Year 7 tournaments after that in Mandeville, near Rangiora. |
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