Cricketing teens have their turn

The region’s secondary school cricketers have had a chance in recent weeks to show their prowess, both at home and away.

The Marlborough boys Year 9/10 side travelled to Levin for the Central Districts tournament on January 12-15 and ended up winning two games and losing three.

After a delay to ferry travel on the first day the first game was a T10 v Hawke’s Bay with opener Fionn Heagney smashing 58 from only 24 balls to set up a competitive total of 94 which the Bay side eventually chased down.

In T20 action on day two Marlborough fell six runs short chasing 169 in an exciting game with Whanganui. Flynn Preece (2-32) was the pick of the bowlers while Fionn Heagney (39 from 18) and Joseph Gilhooly (53 from 47) led the Marlborough reply before falling just short.

Against Wellington Gold, Gilhooly (22 from 13) and Heagney (15 from 14) gave Marlborough a strong start before the batting collapsed to 72 all out, Wellington completing an easy run chase.

Marlborough bounced back on day three with a four-wicket win over Wairarapa. Daniel Baker (3-10) and Tom Heagney (3-9) were the main wicket takers as Wairarapa were dismissed for 86. George Frampton top scored with 19 as the Marlborough team cantered home.

The two teams played again in an afternoon T20 game with Marlborough making 151 for 8, Joseph Gilhooly (21), Eddie Russell (26) and Kyle Buckley (20no) the main run scorers while Gilhooly took 3-14 to compete a 38-run victory.

Quad tournament

Meanwhile, in Blenheim last week the MBC first XI hosted Hutt International Boys’ School, Nelson College and Rathkeale College in the annual January quad tournament.

Against Nelson first up MBC, went down by 96 runs. Nelson compiled 275-9 from their 50 overs, Dane Winstanley claiming 2-39 off his 10 overs while Tom Heagney took 2-46 and captain Josh Harris 2-50. In reply, MBC were dismissed for 179, Tom Heagney top scoring with 35. Other notable contributions from Billy Hurren with 29, Dominic Alexander, 27, and Fionn Heagney, 21.

Next up was Rathkeale, who came out on top in a game reduced to 35-overs.

The visitors made 190-8, with Harris, 3-32 and Hurren, 2-49, the best of the bowlers. Marlborough showed promise in their reply but fell away. Fionn Heagney top scored with 27 as Rathkeale cruised to a comfortable win by 82 runs.

Thursday’s third match was rained out.

St Thomas exchange

Earlier this week, MBC hosted St Thomas of Canterbury in a two-day match at College Park.

Batting first on Monday, MBC were dismissed for 54, Billy Hurren top scoring with 18.

Good batting by St Thomas saw them get a lead of 158, being dismissed for 212. Daniel Baker was the pick of the bowlers with 3-17 while Lachie Cooney, on debut, bowled with control taking 2-27.

At stumps MBC were 6-0 and unfortunately bad weather ensured there was no play on day two, the visitors claiming a first innings victory.