College cricket quad

Marlborough played host to three highly-ranked college cricket teams during a three-day quadrangular round-robin tournament which concluded at Horton Park today.

The local Marlborough Boys’ College First XI took on their counterparts from Auckland Grammar School, Christ’s College and Otago Boys’ High School in a series of 50-over matches.

On Tuesday Marlborough played the southerners. After being inserted on a wicket made tricky after overnight rain MBC were only able to muster 133 runs, being dismissed in the 42^nd over.

Otago BHS made relatively short work of the chase, reaching 137-4 in the 40^thover.

On the Horton Park No 3 wicket, Grammar comfortably accounted for Christ’s, scoring 183-6 then dismissing the Christchurch side for 77.

The following day MBC took on a powerful Grammar combination and lost by three wickets in a low-scoring encounter.

The home side had first use of the wicket, battling their way to 113 in 39.3 overs. Tim Petrie top-scored with 26.

In reply Grammar initially struggled, Luke Pannell’s 5-32 having them in trouble at 40-6 before their lower order saw them home.

On the adjoining wicket, Christ’s got the better of Otago BHS, dismissing the southerners for 196 then reaching their target for the loss of only four wickets.

The final day’s play brought joy for the MBC side, who beat Christ’s by six wickets to end the quad on a high.

Christ’s were held to 174 all out in the 36^th over. Nathan Brooke Taylor, 3-38, Sam Young, 2-25, and Pannell, 2-17 from six overs, did the damage. In reply, MBC lost a couple of early wickets but an unbeaten 77 from 146 balls from Petrie, along with 41 not out from Young, who combined for an 81-run partnership, guided them to victory in the 45^th over.

In the other match on Thursday, Grammar beat Otago comfortably to remain unbeaten.

MBC coach Greg Logan said the visiting sides were keen to return next year after making the most of their chance to play early-season cricket on good wickets.

“Great weather, great conditions … it was fantastic to have a chance to play these top colleges at home and they were all wanting to come back for more.”