The National Secondary Schools First XI Cricket Cup was played on brand new pitches at Lincoln, but the result was a familiar one. For the fourth time in five years Christchurch Boys’ High School were winners.
Fraser Sheat was the leading wicket taker at the tourney sneering 11 wickets as Christchurch only conceded above 200 once.
“The pitches had a bit of life and pace on Day One which was great for the quick’s. They got slower during the week, but they always had a bit in them,” Sheat says.
Sheat who can bowl in excess 130km an hour secured his best figures of the tournament on the opening day. He took 4/28 as Otago Boys’ High School succumbed to Christchurch by seven wickets.
“Otago was a good side and there is a strong rivalry between the schools’ so it was great to start with such a good win,” Sheat reflects.
The pivotal win for Christchurch proved to be their Tuesday triumph against Auckland champions St. Kentigern College. It was a match in which Christchurch always appeared to be on the back foot. Sheat captures the late drama.
“With four overs left they needed six runs to win with three wickets in hand. Finley Allen was at the crease and on 100 so we decided to put the field back and give him a single and try to pressure the other batsman with dot balls. Louie Chapman managed to get a caught and bowled when they needed five to win. In the next over I bowled their number 10, but I couldn’t get the last wicket. Jack Turner came into the attack and dismissed Allen and we went nuts,” Sheat laughs.
Allen struck six sixes in his century. The next day Sheat hit the only two sixes of the match as Christchurch made hard work of a paltry chase against defending champions Hutt International Boys’ School.
Sheat claimed great satisfaction from dismissing HIBS gun Rachin Ravindra.
“Rachin is a really good player. I had played him a few times and never managed to get him out so to dismiss him was great,” he says.
Thursday’s fixture against Hamilton Boys’ High School required no work at all. A washout left Christchurch top of the table with a round to play.
“It was a strange one. We wanted to play, but we knew if it was called off it was properly an advantage for us,” Sheat concedes.
On Friday, Christchurch made short work of Nelson.
“Nelson were a good side. They scored over 200 against a couple of teams. I was surprised we bowled them out for 62, but we planned thoroughly, applied pressure and got the rewards,” Sheat enthuses.
Sheat will have little time to celebrate. Starting Thursday he will represent Canterbury at the National U19 tournament also at Lincoln.
Results: 2016
Round One
Otago BHS: 149 (Hunter Kindly 47, Fraser Sheat 4/28) lost to Christchurch BHS: 153/3 (Ben Hartland 66) by 7 wickets.
Nelson College: 137 (Alistair King 46, Kirstian Clarke 3/20) lost to Hamilton BHS: 138/8 (Max Gaskell 37, Felix Murray 2/9) by 2 wickets.
St. Kentigern College: 296/6 (Sandeep Patel 83, Conor Ansell 78, Rachin Ravindra 4/89) beat HIBS: 198 (Rachin Ravindra 65, Damanpreet Bhatti 3/23.
Round Two
Nelson College: 279/7 (Ben Haiziett 93, Thomas Zoharb 81, Nikunj Patel 2/45) beat HIBS: 198/9 (Jesse Tashkoff 67, Jarrod McKay 2/11) by 81 runs.
Christchurch BHS: 243/8 (Sandford Heart 74, Ben Donkers 63, Jonathon Low 2/31) beat St. Kentigern College: 241 (Finley Allen 110, Jack Turner 2/34) by 2 runs.
Otago BHS: 301/5 (Hunter Kindly 103, Angus Lynch 2/49) beat Hamilton BHS: 181 (Max Gaskell 42, Hunter Kindly 3/18) by 120 runs.
Round Three
Hamilton BHS: 168 (Bodie Hodges 50, Jonathan Low 4/45) lost to St. Kentigern College: 171/0 (Sandeep Patel 104, Conor Ansell 50) by 10 wickets
HIBS: 79 (Joseph Foote 24, Fraser Sheat 3/11) lost to Christchurch BHS: 85/6 (Simon Yorston 23, Sheat 22, Nathan Watt 3/19) by 4 wickets
Otago BHS: 295/6 (Max Chu 136, Taine Bayly 57, Josh Simpson 2/36) beat Nelson College: 148 (Patrick Howes 65, Ben Lockrose 4/43) by 147 runs.
Round Five
Hamilton BHS: 246/9 (Riyan perera 67, Jamie Moore 63, Max Gaskell 52, Nathan Watt 5/38) beat HIBS: 180 (Rachin Ravindra 44, Brayden Gaylor 4/30) by 66 runs
St. Kentigern College: 222 (Conor Ansell 51, Ben Lockrose 2/16) beat Otago BHS: 180 (Jack Pryde 51, Angus Anderson 4/36) by 42 runs
Nelson College: 62 (Nicholas Clark 21, Josh Mariu 3/10) lost to Christchurch BHS: 64/3 (Louie Chapman 27, Thomas Zohrab 2/28) by 7 wickets
Note: Round Four was abandoned