PNBHS NEWS

1st XI Cricket Challenge Shield

 
Hình của Ella Mitchell
1st XI Cricket Challenge Shield
Bởi Ella Mitchell - Friday, 9 February 2018, 3:43 PM
 

MATCH REPORT – 1ST XI CRICKET VS NAPIER BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL – 7 - 8/02/18

With the first day’s play having been rained off at Nelson Park in Napier, it was decided to play a 50-over match on the second day for the Challenge Shield.

Captain, Bryn Wilson lost the toss and was asked to bat on a green looking wicket with gloomy overhead conditions. The opposition’s decision was soon vindicated as two wickets fell in the opening over. There followed a period of consolidation where the batsmen were able to keep the scoreboard ticking. A further two wickets put the brakes on and the batsmen had to work hard to get through the new ball. Ruben Love, with some middle-order support from Sam Russell and Max Harris, steadied the ship and was able to keep the scoring going. Unfortunately, a flurry of wickets fell in the last 10 overs and, despite Ruben’s magnificent effort, the 1st XI were bowled out for 205 in the 48th over. Sam scored 23, Max 28 and Ruben a well-crafted, game-defining 106.

Defending an average total on a quick outfield was never going to be easy, but the opening bowlers did a good job of keeping the opposition quiet and this led to a wicket in the 3rd over. A period of consolidation followed until wickets fell after the first drinks break and PNBHS looked to be on top. Some loose bowling and fielding allowed Napier back into the game but a constant flow of wickets kept the 1st XI in the game. The bowlers kept to their task and managed to finish them off in the 47th over for 183. Bryn Wilson was the top bowler with 4 for 20.
PNBHS won by 21 runs and retained the Challenge Shield.

The first match for the Challenge Shield was in 1909 and it has been competed for annually since then.