Nelson cricketer Connor Neynens has been competing against the world's best young players.

OPINION: Kane Williamson is now New Zealand's youngest ODI captain, which all goes to show that where the Black Caps are concerned, absolutely anything can happen.

OPINION: Don't you just get that gut-gnawing feeling that the wrong man's leaving?

As Nelson's cricketers prepare to store away their gear for the winter, Connor Neynens is about to launch the most significant part of his season.

Three centuries were scored in Saturday's Nelson one-day cricket competition, two of them in one innings and all three in winning causes.

Waimea Toi Toi United's bowlers administered death by strangulation to deliver Wakatu a 38-run loss in yesterday's Kelvin Scoble Trophy one-day cricket final.

Nelson's representative cricketers finally received some validation for a successful season with yesterday's four-wicket Newman Shield one-day win over Marlborough.

Blenheim team Celtic made a significant push for pool two honours after securing a dramatic one-wicket win over Motueka in their rain-reduced Kelvin Scoble Trophy one-day cricket match on Saturday.

Surprise, surprise. Mitchell Drummond has earned a promotion up Nelson's batting order for Sunday's Newman Shield one-day cricket defence against Marlborough at Saxton Oval.

The Wakatu Cricket Club will be expecting a lot of their Second XI from now on.

CRICKET - WAYNE MARTIN - © Fairfax NZ News

Connor Neynens' disappointment over Nelson's Hawke Cup defeat in Hamilton at the weekend has been partially eased by his selection in the New Zealand under-19 cricket team.

CRICKET - WAYNE MARTIN AND JOHN ALEXANDER - © Fairfax NZ News

Stoke-Nayland missed their chance to join Wairau at the top of their pool after suffering a three wicket loss to Wakatu.

CRICKET - WAYNE MARTIN - © Fairfax NZ News

A dominant final day bowling performance by holders Hamilton has delivered Nelson a mortal lesson in the intricacies of Hawke Cup cricket.

An ominously clinical Wairau team prevented a Nelson sweep in round two of the Kelvin Scoble Trophy combined one-day cricket competition on Saturday.

In years past, often the most gratifying part of challenging Nelson for the Hawke Cup was the return trip home.

CRICKET - WAYNE MARTIN - © Fairfax NZ News

BJ Barnett was barely 15 years old the last time Nelson challenged for the Hawke Cup.

Athletic College Old Boys can go a long way to cementing a finals berth when rounds seven and eight of the Nelson Twenty20 cricket competition are played in Richmond tomorrow.

Nelson maintained their unbeaten record after completing another convincing nine-wicket win over Manawatu on day two of the Central Districts under-14 cricket tournament yesterday.

CRICKET - WAYNE MARTIN - © Fairfax NZ News

Unbeaten Stoke-Nayland and Athletic College Old Boys emerged as the early leaders after Saturday's opening two rounds of the Nelson Twenty20 cricket competition.

The Central Stags have been frustrated by the weather during the Ford Trophy one-day cricket series and tomorrow doesn't look like being much different.