South Canty teams topple North Otago

Two South Canterbury age-group cricket teams had contrasting wins when they took on North Otago in one-day matches in Timaru.

The under-15 side prevailed by six runs, while the under-17 team won convincingly by 191 runs.

The under-15s won the toss and elected to bat on a placid Mountainview High School pitch.

Despite the loss of an early wicket, Adam Beck, with 45, and Max Carter, 32, combined to take the score through to 97.

A mini-collapse then occurred, as three wickets fell, but a confident innings from James Hawkey got the team back on track.

He scored 57 thanks to some powerful shots, especially over mid-wicket.

South Canterbury managed 193 for 9 from their 50 overs.

The North Otago reply was memorable for its partnerships and solid contributions from most of the order meant the away team crept closer to the target.

Liam Cosgrove was the pick of the South Canterbury bowlers, taking 4-31, and his second spell proved to be a match-defining one as he put the brakes on the North Otago scoring rate.

The 14 runs required by North Otago off the final over proved too much, and South Canterbury gained a deserved victory.

The under-17 team had a comfortable victory, despite some early batting wobbles.

Batting first, in friendly conditions at Aorangi Oval, wickets fell regularly for the home side until a well-compiled partnership of 80 between Michael Hogan, who managed 88, and Robbie Mulvena, who scored 72, not out, helped add some respectability to the South Canterbury effort.

Glen Drake managed 15 at the tail-end of the innings, in a total of 269 from their 50 overs.

The North Otago chase never gained any momentum thanks to Daniel Dorgan who took 4-3, and had the North Otago top-order back in the pavilion with just 12 on the board.

From there, North Otago were bowled out for a lowly 78.

- © Fairfax NZ News