Andrew Taylor impressed with a century for Rathkeale. PHOTO/FILE
CRICKET
CHRIS COGDALE
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Wairarapa College had no answer to Onslow College 2nd XI batsman Andrew Moir in a five-wicket loss in a Wellington secondary schoolboys’ premier three match on Saturday.
Waicol scored a useful 240 batting first on their home pitch, with Felix Stephens [53] and Conley Alexander [52] both posting half-centuries.
Alexander and Zach Anstis [34] had given the home side a solid start, putting on an opening stand of 88.
The loss of three wickets at 119 could have slowed the innings’ momentum, but Stephens and Cohen Scott [23] took the long handle and added 55 runs in just four overs. However, it wasn’t enough, and the total of 240 was probably short of a par score on the fast Waicol outfield.
Waicol made early inroads into the Onslow batting line-up and had them struggling at 31-3 in the 12th over, with Alexander taking two wickets.
Moir was joined by Jack Findlay [66], and the pair added 168 for the fourth wicket in 24 overs. Moir saw his team through to victory in the 40th over, finishing 112 not out, from 93 balls, including 14 fours and three sixes.
The loss leaves Waicol in seventh place after three games in the championship.
There was a better outcome for Waicol last Wednesday in their traditional fixture against Rongotai College at Waicol.
The game was changed to a T20 match on the college’s artificial pitch, because of a damp number one pitch.
The visitors batted first and were restricted to 139-8.
That target proved no match for Waicol, who cruised to victory with 17 balls to spare. Mark Steventon top-scored with 89 not out, from 59 balls, including 11 fours and four sixes.
Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Andrew Taylor, opener Jake Jonas, and offspinner Jesse McIntyre starred for Rathkeale in a tame draw with Francis Douglas Memorial College in their two-day game played in New Plymouth.
Francis Douglas batted first, amassing 289 in almost 99 overs on a traditionally low and slow pitch.
The offspinners were the best of the Rathkeale bowlers, with McIntyre toiling hard for his 5-80 and James Wilkinson chipping in with 3-60.
Rathkeale made a promising start through Jonas and Alfie McIntosh, who put on 72 for the first wicket.
Jonas continued his excellent form, which included a century for Wellington Wanderers against a Willows XI in Canterbury, with a patient 82.
However, it was Taylor who stole the show with an impressive 101 off 144 balls, including 10 fours, as Rathkeale took a moral victory, all out for 297.
BRIEF SCORES
Wairarapa College 240 [Zach Anstis 34, Conley Alexander 52, Felix Stephens 53; Xavier Crookston 4-53] lost to Onslow College 2XI 242-5 [Andrew Moir 112, Jack Findlay 66] by five wickets.
Rongotai College 139-8 [Sol Barris 51, Milan Bastiampillai 38] lost to Wairarapa College 140-2 [Mark Steventon 89no, Samuel Payne 31no] by eight wickets.
Francis Douglas Memorial College 289 [Joshua Elder 62, Thomas Watson 82, Samuel Taylor 52; Jesse McIntyre 5-80, James Wilkinson 3-60] drew with Rathkeale 297 [Jake Jonas 82, Andrew Taylor 101, Alfie McIntosh 31; Keegan Boon 3-95, Aaron Manning-Fleming 3-65].
