This page has news and scores as available from the Year 5 & 6 Cricket tournament being played from Jan 16th – 19th in Rangiora.
Tournament Team
Back: Ants de Joux (Coach), Charlie Martin, Ben Thomson, Hamish Stowell, William Sharp, Harrison Darling, James Arscott Front: William Johnson, Ben Davenport, Gabriel Evans (Capt), Edward Heenan, Ben Stayt, Ted Grigg
Game One: South Canterbury vs Christchurch Metro Astle
Away to a flying start
The South Canterbury year five and six cricket team had a 45-run win against Christchurch Metro Astle in their opening match of the Canterbury Districts tournament.
South Canterbury took advantage of good batting conditions to post 180-8 from their 40 overs before they restricted the opposition to 135-8 in reply.
Gabriel Evans top-scored for South Canterbury making 50 retired, while William Sharp made 34 and Ted Grigg added 34 not out.
South Canterbury strangled the Christchurch Metro run-rate early, with just 20 runs conceded from the first 10 overs. Ben Thomson was the pick of the bowlers with 2-13.
Coach Ants de Joux said his team had a solid match with four run outs adding to the cause.
Game Two: South Canterbury vs Christchurch Metro Fleming
SC make it two from two
The South Canterbury year five and six team made it two wins from two at their Canterbury Districts tournament, with a 21 run win over Christchurch Metro Fleming .
A half century from captain Gabriel Evans helped South Canterbury to 187 all out from the final ball of their 40 overs.
They then redtricted Christchurch Metro Fleming to 166-7 in reply.
Evans made 54 and shared in an 80 run second wicket partnership with Edward Heenan (20).
The middle part of the innings was controlled by William Sharp’s 34, as he combined with Ted Grigg (18) as they posted a half century stand for the fifth wicket.
South Canterbury coach Ants de Joux said his team did well to turn twos into threes and rotate the strike with aggressive running on the large ground.
The bowling effort was spear-headed by Lawrence Darling who took 3-26. The bowlers were well supported in the field.
Ben Thomson created a direct hit run out to take the first wicket and then he produced a diving catch in the covers next ball.
Game Three: South Canterbury vs Canterbury Country South
Side score third win
Gabriel Evans produced another excellent all-round display to lead the South Canterbury year 5 and 6 cricket team to a 56 run win over Canterbury Country South.
In their third match of the Canterbury Districts tournament, South Canterbury were in early trouble at 20 – 3 before Evans (52 not out) and Ben Thomson put on 70 for the fourth wicket.
A series of cameos from Ted Grigg (13) and James Arscott (12) helped South Canterbury score 100 runs from their final 20 overs and finish up with 150.
The Canterbury Country South batsmen never looked likely to threaten the target. Despite having wickets in hand, they never lifted their run rate as they finished on 94-4 from their 40 overs. Evans took 1-13 from eight overs.
The win, while convincing, dropped South Canterbury to third overall in the competition, after they failed to bowl their opposition out, missing the chance to pick up extra competition points in the process.
With one match to play against an also undefeated Mid Canterbury side, a big win could put South Canterbury right back in the hunt to win the tournament.
Game Four: South Canterbury vs Mid Canterbury
South Canty unbeaten, but finish runners-up
The South Canterbury year 5 and 6 cricket team went undefeated through the Canterbury Districts tournament but will go home without their main goal of top spot.
They had to settle for runners-up behind Christchurch Metro Cairns despite a 31-run victory over Mid Canterbury in their final match yesterday.
South Canterbury batted first, as they did each match, and posted 143 all out, then restricted Mid Canterbury to 112 all out, in the 40-over match. For the second day in a row, South Canterbury were in early trouble at 20 for three.
Top batsman Gabriel Evans was removed for 0, but still finished with 156 runs from the four matches.
A 60-run partnership between Ed Heenan and Ben Thomson then steadied the innings.
The damage was done with the ball.
Leg-spinner James Arscott grabbed four for 13 from five overs, while Thomson took three for 13.
South Canterbury coach Ants de Joux said it had been the fielding that had set his team apart from their opposition.
He said batting first was a deliberate tactic to try to stay in control of each match.
“Kids don’t chase well.
“You can always reassess when you bat first.
“You can always have a go in the last 10 or 15 overs, which is what we have done most days.”
De Joux said while it was disappointing not to win the tournament, he felt his team could not have done any more to try to finish in the top spot.
The team finish their season having won 13 of their 14 games.