Hamilton and Westlake through to national final
Hamilton Boys High School will take on Westlake Boys High School tomorrow in Palmerston North for the honour of being crowned Gillette Cup champions for 2008.
Going into day three of the tournament the unbeaten, Westlake and Wellington College only needed to win their matches to top their groups and progress to the final.
However both sides suffered losses, Wellington to Palmerston North Boys High School and Westlake to Tauranga Boys College, which meant the final placings were determined on a runs-wicket differential – a nail-biting finish to the day for players and coaches.
Hamilton Boys High School saved their best for last at the tournament scoring a massive 301 for 5 off their 50 overs in their group B match against Otago Boys High School, Mitchell Santner top scoring with 75.
They then bundled Otago out for just 111 to give them a superior runs-wicket differential to both Wellington College and Palmerston North Boys High.
It was a disappointing day for Wellington College who could only manage 143 for 7 from their 50 overs against Palmerston North.
Adam Milne once again did the damage for Palmerston North with the ball taking 3/22 while Dane Cleaver top scored with the bat as they chased down the total for the loss of just four wickets in the 38th over.
In group A Tauranga Boys College made 228 for 8 off their 50 overs with Brett Sorrenson top scoring with 62.
They then dismissed Westlake for 150 with Bharat Popli taking 4 for 22 as Tauranga went on to win by 78 runs.
The two teams then had to wait for the result of the Wanganui Collegiate match against St Bede’s College to find out who would top the group and progress to the final.
After dismissing Collegiate for 163 St Bede’s looked on track at 152 for 7 for victory, however they lost their last three wickets for just five runs to hand Wanganui a six run win and Westlake group A honours based on their superior runs-wicket differential.
Tomorrow Hamilton Boys High School plays Westlake Boys High School for the Gillette Cup, Tauranga Boys College and Wellington College play off for third place, Palmerston North Boys High School and Wanganui Collegiate play off for fifth place and St Bedes play Otago Boys High School for seventh place.