Wellington Wanderers Youth XI 205
C Montague 74, P Boner 40, M Boyle 2/21, N Paltridge 4/24
The Willows Development XI 209/9
Z Foulkes 83, N Cooke 35, W Hocquard 26, L Bailey 3/29
The Willows Development XI
won by 1 wicket
What a game at the Basin Reserve! In the last over Willows Youth required one to tie and two for that elusive away win and retention of the Don Neely Trophy. A last ball win was recorded much to the relief of coach, Dave Kelly. Willows Youth were nine down with Nathanael Paltridge and Caleb Cottom showing great composure and steady nerves to see the team through. Maybe having two excellent opening bats at 10 and 11 was a masterstroke by Coach Kelly. Having ex-internationals Evan Gray and Ewen Chatfield on the sidelines added to the drama.
Wellington Wanderers won the toss, elected to bat and were bowled out for 205 in the 48th over. C. Montague played an excellent innings and got out chasing runs at the end when he ran out of partners. Nathanael Paltridge was our surprise package with the ball and Matt Boyle finished off the tail with some handy leg spin. Seven catches and two smart stumpings showed how talented the boys were in the field.
With our team stacked with nine batsmen and at 88/2 off 15 overs we were well on the way. Despite a middle order collapse, Zac Foulkes remained unfazed and his innings of 83 was all class. It was a surprise when he holed out with a century beckoning at the Basin. Nic Cooke with 35 off 26 balls and the cool heads of Cottom and Paltridge saw us through. Drama in the last over included a scampered single for the tie, a dropped catch, three dot balls then the final ball hit for 4 through the covers.
Just to see the players race out from the new refurbished Ewen Chatfield Stand to congratulate their last two batsmen was worth watching and a real show of team unity.
Members of The Willows Youth XI were:
- Sam Sherriff (Whanganui Collegiate)
- Zac Foulkes (St Andrew’s College)
- Matt Boyle (St Bede’s College)
- Tom McClean – captain and William Hocquard (both Christ’s College)
- Matthias and Nathanael Paltridge (both home schooled)
- Nic Cooke (Christchurch Boys’ High School)
- Devon Flannery and Tom Middleton (both Ashburton College)
- Josh Bridgman (Riccarton High School)
- Caleb Cottom (Papanui High School)