Win and title for Huntley

A hat-trick sealed a thrilling win for Marton’s Huntley School at the national intermediate schools’ cricket championships.

Huntley won the national title at Lincoln on Wednesday for the first time, but only after bowler Harry Mcverry took a hat-trick on his way to five wickets, in a 19-run win over Breens Intermediate School, from Christchurch, in the final game.

Batting first in the final round, Huntley scored 160-1 from their 20 overs, then Breens were looking quids-in at 141-3 during their chase. But Breens suffered a horror collapse as Matthew Florence took a wicket, then Mcverry tore through the lower order, finishing with 5-10 from 2.5 overs, and Breens didn’t score another run. Having taken his hat-trick, Mcverry was a chance of taking four wickets in four balls, but bowled a dot ball, then took a wicket on the next delivery.

Despite winning the final game, Huntley also needed Auckland’s St Kentigern College to lose in the final match, because St Kents had a superior run rate. Raroa Normal Intermediate School (Wellington) beat St Kents in the last game by 40 runs, handing Huntley the title.

Huntley opening batsman Matthew Hocquard scored 72 not out in the final game and was named the tournament MVP for scoring 243 runs from three games.

Florence scored 50 against Breens, too. Mcverry was the tournament’s top wicket taker, with seven.

During the tournament, Huntley beat Balmacewen Intermediate School, from Dunedin, by one wicket, where Hocquard scored 81 not out and took 3-9 opening the bowling. They also beat Raroa by six wickets.

Two games were rained off, against St Kentigern College and Tauranga Intermediate School.