Grammar claims narrow first-innings win against Boys’ High
The Palmerston North Boys’ High School first XI’S threeday match against Auckland Grammar School turned into a tense battle for the firstinnings win.
The two sides drew their annual encounter at Boys’ High this week, but Grammar managed to earn a firstinnings win by a narrow tworun margin.
After a damp pitch meant play was delayed by two hours on day one on Sunday, Grammar batted first and scored 299 in 117.4 overs.
Boys’ High came close in their turn at bat, but were bowled out for 297 in 151.2 overs, then Grammar scored 42-2 before the end of the match.
Batting first, Grammar batsmen Joshua Stephan (45), Oliver White (63), Josh Irwin (65) and Jamal Todd (48) got them to 201-4 at stumps, then on to 299.
Boys’ High opening bowler Josh West took 4-35 from 25.4 overs, including Grammar’s top three, and spinner and captain Jack Wenham took 4-61 from 14 overs.
In Boys’ High’s turn at bat, their top order didn’t fire and they were 87-4 after 57.3 overs. But No 5 Henry Deans rescued the innings with 92.
Deans got them to 122-5 at stumps on day two, then he fell on day three with the score at 212-8.
Tailenders Hugo Wakeling and Jonty Fleck got Boys’ High close to the total, with an 80-run partnership.
But Wakeling was out for 67 with the score at 292-9.
Grammar grabbed the last wicket and left Fleck unbeaten on 22 not out and Boys’ High two runs short of Grammar’s total.
Kaylin Daji took 3-29 and Eshan Arora and Flynn Dudson took two wickets each.
Grammar then scored 42-2 in their second innings before play was called off.
■ Boys’ High beat Wairarapa’s Rathkeale College in a Gillette Cup qualifier on Thursday by 128 runs.
Boy’s High posted 307/8 in 50 overs. Love continued his good form with 86, Curtis Heaphy made 77. Rathkeale were bowled out for 179 in the 48th over, with Levi Woolston recording extraordinary figures of 5-9 off 9.2 overs.