St Hilda’s looking well set for nationals

ST HILDA’S COLLEGIATE will get an opportunity to add to its proud record at the national secondary school girls finals in Palmerston North next month.

The school won the tournament in 201617 and again in 201819.

It was also runnerup in 201718 but last season the team had to settle for fifth.

It secured its spot in the finals with a comprehensive eightwicket win in the regional final against Columba College at Brooklands Park on Monday.

Columba was dismissed for 60 thanks in no small part to Chloe Deerness. She starred with four for nine from four overs.

Hannah O’Connor and Anna McLean also nabbed two wickets apiece.

Opener Angelique Peyroux topscored for Columba with 14 runs, while Grace Walding made 13 not out.

St Hilda’s chased a DuckworthLewisStern reduced target of 50 and powered past the total in the 10th over.

Extras did the bulk of the work. Columba conceded 25 of them but Jordan Meltzer batted nicely for 19 not out from 26 deliveries.

In the boys competition, Otago Boys’ beat Wakatipu by six wickets in Monday’s semifinal at Memorial Park, while Southland Boys’ recorded a comfortable 75run win against King’s in Sunday’s semifinal. Southland Boys’ posted 127 for five from 27 overs. Opener Brayden Thomas topscored with 34, while Aaron Hart (29) and Benji Culhane (28) made valuable contributions.

Jacob Murray took three for 17 for King’s but Southland Boys’ leg spinner Jed Mockford claimed three for seven to help dismiss the home side for a paltry 54.

Jacob Cumming shone for Otago Boys. The medium pacer took four for 15 to help restrict Wakatipu to 125 for nine.

He then topscored with 62 not out from 69 balls to steer his side to victory.

The boys regional final was initially planned for Monday but will be rescheduled for a later date.

The national finals will be staged in Lincoln from December 1014.