Newcaptain Spencer and Harris put Boys’ High in box seat for win

Palmerston North Boys’ High School have themselves in a great position for a win after the start of the club two- day competition yesterday.

Playing United at Manawaroa Park, the schoolboys lead by 106 and are still to bat again, while United only have five second- innings wickets in hand and a long way to go to get out of trouble.

Boys’ High lost the toss and were put in and even though they wanted to bowl, their total of 188 turned out to be a great score as they skittled United for 71 and then had them on the ropes at 11- 5 at stumps.

New Boys’ High captain Hayden Spencer dug in, top scoring with 61 at No 4 and he had support from Mason Hughes with 26, and both Luke McConaghty and Dylan Gaskin who scored 22 each.

Opening bowler Anu Ganugapati was United’s best with the ball, taking 3 for 26, while Cam Harris, Todd Mancer and Jackson Gattsche all grabbed two each.

United then went in to bat and were quickly in trouble as they crumbled for just 71 – Scott Larsen top scored with 22 and the next best was Mancer with 12.

Boys’ High used only three bowlers, with Isaac Harris returning the best figures with 4 for 29 from 9.2 overs, Brad Fulton taking 3 for 13 and Jack Gleeson 3 for 24.

United were sent back in and instead of trying to grind out the day, they didn’t shy away from trying to score.

It didn’t pay off though and they were reduced to 11 for 5 at the end of the day’s play.

The highest score was 6 from Robbie James, while Harris picked up three more wickets with 3 for 3 from four overs.

Boys’ High has lost school leavers Corey Perrett to Palmerston, Jack Leenards and Arana Noema- Barnett both to Marist.

Old Boys was the other team find themselves in dire straights they faced Marist.

Both teams were to as

understrength with the Manawatu rep game on, but Marist batted first and scored a good total of 203 for 9 declared.

Stand- in captain Sam Hartley racked up 80, with Connor Morriss 34 and Cameron Fenton scored an unbeaten 30 at the end before they called them in.

Nick Simon had the best bowling figures for Old Boys with 3 for 50 and Jamie Yule took 3 for 62.

Old Boys then fell over for 67 for nine, with one batsman unable to take the field and were sent in again and found themselves quickly at 6 for 2 at stumps.

Fenton did all the damage the ball as he took 5 for 24.

Old Boys still trail by 130 runs with eight wickets in hand, so they will need the not out batsmen Simon and Sam Wilson to dig in next week.

Palmerston are also in a good position after their first day against Freyberg.

After the first day’s play, Palmerston lead by 52 runs in their first innings and still nine wickets in hand.

Yesterday,

with

the

red

caps

won

the toss, bowled first and did have Freyberg out for 108.

Newcomer Corey Perrett was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 33 and Russell Swindells backed him up with 2 for 9.

Adrian West to make 25.

Palmerston then put the throttle down in their turn at bat and were 160 for the loss of one at the end of the day.

Mike Smith was unbeaten on and Aidan Crimp had 53 not out the other end.

resisted

well

for a

to

while 67 at