CBHS schools champions again

Christchurch Boys’ High School players are no doubt getting used to singing Queen’s hit song ‘‘We are the Champions’’.

And so they should be after notching their fourth national secondary schools cricket title in five years on Friday, after they hammered Nelson College by seven wickets in their final game at Lincoln.

The win ensured Christchurch Boys’ finished the tournament undefeated, having won all four of their matches. Thursday’s game against Hamilton Boys’ was rained off.

Christchurch Boys’ finished with nine points, two points clear of St Kentigern’s College, who beat Otago Boys’ High School in their final match.

Needing to win their last game to avoid finishing on equal points with St Kentigern’s, which would have resulted in the net run rate tiebreaker being used, Christchurch Boys’ set about their work early in round five.

Led by Josh Mariu’s 3-10, Christchurch Boys’ rolled Nelson for 62 inside 27 overs.

No 4 Louie Chapman then whacked a quick-fire 27, as the home side romped home after 12.3 overs to seal the First XI Cup.

As impressive as the seven-wicket win against Nelson College was, Christchurch Boys’ will look back at their thrilling two-run win against St Kentigern’s on Tuesday and know that’s where the tournament was won.

Chasing 244 to win, St Kentigern’s appeared destined to win, but went from 206-6 to 241 all out.

St Kentigern’s went into the final round tied with Otago Boys’, but went on to finish second after their 42-run win against the Dunedin school on Friday.

Led by Conor Ansell’s 51, the Aucklanders set Otago Boys’ 223 to win, before Angus Anderson snared 4-36 to ensure Otago Boys’ fell short.

In the other match, Hamilton Boys’ thrashed Hutt International by 118 runs to ensure the Wellington school finished the week without a win.

Chasing Hamilton Boy’s 246, Hutt International was all out for 128.