LOTS OF LEARNING AND BIG PERFORMANCES AS HUGE WEEK OF AGE GROUP TOURNAMENTS COMES TO AN END
REP TEAMS
Lots of Learning and Big Performances as Huge Week of Age Group Tournaments Comes to an End
January is always an outsized month of cricket for fans and senior players. Without school cricket, however, our younger players are left without cricket for a month, and that’s where National Tournaments provide a vital opportunity for school-aged cricketers.
Last week saw two tournaments played simultaneously in different parts of the country. Our Cricket Express Under-19 Men battled it out in a mixture of 50-over and T20 matches against all of the major associations in Lincoln from Saturday the 7th until Friday the 13th of January.
Up in Palmerston North, our Cricket Express Under-17 Girls played four matches against the North Island MAs from Monday the 9th until Thursday the 12th.
There were some wins and there were some losses but Auckland Cricket has a development first mentality towards these tournaments with emphasis on player growth, not just in skill but in attitude and confidence, too.
With that in mind, it was massively heartening to see how the teams gelled together and put some great performances out on the park over the week.
Auckland Under 19 Men at the National Men’s Under 19 Tournament | Lincoln | 7-13 January 2023
Late last year the Winger Men’s Under-19 District Tournament proved to be an absolutely brilliant week of cricket for our young up-and-coming men’s cricketers. There were several teams in the mix to win the competition and it was no surprise that the Cricket Express Auckland Under-19 team ended up with a potent mix of players from all over the region in its squad.
This team stacked up nicely against the other Major Associations last week.
Led ably by Jamal Todd, who topped the Auckland batting aggregate with 209 runs (4th overall in the tournament), the U19 Men won two out of their three completed one day matches, with a close win against Central Districts after their first match against Wellington was rained out, and a firm dismantling of Northern Districts coming after a tough loss to Canterbury.
A number of different players got their turn to shine and the standout performers were spread all over the squad.
The boys didn’t fair as well in the T20 competition but can count themselves a little unlucky as their first match against Otago was rained out with Auckland at 139/1 after 16.4 overs. A big score and possibly a crushing win was on the cards. They then narrowly lost to Canterbury and Otago to end the competition.
Game One (One Day) – Auckland Under 19 Men vs. Wellington Under 19 Mens
Rained off
Game Two (One Day) – Auckland Under 19 Men 242/9 beat Central Districts Under 19 Men 234 by 8 runs
Standout performers:James Nelson – 63Lachie Stackpole – 46Harry Cullen-Hieatt – 3/17Aaryan Prasad – 3/39
Game Three (One Day) – Auckland Under 19 Men 210 lost to Canterbury Under 19 Men 266/9 by 56 runs
Standout performers:Rahman Hekmat – 2/37Jack Wright – 2/51Neil Patel – 80Daniel Presland – 55
Game Four (One Day) – Auckland Under 19 Men 175/3 beat Northern Districts Under 19 Men 173 by 7 wickets
Standout performers:Jack Wright – 4/14Jamal Todd – 2/18 & 85
Game Five (T20) – Auckland Under 19 Men 139/1 vs. Otago Under 19 Men (match abandoned)
Standout performers:Jamal Todd – 75*Luke Watson – 45*
Game Six (T20) – Auckland Under 19 Men 160/8 lost to Canterbury Under 19 Men 170/9 by 10 runs
Standout performers:Jamal Todd – 4/24Daniel Presland – 40Josh Oliver – 31
Game Seven (T20) – Auckland Under 19 Men 135/9 lost to Otago Under 19 Men 141/9 by 6 runs
Standout performers:Sahil Rawat – 3/8Aaryan Prasad – 3/20Lachie Stackpole – 52Daniel Presland – 35
Auckland Under 17 Girls at the National Girls Under 17 Tournament | Palmerston North | 9-12 January 2023
In a comparatively truncated competition that pitted the North Island’s Major Associations against each other, the Auckland Under 17 Girls were given an opportunity to play at the highest level they have competed at, thus far.
This level of play was vital for their growth as players and athletes and seeing them apply themselves in positive ways was hugely pleasing.
The girls ended with two wins and three losses, with two of their losses coming against Wellington and Central Districts, who were a cut above the rest overall throughout the competition, only losing to each other.
The other matches against Northern Districts resulted in a tight opening loss and two triumphant victories.
Game One (35 Overs) – Auckland Under 17 Girls 167/7 lost to Northern Districts Under 17 Girls 168/9 by 1 wicket
Standout performers:Ayaan Lambat – 37 & 3/13Mollie Drumm – 31Eve Meachen – 3/23
Game Two (35 Overs) – Auckland Under 17 Girls 105 lost to Wellington Under 17 Girls 187/3 by 82 runs
Standout performers:Neve Johnson – 2/11Christelle McGuire – 22*Mya Kingi – 20
Game Three (35 Overs) – Auckland Under 17 Girls 96 lost to Central Districts Under 17 Girls 97/6 by 4 wickets (DLS)
Standout performers:Kate Illerbrun – 25*Simi Bajaj – 3/21Neve Johnson – 2/12
Game Four (T20) – Auckland Under 17 Girls 103/8 beat Northern Districts Under 17 Girls 88/5 by 15 runs
Standout performers:Neena Woollaston – 25Christelle McGuire – 23Eve Meachen – 2/19
Game Five (T20, 3rd place playoff) – Auckland Under 17 Girls 122/8 beat Northern Districts Under 17 Girls 79 by 43 runs
Standout performers:Neena Woollaston – 32Issy O’Connell – 4/10Neve Johnson – 2/4
January 16, 2023
