Otago Boys’ High School does it again!

Caption: Otago Boys’ High School has won the Otago Southland final of the First XI Cup tournament. Back row (from left): Coach Masoor Khan, Hunter Kindley, Josh Kellett, Tim Horton, Will Young, Charlie Holt, Tommy Wilson, Jacob Day, Coach Ken Rust. (Front) Thomas Harding, Marc Cormack, Max Chu, Ben Lockrose, Jack Pryde, Nathan Kelaart and Charlie Marsh.

Otago Boys' High School's 1st XI will once again represent Otago and Southland in the national secondary schoolboys' cricket tournament, the First XI Cup, in December.

OBHS had a convincing win over John McGlashan College in the regional final yesterday with batsman/wicket-keeper Max Chu scoring an impressive 121 to help lead his team to victory.

On paper, OBHS had the stronger team, sporting two NZ Under 18 representatives in Chu and spinner Ben Lockrose, with another NZ U18 rep, all-rounder Hunter Kindley, still sidelined after breaking his ankle in the final of the Under 19 National Tournament in December.

Cricket’s a funny game though and the OBHS team were taking nothing for granted, after John McGlashan beat Waitaki Boys’ High School in a semi-final the day before.

In the end however, it was a reasonably comprehensive win by OBHS with the team making 271/6 and dismissing John McGlashan for 147, despite an early onslaught by JMC, which saw it well ahead in the run-rate early on.

Buoyed by team-mate Jack Pryde’s century (110) a day earlier in OBHS’ semi-final against Southland Boys’ High School, Max Chu steadied the ship for the school after the loss of two early wickets.  Tommy Wilson (27), Marc Cormack (33) and Tim Horton (55) all starring in partnerships with Chu.

McGlashan’s in-form batsman, Lucas Reid, who scored a century (105) the day before had another good day with the bat, taking the game to OBHS in the early stages to see his team well ahead in the run-rate.

However, when he was dismissed for 40 off a caught-and-bowled by Thomas Harding, it triggered a series of wickets. Lockrose starred with the ball for OBHS, taking four wickets for only 12 runs in his 10 overs.  Harding (2/32) and Josh Kellett (2/21) were the other top wicket-takers.

Otago Boys’ will this year be looking to improve on its third placing in last year’s First XI Cup with the return of a strong crew in Kindley, Chu, Lockrose, Pryde and Horton from last year.

Southland Boys’ High School finished in third place in the regional competition, beating Waitaki Boys’ High School, with Southland spinner Jack Mockford taking six wickets.

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