Crunch decider in school cricket

Tauranga Boys College are just one game away from attending the 2011 Gillette Cup national finals. However, standing in their way is one of the powerhouses of secondary school cricket in the country.

Today the Western Bay secondary school first XI, will host Hamilton Boys' High School at Nicholson Field. However, Tauranga Boys' have also established an impressive record in the Gillette Cup in the past decade.

First equal in 2005, was followed by three successive third-place finishes, in the symbol of secondary school cricket superiority in the country.

Last Thursday Tauranga Boys won an absolute thriller to advance to the Northern Districts final tomorrow.

Facing St Peters School from Cambridge, the Tauranga Boys side got home by a solitary wicket in a relatively low-scoring affair. Tauranga Boys won the toss and put the visitors into bat on a wicket that looked to favour the bowlers.

While a seventh wicket partnership steadied the ship for St Peters, they were bowled out for 125. Myles Timoti was the best of the home side's bowling attack returning 4/18, with Josh Dwight taking two wickets.

At 62/2 Tauranga Boys were in a strong position, however St Peter's bowler Alex Lunn picked up five wickets to have the home side in trouble. Needing 32 runs for victory with just two wickets remaining, Tauranga Boys hopes of moving to the ND final looked slim.

Then Myles Timoti joined his brother Elliot at the crease, and formed a definitive partnership, taking the Western Bay School to the brink of victory. With two runs needed for the win, St Peters delivered up a no-ball to tie the scores.

But with a final twist, Myles was run out on the no-ball, leaving the number 11 batsman, Henry Conway, to join Elliot Timoti at the wicket with one run needed for victory.

Displaying the nerves and patience he had shown all innings, Elliot Timoti hit the winning run finishing with a superb match-winning innings of 55 not out, carrying his bat and side through to victory.

Results:

Gillette Cup (ND) semifinals 27 October 2011

St Peters (Cambridge) 125 (Myles Timoti 4/19, Josh Dwight 2/32) lost to Tauranga Boys College 126/9 (Elliot Timoti 55no, Tom MacRury 20)