Tauranga Boys' College are a game away from qualifying for New Zealand Cricket's prize Gillette Cup final in Christchurch after a scintillating one-wicket Northern Districts semifinal win over Cambridge's St Peters at Nicholson Field.
Tauranga Boys', a past joint winner of the Gillette Cup that brings together the top six schoolboy sides in the country, take on Northern Districts powerhouse school Hamilton Boys' High tomorrow at Nicholson Field in a winner-takes-all 50-over showdown, with the winner progressing to the national final at New Zealand Cricket's Lincoln Academy from December 2-6.
Their lowscoring win over St Peters rivalled the Rugby World Cup final with its tense finish, with Tauranga Boys' chasing down the 126 needed for victory with the last pair at the crease and two overs to spare.
They won the toss at Nicholson Field and bowled first on an early-season grass wicket that looked like it would offer assistance to the bowlers early.
With constant drizzle during the first innings which made fielding difficult, Tauranga Boys made early inroads, reducing St Peters to 57-6 before a seventh wicket stand of 45 between Ben Schilt and Jono Whitley gave St Peters hope.
After the stand was broken by Josh Dwight (2-32 from 9.3 overs) St Peters were bowled out for 125 in the 40th over. Myles Timoti finished with excellent figures of 4-19 from his 10 overs.
In reply, Tauranga Boys College had a steady start, losing their first wicket at 32 in the 15th over.
However, from a relatively strong position of 61-2 the wheels began to wobble, with Tauranga Boys losing a steady stream of wickets to St Peters' spin attack. Alex Lunn was the pick of the St Peters bowlers, picking up 5-19 from 10 overs and was well supported by Whitley's 2-25.
Tauranga Boys were deep trouble at 94-8 when Myles Timoti joined his brother Elliot at the crease.
Adding to his good bowling bowling performance, and a fine day for the Timoti family overall, Myles formed a definitive partnership with his sibling, taking Tauranga Boys College to the brink of victory.
With two runs needed for the win, St Peters delivered up a no-ball to tie the scores. But in a final twist, Myles was run out on the no-ball, leaving No 11 batsman Henry Conway to join Elliot Timoti with a solitary run needed for the win.
Displaying the nerves and patience he had shown all innings, Elliot Timoti hit the winning run in the next over, finishing with a superb unbeaten match-winning innings of 55.
Gillette Cup semifinal scores: St Peters Cambridge 125 from 39.3 overs (Ben Schilt 35, Jono Whitley 26no; Myles Timoti 4/19, Josh Dwight 2/32) lost to Tauranga Boys College: 126/9 (47.3 overs). Elliot Timoti 55 not out. Tom MacRury 20. Alex Lunn 5/19. Jono Whitley 2/25.