Kelan Bryant hits the ball cleanly.
And he followed up his 54 from No3 for the Gisborne Boys' High School second 11 in the Hope Cup with 60 not-out for the GBHS Blues and Royals at Nelson Park on Wednesday. That 60 for the pre-Christmas champions of the junior high school Challenge Cup was a typical Bryant knock: he finds the boundary easily and without fuss. His captain Lukas Fry had earlier won the coin-toss and chosen to bowl, the GBHS Admiralty then being dismissed for 92 off the last ball of the nine-a-side T20 contest. Bekko Page, skipper of the Admiralty, top-scored in the first innings with 31 at first-drop. Ever since his fighting effort at No11 in the second pre-season game against Geyser City Cricket Club — he batted for an hour — Page has shown real determination at the wicket.
Blues and Royals seamer Dylan Worsnop was the pick of their bowlers with 3-29 from four overs. He took three scalps worth having, those of the technician and opener Nathaniel Fearnley (17), thumping first-drop Gareth Langford (11) and mercurial left-hander Kavindu Withanage (five runs).
Out came Briant, who hit 11 boundaries in his 41 ball-stay, while cunning left-arm spinner Riker Rolls (1-11 from eight balls) took the only wicket to fall.
The Blues and Royals won the final by five wickets.