David Gray just six runs short of ton

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

In the last 20 years, there hasn't been a better one.

Twelve-year-old David Gray's 94 for Sonrise Christian School against Gisborne Intermediate yesterday was as good an innings by a cricketer of his age here since the inception of the National Primary School Cup.

The Year 8 was captain, opened the batting and hit seven sixes and 10 fours off 46 balls before he was caught by Phoenix Pardoe-Crosby at wide long-on off the bowling of Akira Makiri.

“That was the first time I've had a chance to push on from 50,” Gray said.

“I struck the ball cleanly and for me, that was probably the best part of it.

“We'd had at least eight practice sessions before yesterday, and our coaches — Deevon Gray, Phil Viljoen and George Reynolds — worked really hard with us.”

That hard work paid off, as Sonrise beat Gis Int by 69 runs and later Ilminster Intermediate by 151 runs.

The Sonrise skipper scored 65 off 38 balls with 10 fours and a six from No.1 against Ilminster.

He also took 2-18 in four overs of medium-pace against Gis Int and 2-3 off three overs against Ilminster, bowling five opposition batsmen all-up.

“David was in a different league, in a class of his own as an all-rounder,” Poverty Bay Cricket operations manager and Northern Districts A rep Nic Hendrie said.

“He batted with finesse, it was awesome to watch. And to have Sonrise as one of the four schools to be involved in what was a one-day, quadrangular knock-out at Harry Barker Reserve was progressive for that age-group because all the boys loved playing for their schools.”

Sonrise principal Wendy Gabriel said the school was pleased for David Gray and to support the passion for cricket among their students.

Sonrise will now represent Poverty Bay in Cambridge from March 23 to 25 in the Northern Districts section of the National Primary Cup.